Are there any other hallmarks on this piece? I believe the spoon is Brit sterling, not American coin silver. The maker's mark appears to be that of W. R. Sobey, circa 1840 in Exeter, England. I would expect to also see a three-turret castle city mark, a lion passant sterling mark, a gothic capital letter date mark, and a duty mark of a queen's head, facing right pre-1839 or left post-1839. If no other marks are present, it could be a duty dodger, or perhaps a piece that was otherwise not sold (at least, legally) to the public (just guessing here).