6 Coin Silver Forks c1850s Wm Gale & Son New York

Six matching forks made by notable New York City silversmith Wm Gale & Son. They operated pre Civil War in the 1850s. The forks are very heavy with a combined weight of 407g Coin silver is also known as 900 silver, while European silver, also known as 800 silver, contains 80% silver. Both are non-sterling standards that were commonly used in the United States in the 1800s.  In my case, collecting pre Civil War coin silver became addictive. Back then there was no mass production and silversmiths could be found hammering cutlery, cups, tureens, trophies, etc in every town / city. What intrigued me is that they stamped their name on each piece which allows for easy identification with regard to location and period of production. As you might expect, there are elusive silversmiths whose locations remain a mystery. It's difficult to find six matching forks as opposed to spoons. These forks will shine instantly with a little polish. I'll be listing more coin silver and other early decorative items. I look forward to your questions and observations.