1746 Copper, hallmarked silver spoon, shoe buckle and more

[doninbrewster]

Got permission to hunt a new spot. Went there a couple of times and here's what I found. I always like finding silverware. The spoon is hallmarked and dates to 1895-1909 and made in Philadelphia. The thimble was kind of neat as it was found about 6" away from a button. The 1746 George II is my nicest of the variety to come out of the ground. I've found older, but not as nice. It was just about dark and I was afraid the mosquitos were going to carry me away. Nice early shoe buckle came out of the site too.

 

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[Tin Foil]

Beautiful finds Don! Looks like you're having a great season so far. -Tin Foil

 

[beez0404]

That was a very productive site. Hope you find many more like that.

 

[Iron Patch]

Some nice detail on that one, and looks to be a good example to show where cleaning dry carefully with a toothpick is a whole lot better idea than risking a peroxide soak. And not that a peroxide soak is usually risky, but is on that coin because the idea is to always make a dug item better.

 

[Argentium]

Hey Don , Great finds ! I think your spoon is closer to 1795 - 1809 - the rather pointed bowl and "fiddleback" form of the handle are
characteristic of a date not later than 1830-or 40 I would guess .

 

[OWK]

Hey Don , Great finds ! I think your spoon is closer to 1795 - 1809 - the rather pointed bowl and "fiddleback" form of the handle are
characteristic of a date not later than 1830-or 40 I would guess .

Actually, his spoon is older than he thinks it is... but not as old as YOU think it is.

It dates most likely from 1840 to 1860.

The hallmarks he is reading are likely "pseudo-hallmarks" used by upstate NY makers.

I could probably tell you who made it with a quick look at the marks.

 

[OWK]

By the way Don... that's an AWESOME copper.

 

[RelicMedic]

Wow what a hunt!! Big thumbs up on that one!!!!!!!

 

[doninbrewster]

Actually I was thinking the spoon was much older too, but one web site had the hallmark listed with this date range. It certainly appears to be older and some online images I've found date it to somewhere between 1750 & 1850. Here's the spoon as I found it. Part of the punch Hagar & Bee___ is missing. I did find a Hagar & Beebee, watchmakers and jewelers, silver and alabata ware, 2 Washington Place in the 1867 Watertown NY directory.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Some nice detail on that one, and looks to be a good example to show where cleaning dry carefully with a toothpick is a whole lot better idea than risking a peroxide soak. And not that a peroxide soak is usually risky, but is on that coin because the idea is to always make a dug item better.

Yes very nice detail, but soon to be gone unless it's sealed, you can see it flaking at the edges now. The shoe buckle would have been a nice looker to, when it was new, some nice detailing on the frame.

SS

 

[park pirate]

Awesome..

 

[Steve in PA]

Great hunt Don. Good luck on your next trip there!

 

[OWK]

Details on the spoon...

The actual maker of the spoon was Hotchkiss & Schreuder. They manufactured coin silver spoons in Syracuse, from 1850 until 1865. Up until the 1830s or so, most spoons were made by local silversmiths. But beginning at about that time, manufacturers (mostly in upstate NY) began producing coin silver spoons for resale by retail jewelers and watchmakers (who were typically also silversmiths).

Your spoon was retailed by Hagar & Beebee in Watertown... but probably before 1867 (which was the approximate end of the coin silver era, and the beginning of the STERLING era). It was Hagar and Beebee who monogrammed and sold the spoon.

Depending on the size of the population in Watertown in that time, and the rarity of the initials in the monogram.. it is sometimes possible to narrow the possible buyers to just one or two...

 

[K1DDO1979]

Great finds. I've found tons of old spoons but still waiting for a silver one!

 

[leviathanrick]

I found an identical buckle to the one you found. Do you know it age and maybe some history. Mine came from a church that dates to the revolution.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Man! I just wish there was a way for the finds to tell the story that went on around them for all that time!
Can you imagine!? A time lapse of over 200 years in the ground. Seeing everything that went on around them?

WTG!

 

[DMN]

Beautiful looking coin.

 

[relicmeister]

Excellent finds, Don. I have found several really old spoons, but I think the oldest lacks a makers mark

 

[Bubba65]

Great finds Don, nice details on that copper for sure

 

[port ewen ace]

my spoon is identical in shape. found up the river last month in Port Ewen, .800 German Silver dating to mid 1800's, weight is 1.14 Troy ounces.

Got permission to hunt a new spot. Went there a couple of times and here's what I found. I always like finding silverware. The spoon is hallmarked and dates to 1895-1909 and made in Philadelphia. The thimble was kind of neat as it was found about 6" away from a button. The 1746 George II is my nicest of the variety to come out of the ground. I've found older, but not as nice. It was just about dark and I was afraid the mosquitos were going to carry me away. Nice early shoe buckle came out of the site too.
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