Catalog: Silver: Coin Silver

This mid 1850s piece is stamped with a three part, "bust, letter, lion" pseudo hallmark and the name "E. Benjamin," for the New Haven, Connecticut jeweler, Everard Benjamin, son of well-known silversmith Barzilli Benjamin.

An olive variant which incorporates what may more accurately be interpreted as anthemion or honeysuckle portraiture, this design is attributed in Silver in the Golden State to the San Francisco firm of Frederick R. Reichel, and identified by the name Olive...

A 9 3/8" long, 2.1 T. oz., solid silver pie server, this piece is marked "Coin" along with a maker's or retailer's mark that is too faint to identify with certainty, although it is likely Boston in origin.

Dating circa 1865, the pattern is Olive, which appears on both sides of the handle. The front is engraved in an elegant, feathered script, "SLM" monogram set sideways in the reserve area...

Relatively lengthy at 6", with slender, Fiddle Tipt handles in a style that is particular to Baltimore where they were made, this group of four, matching, teaspoons weigh 2.3 T. oz.

Each one is stamped "S. Kirk & Son" along with the standard mark "10.15," which is roughly equivalent to coin silver. This specific combination of marks was used 1846-61.

Each piece has a feathered script "EVE" monogram engraved on the front and an exposed thumb drop on the bowl reverse...

While marked "Pat. Appld. For," along with maker's name "J[ohn]. Cook," New York City, later examples of this unnamed pattern indicate the patent was actually issued in 1869, dating this some time before that.

The piece is a large, 9 7/8" long, 2.4 T. oz., die struck, coin silver server, likely for ice cream.

The "rosette and bellflower" pattern is similar to A. & W...

An original knife, fork and spoon youth grouping, each of these pieces is stamped "C.A.W. Crosby" for the Boston jeweler, 1855 onward, and "Pure-Coin," which is a characteristic New England term indicating the silver content.

A double die struck (meaning the design appears on both sides) Olive pattern popular in the mid 19th century, each handle is inscribed in script lettering set sideways, "C.J.A. to C.A.P."

The blunt end, solid, knife measures 7 3/8" long and weighs 1.1 T...

Measuring 6 5/8" long and weighing .9 T. oz., this item could be a preserve or large sugar spoon. It has a shovel shaped bowl which, while not unique to its mid 19th century period, is certainly less common than other forms.

The handle is fiddle shaped with a Tipt backside and rounded shoulders off the shovel. There is a script "JEH" monogram on the front...

A well-regard name among mid 19th century Philadelphia silver manufacturers, James Watts produced this lengthy, 8 7/8", nearly 1.5 T. oz., berry or other serving spoon.

His readily recognizable "horse head over chevron," emblem appears on the handle backside, along with the word "Coin" and the name of the retailer, "George H. Bechtel," also Philadelphia...

Stamped with Albert Coles' three part "eagle/AC/bust" emblem, this 6" long, weighty feeling 1.3 T. oz., coin silver sauce or cream ladle dates from the mid 19th century.

The pattern, Jenny Lind, originated with Coles but was produced by innumerable other manufacturers of the time and was apparently well-received given the variety of inventory that remains extant...

This basket stands 4 7/8" tall to the rim, reaches 7 1/2" to the top of the upraised swing handle, has a top diameter of 5 1/4", stands on a footed base that is 3 1/2" across, and weighs 9.4 T. oz...

Marked on the reverse "Palmer. Bachelders & Co.," this 6 7/8" long, 1.4 T. oz., coin silver serving spoon traces to 1860s Boston.

The pattern is Olive, which while a standard design that was widely produced, and notably popular in the Boston area, there are variations in design among manufacturers.

This example shows clean style, with balanced proportions and well-articulated detail.

A preserve spoon, it has a shell form bowl that is finished with a bright gold wash front and bac...

An early example of Gorham's Cottage, which was issued in 1861 to a coin silver standard and continued in production for many years through and beyond the company's transition to sterling in 1868, this 9" long, approximately 2.5 T. oz., ice cream spade is marked "Patent 1861," "Coin," and "Shreve Stanwood & Co.," for the Boston firm that eventually became that city's renowned "Shreve, Crump & Low."

A relatively plain pattern, this is embellished on the handle front with a delicately en...

Generously scaled, this coin silver server measures 10 1/8" long overall, has a 4 1/2" by 3" at the widest, blade, and weighs 3.3 T. oz.

It is marked "Blynn & Baldwin," for the Columbus, Ohio, pair of jewelers with approximate dates 1850-60.

The handle is in a double-sided "Kings" pattern that almost surely has Philadelphia origins, with kindred patterns illustrated in Catherine Hollan's encyclopedic Philadelphia Silversmiths.

Intended to serve pie or pastry, the blade is a study...

This lengthy, 9 1/8", and weighty, 3.2 T. oz., berry scoop or shovel has origins in Boston, marked for "Bailey. Kettell & Chapman," 1854-58. It is also stamped "Pure-Coin," which is a characteristic New England term.

The handle is a die struck "Bead" pattern that appears on both the front and back sides. There is a cursive "EWL" monogram inscribed on the reverse.

The generously proportioned, 3 1/2" by 2 3/8", scoop is engraved with a highly detailed and finely rendered motif that portrays ...

A major name in mid 19th century Boston silver production and retailing, Farrington & Hunnewell was the maker of this 6 7/8" long, .9 T. oz., coin silver preserve spoon marked "< F & H >."

F&H were masters of bright cut and fine engraving, which this piece illustrates. The work on the front of this portrays anthemion and leaf detailing against a fine line background that mimics engine turning.

The handle has a rounded end with a slight "Tipt" backside, and a shield form reserve, whi...

References assign an 1880 introduction date for Whiting's "Antique Tip" aka "Antique Tipt" pattern made in sterling, but this fork is an example of an earlier, 1860s, version made to a coin standard.

Measuring 7 1/8" long and weighing approximately 1.2 T. oz., this is a lunch, or simply a regular or place, piece.

It is characterized by a narrow shank that broadens widely, comes to a point at an unturned end which has a raised scroll and diamond drop that looks something like a fleur-de-lis...

Singular in form, this place fork measures 7" long and weighs a heavy 1.9 T. oz.

Visually it is divided into two sections. The upper part is flat, thick, and set in a "French Thread" pattern on both sides.

The lower part of the shank is also flat, and has a splayed end where it joins the handle.

The tines are broad and relatively blunt.

It was made by William Gale of New York who operated in numerous partnerships, this one is denoted "WG&S," for William Gale and Son, which spanned th...

Taking its name from the novel by Sir Walter Scott, "Kenilworth" originated with Albert Coles in the 1860s and was later continued in production by George Shiebler.

This 7 1/2" long, 1.2 T. oz., tea aka breakfast aka dessert knife is an early solid coin silver example marked with Coles' three part "eagle," "A/C," "bust" emblem.

Classified as a "Medallion" pattern by D. Albert Soeffing in his foundational work on this design genre, he cites a May 8, 1895 article in the Jewlers' Circular ...

Marked for the prominent Cincinnati firm of "Duhme & Co.," this 6" long fork, 6 3/8" knife, and 6" spoon set has additional provenance as each piece is engraved what appears to read, "Andrew K. Reuss" on the handle front and "Jan. 26th 1872." on the reverse.

Artfully crafted, the hollow handles have rounded ends with a "Thread" design and arum leaf detailing at the join with beaded and engraved banding.

The knife blade, fork, and spoon themselves are all solid silver, and each one is delic...