Meppel a city in Drenthe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meppel
Today Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands located in the north-eastern part of the country. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and the German state of Lower Saxony to the east.
Drenthe was first mentioned in a document from 820, it was called Pago Treanth (Drenthe district). In archives from Het Utrechts Archief, from 1024 to 1025, the "county Drenthe" is mentioned, when Emperor Henry II gave it to Bishop Adalbold II of Utrecht. Subjugation of this region into the Holy Roman Empire culminated in the Drenther Crusade launched by the Papacy around 1228-1232. After long being subject to the Utrecht diocese, Bishop Henry of Wittelsbach in 1528 ceded Drenthe to Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, who incorporated it into the Habsburg Netherlands.
When the Republic of the Seven United Provinces was declared in 1581, Drenthe became part of it as the County of Drenthe, although it never gained full provincial status due to its poverty. The province was so poor it was exempt from paying federal taxes and as a consequence was denied representation in the States General. The successor Batavian Republic granted it provincial status on 1 January 1796.
In the 17th century, Meppel was a small town in the sparsely populated County of Drenthe. Many of the later silversmiths born in Drenthe, left Drenthe to do their apprenticeship elsewhere, like in the cities of Groningen and Leeuwarden. Often after they became master silversmith they did not return to Drenthe, but continued to work in Groningen or left for cities in the province of Holland such as Amsterdam and Haarlem.
In the 18th century Meppel had developed strongly as a craft and trading place and maintained a frequent ferry connection with Amsterdam and other cities in Holland. All peat transport from the reclamation sites went via Meppel. In addition, an extensive weaving industry flourished. In short, there was a lot of activity and money was being made. This exerted great attraction on a few silversmiths at the time outside Meppel, to also establish themselves in this place, in addition to the silversmiths already present in Meppel. In 1764, a number of silversmiths in Meppel, including Remmelt van der Wolde and Arend de Vries, requested the establishment of the guild. Finally, after many requests, Meppel got a silversmith guild in 1765. The legal validity of the guild, which had been proposed for the whole of Drenthe, was limited to the city of Meppel only. Remarkably, the first chosen guild stamp, for which the County coat of arms of Drenthe was chosen, was retained. This was the reason why Meppel’s silver was not marked with the coat of arms of the town Meppel
, but with that of County Drenthe. 
This coat of arms is derived from the seal of the County of Drenthe. A seal of this county has been known since 1262, but the oldest complete print dates from 1294. The seal shows Saint Mary on a throne, with Jesus on her lap and two angels' heads on either side of the crown. The second seal, which was in use from 1395-1795, had the same image, only the angel heads had disappeared. A seal dating from 1715 shows a lion on both sides of the throne and the throne is covered with a ducal crown.
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wapen_van ... raldiek%29
https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldryw ... le=Drenthe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_of_Drenthe
Meppel’s guild examined the silver content with the test needle and touchstone, paying attention to the colour differences. This inspection method is less accurate than the zig-zag assay scrape method (cupellation). The fineness of silver items made in Drenthe therefore showed quite a bit of variation. The first silver standard; maker's mark, city hallmark together with the standing lion and year letter, is almost non-existent. The second standard was often used; maker's mark, city hallmark and year letter. Silver from the guild period of Meppel mainly consists of spoons, purse brackets, bible book clasps & book mounts and all kinds of traditional costume and ornamental jewellery. Some brandy bowls, cream bowls, tobacco boxes, sugar dishes and a tea caddy.
Silver purse brackets made by the Meppel silversmiths have their own shape and appearance and are clearly recognizable as such.
Bracket weight 180 grams, length 24 cm, height 15 cm. Hook weight 44 grams, length 9 cm, shield 5 cm by 3.2 cm
County coat of Drenthe/town mark Meppel, year letter A (first alphabet) for 1765-1766, maker’s mark ADV for Arend de Vries, he was a silversmith with a shop at home and traveled the markets in Drenthe, working 1760-1786. Born in Zwartsluis 24-10-1737, died in Meppel 19-1-1786. Apprentice at silversmith Leyenaar in Meppel. Master marks; ADV, block letters in a rectangle, and ADV monogram in shield-shaped outline. He married Femmigje Bucking in Meppel 29-11-1761, she was christened in Meppel in 11-10-1741. On 19-6-1762 Arend obtained citizenship in Meppel. After the death of Arend de Vries, his affair was continued by his widow, with the help of her children and servants. She also took over her husband's maker's mark; ADV, block letters in a rectangle.
Maker’s mark RVDW in rectangle for Remmelt van der Wolde, gold and silversmith in Meppel, with a shop at home and he travelled the markets in Drenthe with a stall. Since May 1782 also loan bank holder. Master silversmith; 1762-1811. Born in Veendam 29-11-1733, died in Meppel 25-7-1811. Maker's marks; for 1765 printing letters RVDW in serrated contour, RVDW in monogram with an extra mark: six-pointed star in circle. From the foundation of the guild: RVDW, writing letters in rectangle, RVDW, monogram in a rectangle, RVDW, printing letters in a rectangle. Remmelt was probably an apprentice to silversmith Rijcke Leyenaar. Remmelt married in Meppel with Jentien de Vries in 3-3-1762. He was master essayer of the guild several times. Many of Remmelt's works have been preserved. After his death in 1811, the silversmith affair was continued by his son Willem and the loan bank by his widow.
NB. By order of the guild authorities of Meppel small silver items of the 2nd standard (lowest standard) do not have to be marked with the County coat of arms of Drenthe nor a year letter, maker’s mark only (sometimes twice)
Peter.
Source; 350 jaar Zilverstad Meppel by J. Timmer 2009