Charleston, S.C. N. Hayden silver maker pre-civil war forks

Description

Southern made, Charleston, S.C. silver forks, from maker N.Hayden. There are 6 forks, 8 1/2" long, and with weight per piece varying slightly between 2.3 ozt to 2.4+ ozt, so the pieces are large forks and noticeably weighty compared to so many piece from this time frame that are very thin and lightweight. The pictures show the forks from the edge also show the thickness of the gauge silver used. I have put them under a title for coin silver, but they don't say "coin" and are early enough that they may very well be sterling in purity. The markings also show a lion in one of the cartouches which may be a carry forward from the British sterling standard. Either way they are early pieces, in very nice condition. The tines are still nice not bent and or worn down. Some of the tines on some of the forks show some cut marks from use, with a knife having left some marks as cutting food was taking place. The have a very fancy, hand engraved monogram on the front of the handle that may be "J A L". The overall surface is clean, but still has a nice patinated look from the age and many years of normal, typical use and contact. Very nice, scarce, large size dinner forks in the pattern variously called "Fiddle", "Fiddleback", and "English Tipped". They are from a time period most likely in the 1832-1843 time frame when "N.HAYDEN" appeared on the pieces without another name. N.Hayden was later associated with jeweler/silver maker GREGG, in Charleston, and later with GALE in New York and Charleston.