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 Replies: 31 / Views: 4,625 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
4411 Posts |
Could someone please give me a hand identifying this bar. I'm going to assume its silver but its a weird weight? Any information would be great. I got it from a dealer for a very cheap price. He thought it was silver but wasnt sure. Its been sitting in his junk silver for the past 2 years so I thought id finally grab it.  |
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Valued Member
Canada
62 Posts |
You're wondering if its really silver?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
I've bought a lot of coins that were minted at Pobjoy but I've never seen one of these. It certainly looks like silver but since I'm assuming it doesn't have any identifying markings, I'd err on the side of caution and guess it's not. Pobjoy makes some incredibly elaborate sets, as you may know. I'm wondering if this might have been part of one of their commemorative packages? Best guess, anyway. But if you're really curious, I'd send them an email and see what they say. If you find out, I'd like to know, myself.
sales@pobjoy.com
usasales@pobjoy.com
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Valued Member
Canada
321 Posts |
I believe that the lion in their design stands for sterling silver.
back in the 19th century and earlier, smiths used hallmarks to show what the metal content is, were it was minted and when it was minted.
the lion was used to mark that the metal is sterling silver.
So my guess is that the lion in their design has 2 purposes :)
Edited by Imohtep
06/10/2012 2:33 pm
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Valued Member
United States
272 Posts |
Sort of looks like a token used for a set, sort of like old mint sets had a plastic token with them.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
745 Posts |
 It looks like that German Silver stuff that does not contain any silver, also looks too new to have the lion used to mark that the metal is sterling silver. Edited by Penny4Me
06/10/2012 4:16 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
The lion and castle make up their crest. Not sure if it ever denoted silver content. Pobjoy claims to trace their roots back to the Middle Ages, so who knows?
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Pillar of the Community
 Australia
4411 Posts |
Thanks guys. Maybe I will flick them an email with the pictures and hope I get a reply.
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Valued Member
Canada
321 Posts |
Pobjoys crest is  Although they do have the lion and castle crest on the top left of their homepage shown here  I do believe it serves two purposes both as crest and hallmark for sterling silver. Edited by Imohtep
06/10/2012 11:59 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3670 Posts |
First thing I thought of was a rook, as I like to castle, lol....
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Valued Member
United States
272 Posts |
Any word back on what it is?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1411 Posts |
Very interesting... I can't wait to see what you find out about that bar... I've never seen any bar made of anything other than gold that is that small (a 1 grain gold wafer)
Edit: I put gram where I should have put grain.
Edited by Windchild
06/13/2012 2:15 pm
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Valued Member
Ireland
131 Posts |
Edited by Spikey Norman
06/13/2012 2:33 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1454 Posts |
Spikey,
Thanks for the links, but they only left me with more questions. The first one, the seller from China, says the set includes seven coins when there are only six and one ingot. The second link says, correctly, seven coins, making no mention of the bar in the tally, or it's silver content. Something just doesn't jibe. I still ask, why would Pobjoy go to the trouble to make a silver bar and not stamp sterling or .999 on it for identification? Because they didn't take that small extra step, one would have to assume it's nickle or zinc or some non-ferrous metal, but not silver.
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Valued Member
Canada
321 Posts |
Quote:
Spikey,
Thanks for the links, but they only left me with more questions. The first one, the seller from China, says the set includes seven coins when there are only six and one ingot. The second link says, correctly, seven coins, making no mention of the bar in the tally, or it's silver content. Something just doesn't jibe. I still ask, why would Pobjoy go to the trouble to make a silver bar and not stamp sterling or .999 on it for identification? Because they didn't take that small extra step, one would have to assume it's nickle or zinc or some non-ferrous metal, but not silver. If you read any of the posts I have made, they might have stamped it sterling silver but not using a .999 or .925 marking but instead using a HALLMARK. The hallmark represented by the lion ( facing left on all 4 legs like in the center of your bar ) means sterling silver. As I said, the lion on your bar most likely is being used as a crest AND as a hallmark for sterling silver. |
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Valued Member
Ireland
131 Posts |
Quote:
Spikey,
Thanks for the links, but they only left me with more questions. The first one, the seller from China, says the set includes seven coins when there are only six and one ingot. The second link says, correctly, seven coins, making no mention of the bar in the tally, or it's silver content. Something just doesn't jibe. I still ask, why would Pobjoy go to the trouble to make a silver bar and not stamp sterling or .999 on it for identification? Because they didn't take that small extra step, one would have to assume it's nickle or zinc or some non-ferrous metal, but not silver.
traevin, The links were purely there as reference to show that these sets contain an ingot such as that the OP purchased, can't say I paid much attention to the accuracy or otherwise of the sellers comments as I thought it might just be helpful to have an idea where it might have originated. As I stated originally I can't definitively answer as to whether it is Sterling or not as I don't own any of those sets, I will however reiterate that I have other sterling sets where the ingot is indeed also sterling silver but is likewise not marked. If PM don't respond with a definitive statement regarding the composition the piece can always be tested, I'm just trying to give a little more info as was requested. If you or anyone else wants to assume it's nickel, zinc or whatever thats fine. Norm |
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Replies: 31 / Views: 4,625 |
Posted 06/10/2012 2:21 pm
