Interesting Heavy Plate with Mexican Hall Marks

[JimDon]

I picked this up at a thrift store today. It has a silvery brass color and has four hall marks including 700. I thought I would take a chance it is real 700 fineness silver and bought it for $2. The hallmarks appear to be good but I am not sure. The acid test seemed right and even the rust spots disappeared when I put acid on it. When the acid is wiped off the rust spots are then a milky silver. My scale does not go up high so this is at least over a 1LB in weight. What do you think?

 

[NorthernTesoro]

Very interesting plate, the Mo mark is weird because that is the Mexico City mint mark, I have never seen it on anything other than coins.

 

[Beachkid23]

700 is a silver purity. Says it was made in Lebanon.

http://www.925-1000.com/a_Standards.html

 

[diggummup]

Those are 19th century Mexican Hallmarks. That being said , they could be forgery marks also. I can see that your plate was hand worked. The rust was caused from a ferrous object that was in contact with the plate. I don't have a book that dates anything that old but here is a photo of the oM mark and eagle with forgeries-

 

[JimDon]

I saw that which is why I am suspect. If you are going to create a forgery why 700 and not 900 or 925. I may need to take this one to a professional.