Silver Nips

[zoner87]

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question about these nips. I have taken a huge jump and assumed that the date letter is the crowned L in an oval. Again also an assumption that it's sheffield, as there are only the two marks shown on the nips; aside from a tool mark on the inside.

Any help with these would be wonderful.







Please feel free to move this post if it is in the wrong topic! =)

Many thanks,

Edward
zoner87

[dognose]

Hi Edward,

I believe that the 'Crowned L' is the mark used at Lisbon 1814-1816. 'FAA' would be the maker, but I have no references that cover this.

Trev.

[silverport]

Hello

dognose indication for Lisbon is correct.

Town mark of Lisbon, vol. I, p. 5, nr. 38 and 39 (explanation nr. 38: Marca de Prata de contraste de Lisboa, usada entre o primeiro e segundo quartéis do século XIX = mark for silver by Lisbon ward of the Mint, in use between first and second quarter of XIX century [1800-1825]; explanation nr. 39: Marca variante de precedente = variation of the former one).

Lisbon maker, vol. I, p. 39, nr. 353 is “possibly“ (= same indication in Portuguese guide: “Presumivel“) Francisco António de Almeida — this mark was registered from 1809 on.

Source: «Marcas de Contrastes e Ourives Portugueses» by Manuel Gonçalves Vidal and Fernando Moltinho de Almeida, Reprint 1997 by Imprensa Nacional-Casa de Moedas (Portugese National Mint, in Lisbon).
ISBN 972-27-0773-6 (Two volume; vol. I = XV c. to 1887, vol. II = 1887 to 1993). From 2008 on out of stock until ?

Kind regard silverport

[zoner87]

Wow, thank you so very much for all your help.

Is there any indication of fineness on silver marks of that period? Also, are marks from Lisbon of that age on the web anywhere? All I can seem to find is modern Portuguese marks.

Thanks again for your help.

Edward
zoner87

[silverport]

Hello Edward

Yours question on fineness is a very good one — during my quick shot I couldn’t find more details on fineness (because Portuguese isn’t my language). In the above mentioned source, p. XIII of introduction, be only general information’s: Standard in the country was «10 dinheiro» (= .833), exceptional «11 dinheiro» (= .916). But in some (not identified) periods it was «9 dinheiro» (= .750).

If you hold in mind that FAA mark was first registered in 1809, you’ve also to be hold in mind previous occupation of the Iberian Peninsula by French troops — well, on 16 June 1808 started from my actual exile town an uprising successful and on 16 July a little trawler, manned by 16 local fishermen started from here to bring this glorious notice to Rio de Janeiro, where their king lived in exile. In time before, Portugal had to pay an enormous amount of money to the French. And the whole ended not before 1814 (1815 Congress of Vienna).

I guess, maybe yours tongs has for that reason only a fineness of «9 dinheiro» (= .750). To get knowledge of this detail, I advise you to make yours own historical research.

I’ve need 20 year to get my source — it was the ever last one in stock in the National Mint.

I guess, actually you wouldn’t find many information on Iberian Silver (Portuguese; and Spanish [except by Mr. José L. Muñoz, in Madrid]).

Be happy with yours tongs — I guess it was used to serve toasted bread. Until yet I haven’t seen a similar one; and also haven’t in my collection.

Kind regards silverport