Eastern European (Hungary?) or German mark?

jackk · Post by **jackk** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:26 am

Hi, I'm a little puzzled over this mark. I tend toward eastern europe but my intuition failed me before and this forum is a gift that I go to when in doubt. There is a visible number 13 on the bottom of the mark. Something that looks like a "6" or "G" on the left side. Also, there are initials of the maker that look like "JM". Any help?
Thank you,
Jack

Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:09 pm

jack,
What are the 2 little touchmarks to the left of the 13 mark?

regards, Tom

jackk · Post by **jackk** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:53 pm

It lis too small and faded to be sure but it looks like a combined VR. I am attaching a drawing of it.

Jack

Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 5:16 pm

Nice drawing! According to Tardy, the VR in a round cartouche (notched at the bottom) is an Austria-Hungary mark used 1866-1922 as a remark on antiques.
The 13 town mark I read as a tower with a gate at the bottom surrounded by date numerals - all above the 13 lothig mark, would seem to be 1860s. A quick scan through Tardy shows Budapest & Szehesfervar as possibilities. Take that as a preliminary finding, I'm sure there are other towns it can be and my reference resources in the area are woefully inadequate.

Regards, Tom

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:49 pm

Definitely Budapest; more accurately, the Hungarian city of Pest before it, Buda and Ã“buda were combined into the modern Budapest in 1873. "JM" is the maker JÃ³zsef MÃ¼ller (Master 1823, died 1864), who used this mark from 1836. Given that MÃ¼ller died in 1864, the last digit of the year looks most like a "3" for 1863.

Hope this helps!

jackk · Post by **jackk** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:49 pm

Once again, this forum proves to be my best resource. Is the "3" on the mark the digit of the year? It seems to me like a silver finess mark. The only other digit I see is a "6" on the left side.

Jacek

blakstone · Post by **blakstone** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:25 pm

The 13 at the bottom is the fineness; the number which would be the last digit of the year is worn, but I think it might be a 3. Here's a clear image of the full mark:

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