Wooden salad fork and spoon with sterling handles, 1778?

[emw2455]

I'm wondering if any of the silver experts can identify the mark on these decorative silver handled wooden fork and spoon. Both are marked front and back by what looks like a scripted letter inside a sheild. This mark appears above the date 1778 which is why I'm posting in this forum. Both also say sterling front and back at the very base of the silver handle. I've looked through several books on silver markings as well as this web site with no luck so far.

p.s.- not sure if they are really from 1778 or even American.



[/img][/url]

[admin]

Hi,
Believe that is a Simons Brothers mark, accidently embossed in reverse in the pattern die. The numbers are not the date, most likely a pattern number.
Regards, Tom