Antique Queen Anne style Britannia silver mug

Antique Queen Anne style Britannia silver mug

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This antique silver mug is a marvellous recreation in Britannia silver of a design that was originally produced in the Queen Anne period circa 1705. The silver mug is handmade and hand chased and there is an applied moulded girdle around the upper portion of the body. the circular sheild at the front of the mug is suitable for engraving.

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 items of silverware. Britannia standard silver 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 the Britannia standard was not abolished and has remained in use as a voluntary alternative option to sterling standard for hallmarking in the UK and Ireland.

Britannia silver should be distinguished from Britannia metal, a pewter-like alloy containing no silver.

Dimensions:

Height 130 mm / 5 "
Weight 422 g (13.57 troy ozs)
Year

1896

Place

London

Condition

Excellent

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