Ancient Roman intaglio ring

Ancient Roman first century A.D. niccolo intaglio ring , featuring Mercury . The high carat gold ring is later. 

Ring size : “O+1/2”.    Measurement of bezel : 17 x 13 mm.    Weight : 12 gram

Mercury did not appear among the numinous di indigetes of early Roman religion. Rather, he subsumed the earlier Dei Lucrii as Roman religion was syncretized with Greek religion during the time of the Roman Republic, starting around the 4th century BC.[citation needed] His cult was introduced also by influence of Etruscan religion in which Turms had similar characteristics.[4] From the beginning, Mercury had essentially the same aspects as Hermes, wearing winged shoes (talaria) and a winged hat (petasos), and carrying the caduceus, a herald's staff with two entwined snakes that was Apollo's gift to Hermes. He was often accompanied by a rooster, herald of the new day,[5] a ram or goat, symbolizing fertility, and a tortoise, referring to Mercury's legendary invention of the lyre from a tortoise shell.

Like Hermes, he was also a god of messages, eloquence and of trade, particularly of the grain trade. He was the patron of travelers and the god of thievery as well. Mercury was also considered a god of abundance and commercial success, particularly in Gaul, where he was said to have been particularly revered.[6] He was also, like Hermes, the Romans' psychopomp, leading newly deceased souls to the afterlife. Additionally, Ovid wrote that Mercury carried Morpheus's dreams from the valley of Somnus to sleeping humans.[7]

Archeological evidence from Pompeii suggests that Mercury was among the most popular of Roman gods.[8] The god of commerce was depicted on two early bronze coins of the Roman Republic, the sextans and the semuncia.