Complete Pewter Spoon, Crotal Bell, 1857 Canada Halfpenny

[ANTIQUARIAN]

The finds from my first site were a decorative brass pendant frame and a #3 size crotal bell. My last find here was a complete 19thc pewter spoon marked ‘BRITAW’. I can find little about this maker online, if anyone knows about this company, I’d appreciate you sharing it with me. I also discovered a heavy stone marker set in the ground at the front of the site carved with a #2, I have no idea what it refers to? I might just have to dig it out and bring it home with me on my next visit, as this site will be developed for housing sometime in the next 10 years. Just as I was leaving my friend ‘Farmer Rob’ showed up in his Case Tractor towing a Tandem Disk Harrow.

"Pewter was the chief material for producing plates, cups, and cutlery from the 17[SUP]th[/SUP] to 19thc. The mass production of pottery, porcelain and glass products saw pewter universally replaced in daily life. Pewter artifacts continue to be produced, mainly as decorative or specialty items. Pewter mugs and tankards may be the most familiar pewter artifacts from the late 17th and 18th centuries, although the metal was also used for many other items including porringers, plates, dishes, basins, spoons, measures, flagons, communion cups, teapots, sugar bowls, beer steins, and cream jugs. In the early 19thc, changes in fashion caused a decline in the use of pewter flatware. At the same time, production increased of both cast and spun pewter tea sets, whale-oil lamps, candlesticks, and so on. Later in the 19thc, pewter alloys were often used as a base metal for silver-plated objects."

My next site was a site I’ve been detecting for 3 years now and every time it gets disked, I swear it’s like a brand-new site! My first find was the little brass toothed tab marked ‘PARIS’. I’m thinking this was possibly a suspender clip or part of a pants buckle. My next find was an 1857 Upper Canada Halfpenny, which was poking its head out of the soil at me as I swung by. I took a pic of this rock on the site mainly because in the sunlight it looked like ‘blue quartz’, but not so much after I got it home and gave it a bath. I also found a small padlock, a ‘Carhart’ overalls button, the horse teeth, the marbles and a couple of early buttons.

Just as I was about to leave ‘Farmer Don’ showed up to plant the field with this year’s corn crop. Don and Rob are brothers who farm most of the land I detect in this area.

Thanks very much for looking,
Dave

 

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[cmthunder]

Nice bunch of finds Dave. Coin looks beautiful!

 

[Jeff H]

That was a good hunt any day! Not easy to find a complete pewter spoon....and one with a maker's mark. Nice pile of plate shards. I do like finding those. A halfpenny bank token is high on my wish list. They do occasionally show up here in MA.

 

[erfranks]

Very Nice Saves!!!

 

[Elvis]

Awesome saves! Congratulations

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Argentium]

Nice finds Amigo ! Love the brass frame , the bank token ( referred to as " Dragon Slayer " on another post !) cleaned up nicely !!

 

[DigToChina]

Wow! That token is in great shape!

Good finds Dave!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nice bunch of finds Dave. Coin looks beautiful!

Thanks Chuck, hope you're having a great year so far.
Dave

That was a good hunt any day! Not easy to find a complete pewter spoon....and one with a maker's mark. Nice pile of plate shards. I do like finding those. A halfpenny bank token is high on my wish list. They do occasionally show up here in MA.

Thanks for your post Jeff.
A complete pewter 'anything' has been high on my bucket list for years, this and a Native arrowhead.
These tokens are always a favorite of mine to find.
Dave

Very Nice Saves!!!

Thank you Sir.

Awesome saves! Congratulations

Thanks Elvis.

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

Thanks Randy

Nice finds Amigo ! Love the brass frame , the bank token ( referred to as " Dragon Slayer " on another post !) cleaned up nicely !!

Thanks for your post my friend.
These beautiful tokens were made in England for us here in Canada for 8 years from 1850 -1857.

