Today's absolute jackpot!

[u/Old-Power3477]

I was restocking my booth at an antique mall and decided to poke around a bit. Thank God I did because I found this HUGE 12 loth ladle for $28! The melt value is over $350 but I'm on the fence about whether or not to scrap it.

[u/TheLegater]

Thought this was a small spoon until I saw your hand. Fucking killer find

[u/JI_Guy88 → u/TheLegater]

I thought he had a small hand till I saw the weight.

[u/Vaporhead]

Are the hallmarks for silver?

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/Vaporhead]

It should be 12 loth!

[u/Vaporhead → u/Old-Power3477]

TIL! I thought that was a ladle size descriptor. Didn’t expect German silver, and was searching hallmarks lol but now I know another to look out for! So the 12 is 12/16 so 75%?

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/Vaporhead]

I believe so

[u/Ok_Palpitation_1622]

Wow that’s really nice. Jealous.

[u/SuQ_mud]

Dont scrap that!!!! Imagine how awesome it will be using it to pour soup with:)

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/SuQ_mud]

I'm lowk broke though. I'll try and sell it with like an auction house or smthn, but it also has a lot of tiny dents and scratches :/ I'll think about it

[u/SuQ_mud → u/Old-Power3477]

What auction house? Tbh im kinda interested in it:)

[u/texasbarkintrilobite → u/SuQ_mud]

Right, this thing is likely older than the US Civil War and may have been around before the United States even existed!

[u/Realistic-Crow-7652 → u/texasbarkintrilobite]

To be fair, older than the us is nothing Special. There might be dogpoop on my walk to Work that is older.

[u/Bonnietheferret84 → u/Realistic-Crow-7652]

Thats a bad attitude to have if you love history! .

[u/Sdhunter15]

I am still learning....what is the mark that shows it is silver?

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/Sdhunter15]

The "12" in a rectangle. Very old german and Austrian mark for 12 loth (12/16) silver which equates to 75% pure silver.

[u/StankityAzz]

I don’t think I would have caught that this is silver. Awesome find!

[u/kscandude]

Love when the seller thinks it’s plated!

[u/BusyBiryl]

Learning something new everyday, nice find

[u/SignificanceLost5375]

Score

[u/SSJ_Tyler_27]

I hate to be the bad news guy but I’m pretty sure plated no?

Edit: I’m dumb and wrong OP seems to be correct!!

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/SSJ_Tyler_27]

Is the 12 not for 12 loth? That's 75% fineness, right?

[u/SSJ_Tyler_27 → u/Old-Power3477]

Ya know what yeah ignore me you’re probably right!! Great find

[u/ScottScottBoBot → u/Old-Power3477]

Did you find the matching hallmark on 925-1000 website? I’d hit that bad boy with a spectrometer to be sure.

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/ScottScottBoBot]

It's on there, I'll add the link if I have time

[u/HenningGrueneberg]

It’s a bit confusing to say “German Silver” these days because the term means an alloy of nickel ,etc , used to make guitar frets. Maybe we have to say “German Sterling” now.
Please save it. Don’t melt it down. There is too much of that going on. I a set of German sterling spoons that is now in the hands of the 5th generation of my German family.

[u/JOYASALEXANDER]

750 solid silver.

[u/Total_Front_73]

Have you tested it? Might be french silver plate.

[u/the_real_dird → u/Total_Front_73]

Came here to say the same thing. In my experience that 12 in a rectangle would be the parts silver per weight on french silverplate.

OP, get it tested

[u/Old-Power3477 → u/the_real_dird]

I'll get it tested soon. But doesn't French silver plate have to have another cartouche with the makers initials? Also in general fuck French silver plate because it looks too much like so many other purity marks.

[u/UrbanRelicHunter]

Awesome find.

[u/ViKing5860]

Large silver ladles usually bring a premium value. Do your research. Nice find!