Took a chance

JimDon

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May 6, 2009
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I picked up this tea strainer from a thrift store today. It was only $.99 and I could see some small tiny dent like hallmarks but I could not read them. It showed some signs of corrosion and the inside and looked almost brass. For $.99 I went for it. It took a whole lot of research but I finally figured out it was the number 13, a unicorn head and another Mark which I found to be Austria Hungarian duty important Mark. Turns out the unicorn is the hallmark of Schwäbisch Gmünd in 19th Century Germany. The 13 means it's . 812 silver. I cleaned it up little bit in the pics. .80ozt. I also picked up a really nice heavy sterling silver and Seaglass necklace for four bucks weighing in at 44 grams.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1466567608.049670.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1466567626.524072.jpg ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1466567671.787961.jpg

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ethanfez

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Jun 15, 2013
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Nice! Any clue why the 13 means .812 silver? Seems like a weird number to use for that imo.
 

captain flintlock

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Awesome finds JD. I just never seem to find much at our local thrift shops.
 

GibH

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May 17, 2009
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Good eye. I wouldn't have even thought to look at a strainer, unless maybe it was in an antique mall.
 

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JimDon

JimDon

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May 6, 2009
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Nice! Any clue why the 13 means .812 silver? Seems like a weird number to use for that imo.

It is a function of 16 being pure silver. 13/16 = .812. It is old German.
 

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JimDon

JimDon

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May 6, 2009
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Good eye. I wouldn't have even thought to look at a strainer, unless maybe it was in an antique mall.

You have to look at everything with a silver color. Key chains, belt buckled and frames can be silver. Keep looking.
 

Beans

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May 31, 2008
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Schwäbisch Gmünd Germany, nice place. Lived there for 3 years when I was in the Army.
 

BagLady

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Mar 13, 2015
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Awesome finds. I've been looking at everything too. Went the other day, saw a little creamer and sugar that looked like pewter. It had some kind of mark, that was obstructed by the price they put on it. I didn't have my glasses, so I let it go. Will go back this wkend and look again if its still there.
 

curbdiggercarl57

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Nov 19, 2007
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Great score! Would never of thought of looking through tea strainers, I swear I learn something
new here every visit!
Kudos!
Carl
 

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