A Charming Reminder of Our NJ Dutch Heritage!

Erik in NJ · Mar 4, 2013

When I found this little silver charm yesterday I was just a bit shocked and forgot all about the cold weather that I was hunting in. This also came from the colonial house I have been hunting. I got a small peep sound on my Explorer SE that was repeatable, however the detector was also nulling and when I tried to pinpoint, it seemed to focus on what must have been an iron object. I would normally have passed on this signal as iron falsing, but something made me go ahead and dig. Perhaps I did it because this house has yielded so many amazing relics so far.

Out of the hole at about 5" popped this beautiful little silver Dutch "wooden" shoe! The Dutch represented many of the early settlers in my area and this house has been owned by a number of prominent Dutch families since its construction back in the 1700s.

I'm not sure that the charm is that old as it contains an 835 silver content (which is unusual as far as I know) and a hallmark that resembles a key or a screw. There is also a date letter that I cannot make out yet. The heel area is either painted or enamelled red. It's such a beautiful tie in to our local history and to this house in particular. I'm betting that this charm was made in Holland and sent to America as a gift.

Just out of sheer curiosity I had to dig the iron signal next to it. It turned out to be a rusted square nail about 2" - 3" from where the charm laid buried. Being able to recover such a beautiful small item so that it can again be admired was a great thrill. I was yet to find one more incredible find and a first for me yesterday.

G.A.P.metal · Mar 6, 2013

Erik this might help
Guide to World Hallmarks - Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
Gary

Don In South Jersey · Mar 6, 2013

Neat find, you are definitely hitting some great spots...

relicmeister · Mar 6, 2013

Old or new, very nice find, Erik

Erik in NJ · Mar 6, 2013

relicmeister said:
Old or new, very nice find, Erik

Thanks relicmeister for your kind words! I've only unearthed two silver charms in decade+ of detecting, this and the other was a lovely little silver bell in Cape Cod a few years back. Would love to be able to return this one to the property owner if they lost it. They have been very gracious to give me access to their property.

gunsil · Mar 7, 2013

Erik in NJ said:
"The United States government first started using coin silver in 1792, but at that time the purity could range from 750 to 950 per thousand. In 1906, the United States government passed a law defining coin silver as 900 parts per thousand."

So it would have to be marked 900 or .900 to be coin silver.

835 is European coin silver, and early American coin silver. Your charm is likely made in Europe. Yes, our American silver coins made after 1792 were 900 fine, but there is a lot of silver flatware, plates, bowls, etc., that was made in colonial America from 835 coin silver. And as you said, if it was made in America before 1906 it could still have been called coin silver. Where are you in N.J.?? I live in Rockland County, N.Y. and we have a lot of Dutch colonial sites here too.

Erik in NJ · Mar 7, 2013

gunsil said:
835 is European coin silver, and early American coin silver. Your charm is likely made in Europe. Yes, our American silver coins made after 1792 were 900 fine, but there is a lot of silver flatware, plates, bowls, etc., that was made in colonial America from 835 coin silver. And as you said, if it was made in America before 1906 it could still have been called coin silver. Where are you in N.J.?? I live in Rockland County, N.Y. and we have a lot of Dutch colonial sites here too.

Hi, Dutch-man was able to ID the hallmark as Dutch and post 1953. I'd originally thought it might be a bit older, but it's still a nice little charm which is made in Holland. The owner of the property is of Dutch heritage so I'm going to see if they lost it years ago. Would be nice to return it to the original owner. I'm in northern NJ--I sent you a PM.