french pill box need markers mark help

[digitialgirl]

Hi I am hoping someone can helpme identify this mark :) My eyes hurt - it looks like a diamond with a diamond then an E (but i dont see anything before the diamond(- I cant get clearer picture but i put other pictures of the box so maybe it helps - i see it has both a crab and a minevera mark on the box as well.



Box:


Box inside and front:



thank you in advance

[Francais]

The odds are it is half of a lozenge shaped mark, it should also be present on the other half of the box. I doubt anyone is going to be able to help without clearer pictures. I could certainly translate the Latin, if you copy what you see, as again the photo doesn't work.
Maurice

[digitialgirl]

Thanks I tried to find another half but no luck,the latin will have to wait until next week when I get a proper loup :D Merci

[vervene]

Hi,

The crab mark is the silver mark for minimum 800 silver purity from 1838 to today, the minerva head minimum 925 silver, 1838-1973. The other mark is a diamond erased with the initial of the silversmith, unlikely to find it.

Best

[JayT]

A couple of typos have crept into the last post in this thread. The crab mark was in use in the departments from 1838-1962 to indicate at least 800 fineness for smalls (la petite garantie). A mark between the lower legs of the crab indicates the department. From 1963-1972, the crab mark was used for both Paris and the departments. Since August 1973 the guarantee for smalls of at least 800 fineness is a small Minerva head facing right surrounded by a plain border. So the crab mark was in use from 1838-1972.

A Minerva head facing right in an octagonal reserve with a number 1 in front of her forehead indicates silver fineness of 950. The French silver standard from 1838-August 1973 was 950, not the lower, so-called sterling standard of 925. After August 1973, France was required to adopt the 925 standard to harmonize with other countries in the European Union.

See Tardy, 20th edition p. 200.