Coin Silver John J. Low Salem, MA Dessert Spoon, ca. 1825

Description

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We are pleased to present a coin silver dessert spoon crafted by John J. Low of Salem, Massachusetts.  There is a monogram on the front handle that appears to be “AS”.  It dates from ca. 1825 and has typical minor surface scratches, a blunted tip and insignificant bowl issues
.
It measures 6 7/8″ long and weighs 18.6 grams.  The pictures are part of
the description and all items are presented as found.  Please ask
questions prior to bidding.    Code # 
KJK  (CL/XZ)     11-4-2020
Thank you for
purchasing or considering one of our coin silver offerings.  We
wanted to share with you information regarding your selection.
More likely than not, your purchase predates
1870.
There is a difference
between coin silver and sterling.  Coin Silver is 90% silver and
sterling is .925%.  There is a difference of 2.5%.
It is the same composition as American
coins made prior to 1964.
Part
of the reason silver of all types tarnishes is due to the copper alloy
contained in the piece. In coin silver there is 10% copper to give it strength.
From our colonial
times until recently, silver signified affluence.
For the most part coin silver flatware
demanded a degree of hand craft by a city/town silversmith.  After
the 1870’s and the establishment of the sterling standard silver mass
manufacturing became prevalent.  Perhaps one of the leading examples
would be the Gorham Silver Company which started at 1 Steeple Street in
Providence, RI as a silversmith in hand crafted or lightly manufactured
pieces.
After 1870 the craft of hand
production was eliminated except for special orders.
The Gorham company
owned their own mines and after the Civil War had mining interests in the
American Southwest or wherever a profitable mine could produce adequate silver for
its endeavors. The Comstock Lode of 1859 catapulted the industry into mass
manufacturing and by 1870 sterling had all but replaced coin silver.
The small, local silversmiths were
replaced by jewelry shops and ‘fancy goods’ merchants; these shops retailed
sterling silver made in large, mostly Northern,
factories.
Collectors today are
hindered by the lack of available pre-1800 silver which is rare due to the
fact there was a smaller population of affluence.  It wasn’t
until the industrial revolution that silver manufacturing became more
affordable and was proportionate to those who were obtaining modest to great
wealth.
We have heard
repeatedly that coin silver is inferior to sterling. That is simply not the
truth. The 10% alloy of copper makes it stronger.  It is the gauge of
the metal thickness that makes coin silver apt to bend and dent more readily
then sterling.  Your purchase has a real place in our country’s
history.  It was a craft originally found in cities and
towns.  It later became as many other items a mass produced commodity
by a group of large manufacturing companies.  We recommend “Sterling
Flatware Fashions” as a resource to identify your treasures.
You may want to
consider collecting coin silver made in your state or in and around city
centers prior to 1870.  Remember this material will always retain a
degree of value as gold and platinum.
Other Information
We will combine shipping on multiple items.
Sales tax applies for South Carolina
residents.  A valid resale certificate is required for tax exempt sales
shipped with in South Carolina.
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prayers and thoughts.