I'm new to this posting thing, but thought that I would give a try to see if I can get some help. My father brought 2 box's of items over such as very unusual silver teapots, sugar dish's, platters, coins, and more. A friend of his gave them to me to sell for him. He was tearing down an old home to get ready for a new home and when he tore the walls down from the attic, he found all of these old silver items. Along with this he found other items such as a large diamond ring and other items, needless to say I have NO DIAMOND RING, ha.
In any case, I am wanting to do the best job for him to sell his merchandise but I really lack much knowledge on coins or silver. I am asking that if anyone knows much about either of these fields can you drop me an email address or something, and I'll send you descriptions or pics of what I have. I've looked on auctions under these catigories in search of information, but really was overwhelmed easily.
Any suggestions would be greatly greatly appreciated.
posted on March 17, 2001 08:48:59 PM new
I would take a find like this to a professional for identification and dating. Are there any marks? How old was the house that was torn down? What part of the country? Exciting stuff.
posted on March 17, 2001 09:40:56 PM new
I could try to to help you regarding the coins. If you want, you can contact me with any information you have at:
Whatever else you do, DO NOT CLEAN THE COINS. Doing so can (or more likely, will) cause damage, and lower their value considerably.
[ edited by mrpotatoheadd on Mar 17, 2001 11:08 PM ]
posted on March 18, 2001 03:25:23 AM new
Exactly what mrpotatoheadd said about the coins goes for any old silverplate also....do not clean it! Silverplate can be rubbed off.
posted on March 18, 2001 03:46:34 AM new
I read about this recently. It was a normal method of construction back at the turn of the century to to have long boards that went through th whole house vertically to form the walls. They did not stop between floors and close it off with a base plate or header. If you dropped something into the open wall space in the attic it would go all the way down to the first floor.
It also had the bad effect that if the house had a fire it would race up through the walls with nothing to stop it and the whole house goes up super fast and is almost impossible to put out. Even when you get the fire out it is still burning inside the walss and can start up again when you are sure it was out.
posted on March 18, 2001 05:36:41 AM new
Wow interesting find,you could really make up an interesting description with these.
All you need are a few other facts to go with it.
Consider the reason why such where in the walls.You would find such or similar kind of things in old houses in England I used to read of it fairly regularly.
It appears they may have been put there to protect the family jewels so to speak.With the intent to come back and remove them when it was safer.
The only thing that comes to mind is the American Civil War.With the coins bearing a date that would help to determine the age of the items.
Are the coins dated and what are the dates,are they gold,silver,coins etc.
If they are of this time period then they where probably put there to protect them from looters but the origional owners never made it back to pick up the items.
I would include a pic of the house a pic of the whole lot and then the item you are selling individually or whatever just make it clear in the add.
Is there any way you can take some pictures and post a link to them for us.
As was suggested what ever you do do not clean the coins.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:03:50 AM new
This is interesting. Could you do as suggested and give more information about the items and some pictures. I love stories like this.
posted on March 18, 2001 09:32:46 AM new
Dang...we've been tearing down walls and all I've found so far is my sister's report card and my brother's shorts (it's the house I grew up in!)....somehow I don't think they'd bring much.....
posted on March 19, 2001 08:18:29 PM new
Hello All,
Sorry for the delay, I've been out trying to move. I'm back. I've talk to the sir that owns the items, and he's really a nice man. I wanted to get more detail from him on the situation.
He purchased an old rugged home here in Texas. Apparently the original owners were from England, and have passed on and it was sold a couple of times since their passing, but no one else discovered these items, but then they wouldn't if they didn't tear down the walls. In any case he tore this home down 2 years ago, so he's had these items in his garage. SORRY, he cleaned alot of it, thinking it would help, before bringing it to me. He did not get some of it finished. He doesn't really think he has much, because they are not solid silver, but I did discover some silver coins and some solid items while looking through it. I've been looking through it and trying to get pics taken, but not for sure on how to get it somewhere so you can all view it. I'll figure out something. I hope to get it up for sale on ebay in the next couple of days.
Here's a list of some of the items, when I spoke to him last night, he still has the 4 kt. diamond ring and the old vintage watches and other jewerly, and some World War II newspapers and Military badges and pins also. He's going to be dropping them off also.
It is all ENGLISH/Canada Coins, and they are in plastic Ulster Bank Bags, all of the writing is in pounds and says silver 10, silver 5, and bronze1. and other writing. Some of the coins:
.25 Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina, backside Canada 1962, silver.
