S10 Farr & Brother Coin Silver Fork, Grapevine, 1855

What is "coin silver"? Most early American (colonial) silver flatware and hollowware was made by melting down the available silver coinage of the time. This was a practical solution that both provided useful items and safeguarded one's money before banks were established (monograms allowed people to put their name on their valuable silver possessions). On average, the coin silver standard is about 900 parts pure silver per 1000.  Around 1870, the sterling standard (925/1000) was adopted more and more, as the need for an established standard prevailed.

This is a 7 1/2" coin silver fork marked Farr & Brother Pure Coin Pat'd 1855 (probably John C. and William M. Farr, Philadelphia, PA).  This has a nice grapevine pattern on the front, along with the monogram ACR, and a nice sturdy gauge.

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