1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

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Aguest
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1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by Aguest »

Ok let us now hope for the best image loading :::


Image
Image

I don't understand what the fourth hallmark is for. The makers mark is for "John Main." The date letter code is for 1740 (although, to be honest, even this does not look exactly like the image in the list of date letters for Edinburgh, but it is closest to 1740). The GEO hallmark is the assay master hallmark which only lasted a few years due to a dispute in the hallmarking office at the time. The fourth hallmark, I do not understand. Is it for a provincial town, or is it perhaps another mark which I am not familiar with? I will get better pics of that mark, as it is very difficult to distinguish.
Aguest
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GED Assay Mark

Post by Aguest »

I meant to say GED hallmark, my mistake, see the Contributor's Notes for a good description of this particular GED hallmark.
Aguest
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by Aguest »

The mystery hallmark is nearest the top of the image:

Image
Aguest
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by Aguest »

It looks like that hallmark is just the Edinburgh towers mark, badly miss truck, such that it is not really recognizable, this is since John Main was an Edinburgh silversmith and not a provincial silversmith, as I have read at least as much :::
dognose
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by dognose »

Hi Aguest,

I think you've nailed it. It's a very nice find.

Trev.
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by Archivist »

Hi there

Please see Silver Studies, 2006, the article by Rodney Dietert: the JM in a shaped punch has been definitively re-ascribed to James Mitchelson (active 1706-1757). According to our records, John Main emigrated to Cadiz in August 1734, so the piece cannot be by him.

Best wishes

Elspeth

Archivist, Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh
dognose
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by dognose »

Hi Elspeth,

Many thanks for updating the topic, it is appreciated.

Trev.
Aguest
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Re: 1740 Cup John Main GEO Assay Mark

Post by Aguest »

Wow, that is amazing, I found a few John Main hallmarks in my research, so I suppose all of them had been mis-attributed?

Are the two hallmarks extremely similar?

Thanks for updating this topic, now I am glad I posted this to the forums, this could be of great service to collectors of Scottish Silver.
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