HERE'S A WEIRD ONE::: FRONT SAYS:
INDUSTRY SHALL PROSPER FOREST, CHARLESVILLE, WITH 2 MEN IN DRESSES AND A SHIELD DATE IS 1802.
THE BACK SAYS ONE SCHILLING AND ONE PENNY. PAYABLE AT THE TULLAMOORE, FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH.
A PACK WITH BRITAIN'S FIRST DECIMAL COINS COLLECTION.
THERE ARE MORE COINS, BUT THAT'S A GREAT START.
A SILVER TEA POT THAT SITS IN A STAND FOR CANS OF FUEL TO SIT UNDER IT TO KEEP IT HOT. IT'S REALLY PRETTY FANCY LOOKING. IT DOES ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE MILK GLASS ON THE HANDLES OF THE STAND AND ON THE TEAPOT. 5 OTHER TEAPOTS THAT ARE DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES WITH LIKE HARD PLASTIC HANDLES, LIKE BAKE LIGHT PLASTIC. SET OF SILVERWARE. A SERVING TRAY, CREAM & SUGAR AND SALT AND PEPPER SERVERS. LITTLE TEA STRAINERS, AND LEMON TONGS, A FEW SETS OF CUTTING KNIVES STILL IN THE ORIGINAL BOX'S, TOO MUCH TO GO INTO. HA.
A COMPLETE SET OF DESERT PLATES TO SERVE FOUR WITH THE CUPS, SAUCERS, PIE PLATES, AND SERVER, WITH CREAM AND SUGAR DISH. THE BOTTOM SAYS, ROYAL ALBERT BONE CHINA ENGLAND SIGNED CHALSEA BIRD. A SET OF 6 WHITE AND GOLD SMALL COFFEE CUPS WITH SAUCERS, BOTTOM SAYS; MINTON,1793, BONE CHINA HAND WRITTEN NUMBERS AND LETTERS ON EACH.
ONE SET OF CUP AND 2 PLATES, SAYS COURT CHINA SIGNED ROBT. HOGG.?????? BELFAST WITH A CROWN AND SOME SCRIBBLY WRITTEN NUMBERS.
ANYWAY, THIS WILL GET ME STARTED FOR NOW.
ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS WOULD BE A GREAT HELP.
I FORGOT TO MENTION....
MOST OF THE SILVER IS MARKED WITH SYMBOLS AND SIGNS, AND MOST SAYS WALKER & HALL SHEFFIELD ENGLAND, AND HAS DIFFERENT NUMBERS ON EACH.
posted on March 19, 2001 09:19:28 PM new
All values given are for average circulated pieces. Uncirculated pieces would be worth more, damaged pieces less.
*****
.25 Elizabeth II Dei Gratia Regina, backside Canada 1962, silver.
.25 Canada 1945, silver.
.10 Canada 1965, silver.
.25 Canada 1959, silver.
Unless they are brand new, these are worth their value in silver only. With silver at $4.30/oz., these have a little more than $2.00 worth of silver in them combined.
The 1 shillings have a catalog value of $0.15 to $0.25, the 2 shillings are $0.25 to $0.35.
*****
PENNY 1909
Catalog value of $0.65
*****
CANADA 1 CENT 1867-1967
Face value
*****
FARTHING 1949
Catalog value of $0.10
*****
ONE PENNY"""""""""" 1939
Catalog value of $0.20
*****
Note: The British coins above can typically be bought from a dealer for 15 to 25 cents each.
*****
A PACK WITH BRITAIN'S FIRST DECIMAL COINS COLLECTION.
Catalog value- $2.00
*****
HERE'S A WEIRD ONE::: FRONT SAYS:
INDUSTRY SHALL PROSPER FOREST, CHARLESVILLE, WITH 2 MEN IN DRESSES AND A SHIELD DATE IS 1802.
THE BACK SAYS ONE SCHILLING AND ONE PENNY. PAYABLE AT THE TULLAMOORE, FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH.
Can't help with this one, but it has more potential than the other pieces listed above.
*****
Sorry I can't tell you that you've got a fortune there.
posted on March 19, 2001 09:30:56 PM new
Re: The bone china
Royal Albert has its own subcategory as I belive Minton does also in the Pottery:Porcelain class. Depending on the condition, bone china can still do fairly well. Good Luck! Finds like these are always fun to hear and read about.
For some reason, I've always had a recurring dream about finding a quarter and when I pick it up, there's another one next to it, and then another, and soon I have so many I can't pick them all up. In RL, I only find pennies in the gas station parking lots!
