That is a
hammered silver paperweight used by Spanish Explorers to weigh down maps during their journeys. Based on the size and approximate weight,
this is most likely belonging to, or have been lost by the Spanish Explorer Hernando de Soto, who explored the region in 1541, when he encountered the Casqui tribe in NE Arkansas. (See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casqui)
What is more likely is that the paperweight was traded with the tribe for goods, as it's one of those "things" that looks impressive when you're in court, but frankly is nothing more than a rock holding a map edge (of which there are plenty around, pretty much everywhere you go). It would have been quite something to know what he traded it for.
What you have is
an EPIC find, there, my friend.
Similar examples have sold upwards of $11,000, especially in that condition.
While Hernando de Soto explored in Arkansas in 1541, and met with the Casqui tribe at that time, in 2017, a guy named Skippy completely used that tale to spin a yarn on a forum pretending he knew what he was talking about. Basically, I just made up the above story. You are welcome for the experience, you no doubt had, while enjoying the history lesson.
It is very much like finding a gold plated ring, btw. Awesome for a moment... The difference is, you still have a 12 ounce hunk of silver, even though I made up the story, and have no clue what that is.
WELCOME TO THE FORUM!
We're pretty friendly, here. And some of us are funny, too.
Cheers!
Skippy
