🥇 BANNER Colonial Era Sterling Salt Shaker

UnderMiner

UnderMiner

Silver Member
Jul 27, 2014
3,782
9,637
New York City
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab Excalibur II, Ace 250
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Found this over the weekend on a site of an old farmhouse. Thought it was modern but today I cleaned it and saw the hallmarks on the bottom. There are three markings: a crowned lion's head, a lion, and a "C". I think this might be over 200-year old English sterling silver. :D Maybe it's from the age of pirates! :skullflag::blackbeard::laughing7:

Edit: Research indicates that this is indeed an early colonial artifact. It was made in London in 1738 and was probably exported to the 13 colonies shortly thereafter. Despite my initial assumptions of it being a salt shaker I'm now convinced it is a "pepper pot". This is the oldest and most unique artifact I have found to date. Thanks to all who helped in identifying and dating this rare and interesting piece. Last find of 2014. Happy New Year! :D

DSC08498.JPG

DSC08499.JPG

DSC08500.JPG
Here is the bottom showing the very old looking hallmarks:
DSC08494.JPG
lion mark2.jpg
 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!
Last edited:
Upvote 71
Kirk PA

Kirk PA

Bronze Member
May 23, 2009
1,455
266
Pennsylvania
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Gold
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
That is just amazing. I would love to have one. Which state are you in?

Kirk
 

CMDiamonddawg

CMDiamonddawg

Silver Member
Oct 14, 2009
4,498
974
Jersey Cape
Detector(s) used
Fisher 1265X & CZ-7
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Very nice , I like it !

:tongue11: CapeMayDiamonddawg
 

Last edited:
K1DDO1979

K1DDO1979

Silver Member
Feb 8, 2014
3,859
8,752
Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Minelab equinox 800, Fisher F75 Ltd SE 2 & Fisher F2 with 11"DD
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Can't believe I missed this thread. Congrats and awesome find. I want one! :)
 

CASPER-2

CASPER-2

Gold Member
Jan 3, 2012
17,158
19,959
NEW ENGLAND
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
6
Detector(s) used
WHITE'S XLT, PI PRO, GARRETT 2500, 3- FISHER CZ21s, JW FISHER 8X
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
This-Rocks.gif
 

A

Argentium

Gold Member
Feb 2, 2008
9,058
5,574
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Detector(s) used
Whites, MXT.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
This is a wonderful find ! I just went to Wikipedia and found out that salt cellars were used fairly regularly into the early 20th century .
(these would have been used in conjunction with the salt "shovel" -a diminutive silver spoon with a flat and square front bowl )
I only bring up the salt to further the case that this is a pepper pot ,since the date would seem to confirm this . As has been
mentioned already , salt and pepper -for centuries , were a high end luxury available to Lords and Ladies and Royalty.BANNER.
 

Prospector70

Prospector70

Hero Member
Nov 6, 2013
832
1,256
Detector(s) used
Bazooka Gold Trap 48", Keene A51 sluices and a
Number 2 Shovel baby!
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
That's a sweet find!
Imagine finding something from the colonial time, must be really cool to hold it.
 

Davers

Davers

Gold Member
Jan 8, 2013
8,127
7,147
N.of , I-285...GA
Detector(s) used
Whites Spc xlt & Tesoro Tejon- Now back ...Fisher 1266-X. TRX Pointer. New .Teknetics G2 + . New AT Pro .
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
UnderMiner said:
Found this over the weekend on a site of an old farmhouse. Thought it was modern but today I cleaned it and saw the hallmarks on the bottom. There are three markings: a crowned lion's head, a lion, and a "C". I think this might be over 200-year old English sterling silver. :D Maybe it's from the age of pirates! :skullflag::blackbeard::laughing7:

Edit: Research indicates that this is indeed an early colonial artifact. It was made in London in 1738 and was probably exported to the 13 colonies shortly thereafter. Despite my initial assumptions of it being a salt shaker I'm now convinced it is a "pepper pot". This is the oldest and most unique artifact I have found to date. Thanks to all who helped in identifying and dating this rare and interesting piece. Last find of 2014. Happy New Year! :D

View attachment 1099246

View attachment 1099248

View attachment 1099249
Here is the bottom showing the very old looking hallmarks:
View attachment 1099252
View attachment 1099798
Click to expand...

Very nice I missed this somehow ,(I get sidetracked on every post it seems )
You Stated "Found this over the weekend on a site of an old farmhouse "
Did you actually Dig it up?
Or was it Found in a 'old ,old shed, ? or trash pile or the like?

It's in Awesome dug Condition, Very Cool
Congratz on the Banner.
Great way to end 2014.
Davers
 

A

Argentium

Gold Member
Feb 2, 2008
9,058
5,574
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Detector(s) used
Whites, MXT.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Underminer , I'm quite interested to know what the weight is in grams/ounces troy ? (Is there any pepper in it ?)
 

G

Guest 1551

Hero Member
Aug 4, 2013
782
889
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
AT PRO, Fisher F2
Primary Interest:
Other
That is so freaking awesome!
 

BigWaveDave

BigWaveDave

Gold Member
Nov 22, 2013
9,322
16,996
Mountain Maryland
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
4
Detector(s) used
Garrett AT Pro, AT Max, Minelab
Equinox 800
Primary Interest:
Metal Detecting
Awesome find, but if were me, my wife would be like "where's the other one?"
 

Ahab8

Ahab8

Gold Member
Oct 15, 2013
8,408
8,288
Topsham, Maine
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2 SE w/15' SEF Coil/ Minelab GPX 4500/2 Garrett Pro Pointers/3 Sets Killer B Headphones/ Koss Headphones/ Detekniy Wireless headphone Adapter
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Man I'm loving this piece! Congrats on a well deserved Banner find
 

coinman123

coinman123

Silver Member
Feb 21, 2013
4,659
5,768
New England, Somewhere Metal Detecting in the Wood
🥇 Banner finds
2
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Teknetics T2 SE (DST)
Spare Teknetics T2 SE (backup)
15" T2 coil
Pro-Pointer
Bounty Hunter Pioneer 202
Fisher F2
Fisher F-Point
Primary Interest:
Other
Wow, I would be thrilled to find something like that. Amazing that it was lost over 250 years ago and still looks how it did the day it was dropped. Congrats on such an amazing historic find, I hope to find something like sometime but I highly doubt it.

Coinman123,
 

CoilyGirl

CoilyGirl

Gold Member
Nov 8, 2012
6,427
5,164
Nashville
🥇 Banner finds
2
Detector(s) used
Minelab x-Terra 505
Primary Interest:
Relic Hunting
Congrats on a true hidden treasure and banner find.:thumbsup:
 

M

Msbeepbeep

Gold Member
Jun 24, 2012
15,787
24,131
MA
Detector(s) used
M-6, pro pointer, pistol probe
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Congrats on a great discovery and making Banner! Fantastic way to close the year!
 

birdman

birdman

Gold Member
Jan 28, 2005
7,458
2,393
Choctaw Beach Florida
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
1
Detector(s) used
Equinox 800 and ORX, tesoro Cibola with garret,whites and minelab pinpointers
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Insanely cool and historic!!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Fort site Eagle Button with script "R" (Rifles)

⬅️ Previous Thread

Yesterdays Scouting Mission...

Next Thread ➡️

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Metal Detecting Stuff

Latest Discussions

Top