Indian Trade Silver Found - how to date?

[Cal_Cobra]

I went on a roadtrip with a detecting buddy to check out some sites we had researched, and found a piece of Indian Trade Silver (not common to find in California). The site was on a fur trading route, and early emigrant route.

This was about 8" deep, tarnished and dirty, I initially thought it was a piece of junk until I got it home and looked at it closer. Then under magnification I noticed it was engraved, and cleaned it up with some baking soda and water. If you click on the image it will enlarge to see better details.

Does anyone have any idea as to its age? I'm assuming it's fur trading era, late 1700's to early 1800's?

Thanks for looking, and happy hunting!

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[abucooche]

very nice, that is what i am looking for!

[Tom_in_CA]

Nah, it's modern aluminum with factory made teensy hash marks. Throw it back. Sorry 'bout that

[MarkDz]

It sure looks like silver and the engravings could easily be from the 1700s-1800s. I've never seen trade silver so heavily decorated, but then again I'm most familiar with what's found here in the East. Cool find!

[wwwtimmcp]

try finding some books through your local library,
trade silver by robert c alberts
indian trade implements by charles e brown
canadian silversmiths by john e langdon
indian trade goods by arthur woodward
montreal trade silver by ramsay traquair
hope this helps

[Brian C.]

Try this.

[Sklybones]

Cal Cobra, I know nothing of trade silver but found this piece about 10 years ago, Your design is what made me think of it ,But mine is made of lead I think, very bendable. Found not far from it was a piece of brass opium container lid with chinese writing on it. For some reason I cant get the pic to post

[Sklybones]

resizeinjun-1.jpg picture by Sklybones - Photobucket

[GatorBoy]

Try a magnet

[leprechaun]

Really nice piece of silver.