"The Bank of Upper Canada was established in 1821 in York (Toronto, Ontario) under a charter granted by the Province of Upper Canada in 1819. When Upper and Lower Canada were united in 1841 to form the Province of Canada, it was decided that only the bank that held the government accounts should have the right to issue copper tokens. In 1850, the parliament of the Province of Canada passes acts 13 and 14 to amend the Currency Act, allowing authorized banks to produce legal tender tokens. Between 1850 and 1857 several banks issued a series of penny and halfpenny copper tokens. Between 1850 and 1857 the Bank of Upper Canada issued a series of handsome One Penny and Halfpenny copper tokens. The obverse of a penny token issued in 1850 is shown and features a St. George and the dragon motif encircled by the legend ‘BANK OF UPPER CANADA’ and the date. The St. George motif was designed by Benedetto Pistrucci for the British sovereign of 1817 and is considered to be the definitive representation of the theme."

Wow! That token is in great shape!

Good finds Dave!

Thanks very much D.
Hope you're getting out detecting these days, there's no rain in the forecast for at least the next 7 days.
Dave

 

[CRUSADER]

Thats cool getting a complete pewter spoon. No idea how many broken bits I've had (tons) but I do know I don't have a complete one like that.
Congrats

 

[lenmac65]

Very nice finds and post. I really like crotal bells, and that one looks great. Congrats on the fine hunt.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Thats cool getting a complete pewter spoon. No idea how many broken bits I've had (tons) but I do know I don't have a complete one like that.
Congrats

Thanks for your post Cru.
I'd much rather it have been Sterling, but these were farmers and based on the finds they had some money, but not much.
Most of the finds from here look to date from 1840 but none after 1880, so the site was likely gone by the turn-of-the-century.
It was down at 10", so that's probably what saved it from the plow.

Best of luck to you and your Dad,
Dave

Very nice finds and post. I really like crotal bells, and that one looks great. Congrats on the fine hunt.

Thanks very much Steve, I tend to find a lot of these early bells in my area.
They stand up well to the plow and the horses pounding them.

Hope you find one this year,
Dave

 

[WannaDig3687]

Great finds, Dave! You know I love crotal bells and if I ever find a whole one, you will probably hear me shouting all the way up there. That marker is very interesting. I hope you can figure out it's purpose.

All is well on this side of the pond. I hope you and yours are doing well.

~WD

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great finds, Dave! You know I love crotal bells and if I ever find a whole one, you will probably hear me shouting all the way up there. That marker is very interesting. I hope you can figure out it's purpose.

All is well on this side of the pond. I hope you and yours are doing well.

~WD

Thank you for your post WD.
I wish the stone marker had more writing on it though, I did go back and dug it out yesterday.
Unfortunately, it was just too heavy to lift out of the hole and carry back to my car on my own, so just I replaced the dirt and decided to leave it be.

Best of luck finding that elusive crotal bell,
Dave

 

[ARC]

Nothing to see here... move along... move along...

Nothing new... FOR...

Anti always finds cool stuff.

:P

Well done.

 

[Florida Finder]

Fantastic Hunt!!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Nothing to see here... move along... move along...

Nothing new... FOR...

Anti always finds cool stuff.

:P

Well done.

Thanks very much ARC, I appreciate your post my friend.

Fantastic Hunt!!!

Thank you Sir.
Best of luck to you in FLA.
Dave

 

[romeo-1]

That is such a rare find it deserves a spot on the banner. Who can say that they've detected a complete pewter spoon. Fragments are all I've ever found. Nice save!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That is such a rare find it deserves a spot on the banner. Who can say that they've detected a complete pewter spoon. Fragments are all I've ever found. Nice save!

Thanks for the BANNER compliment, but I sincerely doubt that's going to happen.

I hear you, all I've ever found are bits and pieces as well.
This find was a real surprise, it must've been dropped during an outside meal.
Dave

 

[Tnmountains]

What a great post and it looks like you just beat the brother farmers to it. i have always wished to find one of those bells but my sites are just not that old in my area.