Category Archives: Silver and Metalware

The Uncollectibles

Terry Kovel gave an interview about items that are no longer collectible. Published in the March 15th, 2012 edition of Bottom Line Publications,  the article is titled “10 Collectibles NOT Worth Collecting Anymore”. Most are well-known areas to avoid for most collectors, dealers, and auction houses. There are a couple of areas that benefit from a more in-depth explanation. Franklin Mint silver […]

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Old Sheffield Plate

In 1743, Thomas Boulsolver of Sheffield, England, discovered that he could bind a sheet of Sterling silver to a copper ingot by pressing and rolling the two metals into a workable sheet. The friction from the process caused enough heat to fuse the metals to each other. This sheet could then be made into a teapot, a tray, or other […]

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Collecting Antique Copper

Most sources agree that copper was the first metal to be used by primitive man, sometime around 8,000 B.C. likely because copper is found in its native state and does not need another alloy to make it workable. It is easily hammered and formed. Native Americans had copper tools when Europeans arrived. Copper does not cast well so copper items […]

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