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This bar pin was found on a goldfield (circa 1850's - 1950's) with silver coins (some of them are pictured below). Can please someone advise if the hallmark on the photo is that of silver or of some other precious metal.
To highlight the contrast between the object's metal on one side and sterling silver (florin 1918) / debased silver (.500 1953 coin) on the other side, I placed them on the same photo. As far as I can tell the hallmark reads as "835/OOC", though "OO" look a bit messy. I would have thought it is silver but the condition relative to the coins found in the same soil might be indicative of something else. Can you also give an approximate date of the design.

Thank u in advance,

Stan.

Bar pins were popular between 1900-1915

Babsy, thank you for this info. No wonder that three pence of 1900 was found in the immediate vicinity of the bar pin. However, the coin is badly tarnished while the bar pin is shiny as new.

Best Wishes,

Stan.

The 835/000 (835 parts silver) pertains to the silver content. For example, sterling silver is 925/000. Which means the bar pin is made of silver and probably from Europe.


Andy

Thank u Andy. Seems quite logical. I must admit that debased European silver was of much better quality than British sterling silver or debased Commonwealth silver , at least it did not go jet black or greenish white after being exposed to the elements for decades. What European countries used 835 silver for jewelry?

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