My buried treasure

[AlexLindores]

Hello,
18 years ago I was making "mud pies" in my Grandparents garden, they lived in Middleton, Leeds. I found a ring there and I remember taking it to my Gran and we soaked it in vinegar to clean it (I know that probably wasn't the best way). Recently I found the ring again in a jewellery box I had put to one side.
The ring is missing three stones and is still quite dirty but now fascinates me on where it came from.

I can decipher one mark (Z) but after a lot of research I've realised unless I can figure out the other two marks that this Z on a square background could be a number of dates.

I wonder if someone with a little bit more experience could look at the images below and shed any light? I have taken pictures from different angels as I wasn't sure which way was correct.

I did think it was British Silver but as I can't figure out the makers mark could it be an import and I've wasted time researching British?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Alex

[dognose]

Hi Alex,

Welcome to the Forum.

Your ring was assayed at Dublin in 1967. Are there no other marks?

Trev.

[AlexLindores]

Hi Trev

Thank you for that! I'm glad to know something about it now!

There are no other marks on it, after doing further research I thought it should have more too. Does that mean it's perhaps a bit of a fake or "shoddy" workmanship?

KR
Alex

[dognose]

Hi Alex,

In theory it should have a maker's mark applied prior to submission at the assay office, but perhaps this one slipped through the net.

Trev.

[AlexLindores]

Thanks again! So I can know its origins but I will never know who made it?

Just adding to my post above - I'm fascinated by hallmarking now and so I know I understand my research, you knew those details because you read the Hallmark like this:



(I have to admit I was studying the images upside down for quite some time)

- The first symbol is the Hibernia, meaning the Dublin Hassay office?

- The second symbol is the Crowned Harp, which relates to the fineness/purity which in this case means sterling silver?

- And the last one is a Z in a square background, which is the date mark. My researched failed here as I can only find letter date marks up to 1920. Am I missing something really obvious?

Thanks again for all your help!

Al 8-)

[dognose]

Hi Alex,

Yes, you are correct as far as the marks are nowadays accepted. Technically, the Harp Crowned mark is a fineness mark struck by the Dublin Assay Office. The Hibernia mark was introduced in 1730 was was used to denote that the Duty on the piece had been paid.

Trev.