Queen Anne Britannia silver coffee pot
Queen Anne Britannia silver coffee pot
2620
In a lovely example of Queen Anne silver, this straight sided silver coffee pot has a side handle that is traditional for the period and a hinged flap covering the spout. It is made in Britannia standard silver (.958) and is in superb and original condition, featuring an engraved family coat-of-arms on the body.
The Britannia silver standard (95.84% fine silver) was introduced in 1697 by King William III to replace sterling silver (92.5% fine silver) as the obligatory standard for pieces of silverware. Britannia standard was introduced as part of his great recoinage scheme when attempts were made to limit the clipping and melting of sterling silver coinage to make other silver goods. Introducing a higher standard for silverware meant that sterling silver coins could not easily be used as a source of raw material without adding more silver.
The sterling silver standard was restored in 1720, but Britannia standard was not abolished and remains in use today as a voluntary alternative to sterling for hallmarking in the UK and Ireland.
Britannia silver should be distinguished from Britannia metal, a pewter-like alloy containing no silver.
Dimensions:
1708
London
Excellent
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 and is in superb and original condition, featuring an engraved family coat-of-arms on the body.The Britannia silver standard (95.84% fine silver) was introduced in 1697 by King William III to replace sterling silver (92.5% fine silver) as the obligatory standard for pieces of silverware. Britannia standard was introduced as part of his great recoinage scheme when attempts were made to limit the clipping and melting of sterling silver coinage to make other silver goods. Introducing a higher standard for silverware meant that sterling silver coins could not easily be used as a source of raw material without adding more silver. The sterling silver standard was restored in 1720, but Britannia standard was not abolished and remains in use today as a voluntary alternative to sterling for hallmarking in the UK and Ireland.Britannia silver should be distinguished from Britannia metal, a pewter-like alloy containing no silver.){kind=link}