Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Pewter Tankard

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Expert: Martin G Roberts - 2/20/2009


Question

Pewter tankard
Please tell me whether my ~5" tall tankard is a "rare" find. It is stamped/engraved with the initials RC or AC. It has a silver quarter sized coin on the lid with the inscription of GEORGIVS V DEIGRA BRITT OMN REX FID DEF IND IMP. Thank You

Answer
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Hello Dan,

The coin is British, from the reign of George V (1910-36), which places an earliest possible date on your tankard. In my view, it was made much later than that, and may be of very recent manufacture. I know of at least one current pewtering firm with a stockpile of pre-decimal British coins for use in their pewter, often to be sandwiched within glass-bottoms.

I cannot identify exactly which coin of George V it is, but this website has a complete array of issues from that reign from which you may be able to pick out the one on your tankard: http://www.treasurerealm.com/coinpapers/england/Type_George_V.html

Curiously, the style of the tankard is not British. It bears close resemblance to some tankards made in the 18th Century in northern Germanic lands and in Scandinavia. Such tankards do occasionally have medallions on their lids, but they would not be British coins.

The mark on the side is, I would say, die-stamped, and probably is the maker's mark. I do not recall having seen this mark before, but there are many makers from the 1930s onwards who were making reproduction pieces like this, in many parts of Europe and elsewhere too.

Hope that helps.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk

Martin G Roberts

Expertise

Pewter of the 19th Century and earlier from the British Isles and Ireland. I can comment on origin, date, rarity, and value. I cannot give detailed information on 'art' metalware, Art Deco, Art Nouveau or Arts & Crafts metalware. See my website for more information: www.antique-metalware.co.uk.

Experience

A collector for twelve years and a dealer for seven.

Publications
Journal of the Pewter Society
Pewter Society Newsletter
Bulletin of the Pewter Collectors' Club of America

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