London Spoon 1721 leopard Head

[rhodrit]

Hi all!

I have this spoon dated 1721 just after the return of the Sterling Standard.





My question refers to the leopard head. The mark looks extremely like the leopard head seen on trefids of the pre Britannia era. Does anyone have any information on whether new punches were made on the return of the Sterling Standard or as this punch looks did they just get out the old punch from yonder years pre britannia?

Best wishes,
Rhodri

[rhodrit]

Here is a photo where I have tried to remove some of the glare in case it helps.



regards,
Rhodri

[dognose]

Hi Rhodri,

I see what you mean in the similarity between the pre and post Britannia standard leopards' heads, but I think there are differences, be it only slight. I did have a list somewhere of the engravers used by the London Assay Office, but I cannot find it at the moment. If you can acquire a copy of 'Hallmark - A history of the London Assay Office' by J.S.Forbes, from memory, it contains the information on the engravers employed by the LAO.

Trev.