1783 sterling silver teaspoon...

[K1DDO1979]

Im very happy with my first hunt of 2018. We had a January thaw and the ground was soft enough to dig in most spots close to the ocean. My buddy dug a george iii british half penny and a nice british navy commander anchor button before i got there. It was a spot we hit before and found loads of late 1700’s to early 1800’s large coppers. Hits were very few and far between but then i dug a very worn and black silver vicky dime. Maybe if I’m lucky ill get a date later. After that i eyeballed a nice old marble at low tide. The find of the day and year so far is my second Georgian era british sterling silver spoon. Its super tarnished black but thats fine with me. When i first dug it i thought it was a copper spoon until i seen the lion and knew what i had. I did a quick look and found the small h date letter matched london 1783 and also had this info on sterling teaspoon...
“Teaspoons (as are all small spoons and tongs) hallmarked by the London assay office are not full marked until 1821. The main reason for this was the lack of space on the spoon stem or terminal. The methods of marking were as follows:-
Pre 1781 - Bottom-marked with only 2 hallmarks (lion passant & Maker). Their date of manufacture can be estimated by their style and where possible from the working period of the silversmith. Early 18th Century teaspoons may only be marked with a maker's mark or sometimes none at all.
1781 - 1784 Three top-marked stamps; lion passant, maker and date letter (i.e. no leopards head crowned)
1784 - 1820 Four top-marked stamps; lion passant, maker, date letter and* duty mark (i.e. still no leopards head crowned).
1821 onwards A complete set of hallmarks in line with other silver articles.”
Im not sure who the maker is yet but I’m sure i will find out. Thanks for looking! [emoji2][emoji106]

 

[K1DDO1979]

http://www.ascasonline.org/LondraCICERI34BIS.jpg
Here is a John Lambe 1783 London Hallmark. Spot the differences.

However, I do think its 18th C.

I read on him that he had registered and unregistered marks that were all slightly different but still the “I•L”. Im far from a expert so i wouldn’t be surprised if i have it wrong! [emoji2]

 

[K1DDO1979]

Heres some more...

 

[Truth]

Why.... she’s beautiful.

Great job on a beautiful very old spoon. Nice save.

 

[treblehunter]

A quick one minute zap with my hillbilly zapper would knock mostly all the tarnish off both of those beauties. I've found some super crusty tarnished coins and other silver artifacts with much success using electrolysis and baking soda paste rub between the fingers.
Those are some very cool finds especially that spoon, congrats!

 

[CRUSADER]

''I read on him that he had registered and unregistered marks that were all slightly different but still the “I•L”. Im far from a expert so i wouldn’t be surprised if i have it wrong! ''

I wouldn't be surprised if you got it right as well. It's a shame he never got it assayed (which was tax avoidance in those days) because we could be a little surer then.

 

[Trezurehunter]

What a great find.

 

[pepperj]

Congrats on the silver spoon, a welcomed find for a winter dig.
The backing soda/tin foil/boil will leave that dull appearance to the silver item.
A light rub and you'll see it change from a dull matt-shine it all depends on the amount of polishing.

 

[K1DDO1979]

Congrats on the silver spoon, a welcomed find for a winter dig.
The backing soda/tin foil/boil will leave that dull appearance to the silver item.
A light rub and you'll see it change from a dull matt-shine it all depends on the amount of polishing.

Thanks. Whats best to hand polish it with? A certain type of cloth?

 

[K1DDO1979]

''I read on him that he had registered and unregistered marks that were all slightly different but still the “I•L”. Im far from a expert so i wouldn’t be surprised if i have it wrong! ''

I wouldn't be surprised if you got it right as well. It's a shame he never got it assayed (which was tax avoidance in those days) because we could be a little surer then.

Thanks again for looking into it. Im just glad its complete and marked. Perfect start of the year for me. I happy but a shame the vicky dime wasn’t a good one! [emoji30][emoji2]

 

[pepperj]

Thanks. Whats best to hand polish it with? A certain type of cloth?

I have a silver cloth, kind of reminds of a shammy cloth, even a piece of soft cotton, or a rag from the old PJ's works well. Don't buff hard because it'll turn into a high lustred look.

 

[robfinds]

Great find with the spoon, always nice to see. I cleaned this late Georgian silver spoon using silvo. Robert.

 

[K1DDO1979]

Great find with the spoon, always nice to see. I cleaned this late Georgian silver spoon using silvo. Robert.

Great spoon and great shine! [emoji2][emoji106]

 

[robfinds]

Great spoon and great shine! [emoji2][emoji106]

Cheers the spoon gets used a lot, usually for mint sauce.

 

[Argentium]

Robfinds , I also think a beautiful silver spoon deserves to be restored to daily service - they are much too noble a find to be relegated to a drawer or cabinet !

 

[CRUSADER]

Robfinds , I also think a beautiful silver spoon deserves to be restored to daily service - they are much too noble a find to be relegated to a drawer or cabinet !

Agreed.

I used to buy silver spoons as a kid in junk shops. I now use them to make my tea,

 

[MrBlueSkyNM]

Nice! One of my many bucket listers!

 

[KimASvingen]

Here's one i found in Norway, looks very similar, I dated it to around 1780 as well. No makers mark on mine though. Did come out very nice after straighened up and cleaned

 

[Truth]

Not 1700’s but here’s my beauties!

 

[K1DDO1979]

Here's one i found in Norway, looks very similar, I dated it to around 1780 as well. No makers mark on mine though. Did come out very nice after straighened up and cleaned

View attachment 1538279View attachment 1538281View attachment 1538283

They do look close. Thanks for sharing! [emoji2]

 

[K1DDO1979]

Not 1700’s but here’s my beauties!View attachment 1538284

Nice lot of silver there thats for sure! [emoji2]