Rhodesian silver date letters

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rat-tail
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Location: Durban, South Africa

Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by rat-tail »

Hi All
I stumbled across this spoon and thought it might be interesting simply to show Rhodesian silver hallmarking conventions. Which I did not know existed. including a date letter <Q> for 1978. Now I am not sure whether they had a 20 or 25 letter cycle and included I and J but it may be of interest.
The spoon has the Rhodesian crest on it and was one of a limited edition of 1000 made by Scottish Jewellers of Salisbury. It's not a particularly attractive or well made item, but it does come with a tag explaining the hallmarks.

Regards Frank

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dognose
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by dognose »

Hi Frank,

Many thanks for this information. I've been sitting on the below images for years, but without ever gleaning any details about the maker, or the date letter system.

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Can you add an image of the other side of the tie-on label?

Your information has now enabled us to extend the topic of South African and Rhodesian Silversmiths

Trev.
rat-tail
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by rat-tail »

Hi Trev - looks like the same spoon - except your marks are better - will get you a pic probably on the weekend.
regards Frank
silverly
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by silverly »

Just in case it is not generally known and I haven't missed mention of it somewhere, I believe that the graphic inside the inverted triangle Rhodesian Standards Association mark is an antelope.
dognose
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by dognose »

rat-tail
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Posts: 270
Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2008 7:32 am
Location: Durban, South Africa

Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by rat-tail »

Hi Trev
I promised you many moon ago a picture of the front of this tag on the spoon - sorry completely slipped my mind - here it is
thanks Frank

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dognose
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by dognose »

Hi Frank,

Many thanks for the image, it's appreciated.

Trev.
dognose
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by dognose »

If 'Q' is the year letter for 1978, then in would appear that a new sequence may have been started at some point, perhaps to tie in with the UK system:

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PM - Zimbabwean national mark - 'a' - Millennium mark

Trev.
dognose
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by dognose »

Letter 'b' also noted with the 2000 Millennium mark:

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PM - Zimbabwean national mark - 'b' - Millennium mark

Trev.
dognose
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Re: Rhodesian silver date letters

Post by dognose »

Image
PM - Zimbabwean national mark - 'a' - Millennium mark

Trev.
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