rob_vic
Full Member
I dug this awesome tag recently and wanted to share it with y'all! The front has 5 W.I. etched into it and was found in an area where the 5th Wisconsin Infantry was known to have fought and camped during the Virginia Campaign.
I took it to a local silver expert to help with the marks on the back and this is what he was able to tell me:
It appears the tag was cut from a pocket watch, snuff can, or other thin gauge silver object and sewed onto a hat or other personal belonging.
The back has the following English hallmarks:
Lion passant indicating the piece is Sterling silver.
Crowned Leopard represents the London Assayers Office.
Date letter "U" indicating the original silver item was produced in 1815.
The duty mark is present, but very worn.
The maker's mark is "IH" and possibly represents John Harris, an English silversmith.
My first tag ever and first silver of the year!
Thanks for looking!
I took it to a local silver expert to help with the marks on the back and this is what he was able to tell me:
It appears the tag was cut from a pocket watch, snuff can, or other thin gauge silver object and sewed onto a hat or other personal belonging.
The back has the following English hallmarks:
Lion passant indicating the piece is Sterling silver.
Crowned Leopard represents the London Assayers Office.
Date letter "U" indicating the original silver item was produced in 1815.
The duty mark is present, but very worn.
The maker's mark is "IH" and possibly represents John Harris, an English silversmith.
My first tag ever and first silver of the year!
Thanks for looking!
