150+ YO Silver Spoons Mono "A.H." and Spanish '8 Escudo'

[UnderMiner]

While maintaining the environmental integrity of yet another New York sanitation center this morning I made a stunning discovery - the toxic contamination levels of the dump were not over the legal limit - so no paperwork! Also after I was done with my investigation I found a set of silver spoons from 19th-Century Europe in the mix of rubbish that I am more than happy to dig through! They seem to be of an early pre-unified German state, likely Prussia or maybe even Austria or some other smaller kingdom. There are 7 spoons in total - weighing a combined 187.4 grams. All the spoons date from the early-mid 1800's as they employ the archaic Loth silver standard markings of 12 and 13 representing 75% and 81.2% purity respectively.



The spoon silver maker's marks include: "Gorth" and "Pundt":




When I saw the "A.H." monogram on the back of these silver German spoons I immediately thought "Adolf Hitler" but then quickly realized that these spoons are likely too old to have belonged to the infamous dictator... but Adolf Hitler's father Alois Hitler perhaps could have owned them as he lived 1837-1903 which falls in line with the age of the spoons... but more than likely these spoons belonged to someone completely different who just shared the same initials.


I also found a collection of old pins, a watch, and an '8 Escudo' which nearly made me faint until I turned it over and saw a button shank - it was just a button - but it looks cool anyway and has legit markings- Potosi mint dated 1711.


I also found this pin to be particularly interesting, it's a military distinctive unit insignia "They Who Pass Fly High", I haven't been able to find out what this dui pin's actual unit name was yet or how old it may be.

Everything interesting I took home today:

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Very nice finds, congratulations!

 

[Rookster]

Those are nice finds.Congrats

 

[cudamark]

Sounds like and interesting, dangerous, and frankly disgusting site! Nice finds though!

 

[Whyme]

Wow nice stuff there!

 

[A2coins]

I want a crack at that place amazing stuff great job

 

[UnderMiner]

Sounds like and interesting, dangerous, and frankly disgusting site! Nice finds though!

There is an area there that has higher than normal radiation levels and another area where there are sometimes mountains of asbestos. Ten years ago the place exploded when a large industrial gas tank ruptured, the guy that runs the place loves telling me stories of what happened in the past there... and some of the stuff he found - an original Nazi helmet, a still active artillery shell, someone once found a loaded gun, a cash register full of money, a safe that when he broke open was bursting with silver coins, and $35,000 wrapped in cellophane plastic in the crisper drawer of an old fridge. After hearing these stories I knew this was a place I was going to enjoy.

 

[K1DDO1979]

Crazy finds. I can only imagine the amazing stuff that gets tossed out one way or another to be buried and lost forever. Well almost forever in this case if you didn’t happen to find them. Good job! [emoji106]

 

[LI Tom]

I have ask how are able to gain access to this sites,are they run by the city or private?You are really a unique kind of treasure hunter!