posted 06-09-2006 06:02 PM            

I just acquired a sugar spoon that looks just like International Silver's Countess Pattern from 1880. The marks on the back of the spoon handle are an eagle, Wm. Rogers and * 3.

Could this be coin silver rather than silverplate? What does the number 3 signify?

Thanks for your insights.

posted 06-09-2006 07:20 PM            

1. (eagle)Wm.Rogers(star) was the mark first used from 1825-1841 by William Rogers and would have been coin.
   
2. Simpson, Hall and Miller also used the mark from 1878-1895 for their plated flatware (they bought Rogers). Simpson Hall and Miller was then bought by International.
   
3. The fact that it is in a pattern made by International much later means it is probably the (eagle) Wm.Rogers (star)used by International for it's plated wares until 1976.

You can tell a plated piece from a sterling or coin piece by it's flexibility, it's weight for size ratio and the sound it makes when tinged with another piece. Some people say a plated piece tarnishes brown and a sterling or coin piece tarnishes black.

Whenever there is a single number on a piece of flatware my immediate feeling is that it is plated, but that is not always the case. If it was an 'X' or an 'O' sometimes that is the heaviness of the sterling.

Can we see it? I may be completely wrong.

posted 06-10-2006 05:13 PM            

Any help will be appreciated.

posted 06-11-2006 11:51 AM            

Here is an example of a Wm. Rogers coin silver serving spoon with mark. I just finished researching coin silver pieces handed down to me. This came from my gg grandmother Abigail Byles (1816 Ashford, CT - 1872 Ashford, CT, md. 1845, Stephen Whiton in Ashford, CT).

8" long. Monogram: "AB". Elliptical-shape bowl, diamond-shape notched neck, fiddle-shape handle with arched back and bent down tip. Marks: eagle in a square punch, "Wm. Rogers" in a rectangular punch, 5 pointed star in round punch.

--- Susan