What is this?

Blackhawk

WhiteLighnin

Don't know, but it sure is neat!!!!

Aethelred

I have no idea, but it is very cool!

Spiffy469

its interesting, thats what it is

Jeff

Blackhawk

I don't know...I found it while looking through a box of stuff that I had for some time. I don't know if I got it in a lot or what, but it looks to be made of silver.

Aethelred

Looks like an early silver assay bar of some sort.

wybrit

It looks English. The reverse of the 1953-1966 English shillings resembles the one stamp on it.

Blackhawk

I see what you mean.

Aethelred

Anyway you could post better pics of the stamps?

lordmarcovan

I think it's siege money.

Need a closer pic.

Aethelred

<< <i>I think it's siege money.

Need a closer pic. >>



Could be a high dollar item either way!

lordmarcovan

Yeah. Siege money typically ain't cheap.

sumnom

It's cool, whatever it is.

Blackhawk

Here are some pictures of the other side and close-ups of the stamps...sorry about the blur, it's the best that I can do.

lordmarcovan

Civil War siege money?

English Civil War, that is.

Blackhawk

What is seige money?

sumnom

I was going to ask the same thing.

Aethelred

<< <i>Civil War siege money?

English Civil War, that is. >>




I don't think so, I am standing by my assay bar theory.

MSD61

<< <i>What is seige money? >>



Cities, castles, and forts would find themselves under siege by an opposing army. Needing change for use, large amounts of silver plate was melted down, cut into pieces, and stamped for use of the city or castle under siege. Nearly all of these issues were quite crude, and are all fairly rare today.

AuldFartte

I saw a piece that was similar a while back ... it was from some place in India, but I can't remember exactly where. It was reportedly used as money and was a bit shorter in length than yours.

coachleonard

i agree with the siege money theory-- Ireland had some such crude silver siege coins in the 1600's, and they're quite rare. Man, point me in the direction of the junk box YOU'RE looking through!

PuddlePirate

I have no idea, seige money prehaps. It actually reminds me of some silver peices I saw in an antique shop in north georgia a few years ago. All the silver spoons and forks had the utensil part cut off and the remaining silver parts were stamped with a dalonega assay stamp, the us civil war version of seige money.

Askari

I think an assay bar is more likely than siege money. I don't recognize the royal emblems offhand, but they should give you a clue as to its origins.

sumnom

Any developments yet? This is fascinating.

Blackhawk

There is one development...I put the thing on my desk somewhere and it seems to have been lost amid the clutter.

sumnom

Well, at least no you don't have to deal with it for a good long while until your desk tectonics bring it to the surface again.

traderdave

If I may add my two bits worth, I though Tom's point was interesting because India was a British Colony. There is no Indian writing on it that I can see but Britain had other colonies too, and if it were mine, I would contact some British source about what the mint mark initials indicate. That would tell the story, I would think.

Askari

<< <i>There is one development...I put the thing on my desk somewhere and it seems to have been lost amid the clutter. >>

You know, of course, this means it's extremely rare and quite valuable ... if you never see it again; if you do find it, it will turn out to be mis-identified and the most common variety.