posted 12-18-2003 02:16 AM            

Let me start with:

3 fiddleback tipt spoons marked "B.E. Cook" and "Pure Coin".

1 Butter Knife fiddleback tipt marked "Rogher Broths" and "Pure Coin". (no typographical error there)

2 fiddleback tipt spoons market "Ziba Ferris & Son" and "Pure Coin".

No problems so far. But, now, the next items have the same feel and look as the above, but are marked with the name only and no mention of coin or pure coin.

3 fiddleback tipt spoons marked "E. Mead".
3 fiddleback tipt spoons marked "Arrington & Honeyw(ell)
2 fiddleback spoons marked "B.M. Bailey"
2 fiddleback tipt spoons marked (unreadable)
1 fiddleback tipt large spoon marked "Wombly & Smith"
1 fiddleback tipt serving spoon marked "H. Harrington"

When I went through my sterling and plated silver, it was easy....no "Sterling"/it's plated.

How do I identify the above items, though? Does it have to say "coin" to be coin? There's a feel and a look that says "coin", but I don't like to misidentify things. I mentioned the ones that are marked "coin" to show that I have least seen and handled coin.

One other item, but I'll put it in a separate post since I'll have an image of it.

Last question: I assume that Cook, Bailey, Ferris, Roghers, and the rest were silversmiths and not the jewelry store that sold them (as I see on some sterling pieces). Is there a book that would provide some information on each? They're not in my Rainwater's EOASM. I'm looking for a book that might be in the library since I don't want to buy another book for 20 or so pieces.

Thanks for reading this far.

Tony

posted 12-18-2003 02:49 AM            

The above is a 9" serving spoon. Unlike the other - smaller - spoons in the first part of this post, it doesn't have that thin feel of coin silver. It's rather sturdy and rigid.

But, it isn't marked anything. If you can't read it, the spoon is dated 1899 and marked "G. Kramer". I don't know if that wiggly line is a maker's mark or not.

Would you say coin silver or unmarked sterling? Of course, the English were electroplating in the mid-1800s, so it could be that.

Tony

posted 12-18-2003 11:54 AM            

How do you identify Coin Silver... my wife thinks it instinct, some say its feel, some say its the look, I say its all of the above....

There are a number of the folks on this site who could add to the list, but I use several methods...

The first thing I look for is the shape and color... The shapes can be determined by the dates when a piece was made and are listed in several books... ( I will list a couple later in the post)

The Color of coin silver has an almost blue tint to my eye, while sterling has a whiter look to it... (assuming it has been cleaned or tarnish)

The weight can be helpful, but coin comes in many different styles and weights, some almost paper thin and other very heavy. It depends on the smith that produces it and client it was being made for. In my opinion, heavy coin was most often made for wealthy clients as it required more silver to produce the heavier pieces, while the less wealthy would have limited resources (less silver) to have the pieces made...

As a rule of thumb if a piece has an embossed or swagged mark (name or initials or other marks are raised from the surrounding metal in a cartouche), I tend to believe it is coin faster than I do when it is incised (pressed into the metal)...

Another way I judge coin is by the spring in the handle, coin is flexible where most plate is very ridged...

I guess it is the combination of all of the above and having handled several thousand pieces it becomes instinct to realize the feel, weight, look, texture,(some on this site have said smell... I have not had any luck with this one, but hey what ever works for you)....

As my eye sight is failing, I think my hands are learning the feel of it... I know that sound funny but I am not I can explain it any other way...

as for books... That a whole other field if you just want to know the marks is from a known silver maker, the simplest is Kovel’s American Silver Marks, but there are a lot of mistakes in the editing of the books, but a fair reference if scholarship in not the important...

If scholarship is important then Flynt and Fales, Beldens, Ensko, or one or more of Cuttens books may be in order...

I know that others will have an opinion as well.

I wish you much success and have some fun...

As for the Spoon you have a picture of i would guess it to be Continental Silver (European in origin) due to the shape, the "Squiggley line" and the monogram all lead me believe it is not American. You mention it is ridged and most of the non-marked pieces in this style have been of 800 fine silver, but other may have another opinion...

posted 12-18-2003 04:03 PM            

• Scrape mark or diet - A gouged line (often a zig-zag line) where a portion of silver has been removed for the purpose of an assay to test its quality. Sometimes these lines are later polished away, but they are often seen intact, especially on articles of Continental manufacture.