Coin Silver Scoop

[richst]

Hi All,
Can anyone shed light on the various marks on this scoop? Thanks, Rich

[richst]

8 3/4 inches long.

[Aguest]

:::::::::::::: James Watts of Philadelphia a silversmith who seems to have only worked in the COIN silver standard of 90% solid silver (sterling silver is 92.5% solid silver) & there is a great article about James Watts archived here & I think what you have is a "cracker scoop" designed for the acquisition and distribution of crackers ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[Aguest]

:::: The Star in the shield actually indicates another silversmith who used a hallmark similar to Watts, either James P. Butler or Butler & McCarty, also of Philadelphia. ::::: I see that addendum to the Watts article now. ::::::::

[silverly]

The retailer may have been Charles Stakeman of Trenton, New Jersey.

[richst]

I agree with the comments and the mark is certainly close to the one in the article. Thanks for the replies

[richst]

UPDATE!!!

After reading your info I went on eBay and searched for "butler coin silver." There were a number of pieces that had the mark; some were marked by Butler with different partners. The most definitive was a large ladle that had simply the symbol and "J.P.Butler." To my way of thinking that is definitive. Thanks again for the leads!

[richst]

Hi
I was rummaging through my silver box and I found a matching sugar sifter ladle. On eBay I found that the pair is called a "berry set." FYI, the scoop is a berry scoop rather than a cracker scoop.