Port Royal Pewter

Combat Diver · Sep 21, 2005

Excellent shape, anyone see anything like this before?

ashleen · Sep 21, 2005

Nope, never seen one; but here's some Port Royal info...
http://www.cindyvallar.com/havens4.html
(~.~)

Mona Lisa · Sep 21, 2005

It looks like an ashtray. You would put your cigs between the bumps on the edge. Maybe a souvenir?

Where'd you find it?

Combat Diver · Sep 21, 2005

No doubt an ashtray. I did some research, finding a study by Texas A&M folks. Pretty extensive. Nothing on the "crowned rose" that appears in the center. It does appear to be old, but I find it too coincidental having that particular year and town engraved into it and no other touch marks.

weldermark · Sep 22, 2005

did they have cigarettes back then

still a cool find.

HH Mark

EyeShine · Sep 22, 2005

They had something.... most agricultural farmers in the 1600's grew tobacco or sugar.

Combat Diver · Sep 23, 2005

More like Gigars than cigerettes. I did find in the studies that a pewter metalworker/blacksmith family left Port Royal for South Carolina, I found it in NC. This thing might have been travelling around awile. Now it's in Florida!

EyeShine · Sep 23, 2005

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing it with us.
And yeah, I figured it was probably more for cigars than cigarettes. Although the bumps are a good size for either.

However, I found this information on a chronological history of cigarettes starting thousands of years ago and going to today:

In 1614, in Spain, Seville is decreed the center of cigar making for spanish grown, New World tobacco. The poor, using left over tobacco from cigars, make the first cigarettes to be smoked in europe.

birdman · Sep 25, 2005

WoW

I have read alot about Port Royal and of course dreamed of diving it. What kind of permit would you have to have, to go on that site? The history there is amazing. Did you bring that up yourself? Great piece of history!Congrats.

Combat Diver · Sep 26, 2005

I did not bring this item up, in fact from its condition, I don't think its ever been in the water. Although I too have read alot on Port Royal, I've never been there. I'm sure like most places, its not watched 24hrs, but if your caught you are in trouble. Texas A&M has done extensive research on the site and students have written some great papers on various subjects pertaining to Port Royal. Here's a good site: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/sina.htm, and for the guy who runs the show: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/academic/FACULTY/hamilton.htm

jeff of pa · Sep 26, 2005

weldermark said:
did they have cigarettes back then? still a cool find.

HH? ?Mark

http://www.cigarettes4smokes.com/cigarettes_history.html

Combat Diver · Sep 26, 2005

SWR, Thanks. My money is on your hunch.

bradandmilan · Sep 27, 2005

Possibly it was a commemorative, given the date matching the date of the earthquake? If so, that might help explain the fine condition.

Brad

EyeShine · Sep 29, 2005

jeff of pa said:
weldermark said:

did they have cigarettes back then? still a cool find.

HH? ?Mark

Click to expand...

http://www.cigarettes4smokes.com/cigarettes_history.html

That's the page I quoted from :P

PhipsFolly · Oct 10, 2005

Hi all... i'm new to this forum so I thought i'd jump on in and give it a try. The Port Royal "dish" you have I believe is a commemorative souvenir (that very well could be an ashtray). The date on it (1692) was when the earthquake sank the pirate city into the sea and the crowned rose I believe symbolizes the English Rule over the island... the rose being the "English Rose". I have a collection of artifacts from Port Royal from the famed TH'er Bob Marx. I had the pleasure of having lunch with him recently... great guy and funny as heck! Anyway, hope this helps.