Commemorative Revolutionary War Cup, ca. 1825

Appraised on: August 5, 2006

Appraised in: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Appraised by: Anne Igelbrink

Category: Silver

Episode Info: Philadelphia, Hour 2 (#1105)

Originally Aired: January 29, 2007

IMAGE: 1 of 2  

Appraisal Video: ()

GUEST: I inherited this cup from my mother. And I'm sure she received it from her mother and probably got it from her mother. It seems that it would have some connection to Philadelphia as far as being a Revolutionary War relic. A surgeon in the U.S. Army had given it to his daughter by the name of Mary Martin Douglas, whom I don't know who she was.

APPRAISER: Well, you're right in the sense that it does have a Philadelphia connection, but it also has a Southern connection. When we look underneath, you'll see a maker. And that maker is someone called Conrad Bard.

GUEST: All right.

APPRAISER: Conrad Bard worked in Philadelphia around 1825.

GUEST: All right.

APPRAISER: So our first thing that we know is that it's after the Revolutionary War.

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: But the other thing that we know, when we look at the inscription, is that we've got the symbol of South Carolina: the palmetto.

GUEST: All right, I didn't know that.

APPRAISER: Yeah, and also we see that this man served in the 3rd South Carolina regiment--

GUEST: All right.

APPRAISER: --in the Revolutionary War. Now the other interesting thing is, you see it says, "A relic of the Revolution."

GUEST: Yes.

APPRAISER: Now, this isn't something that was in the Revolutionary War. So it's not an actual relic, but what it is, is that this man served in the Revolutionary War and he is the relic.

GUEST: All right.

APPRAISER:: And it is his experience and his time in the 3rd Regiment of South Carolina that he's commemorating when he gives this gift to his daughter.

GUEST: I see.

APPRAISER: He must have come to Philadelphia at some point-- maybe relocated-- and then it descended in your family.

GUEST: All right. Well, that's very interesting.

APPRAISER: Yeah. Now, have you thought about how much something like this is worth?

GUEST: Well, this had been appraised, and there was a value of $750 placed on it. That's all I know. And I thought perhaps in that it was appraised some time ago, that it might be different now.

APPRAISER: If this came in and I had to put a fair market or an auction-type value on it, as just a regular coin silver cup (from around about 1825 or so, Philadelphia, without the inscription) you'd be looking at about $300 or $400 at auction.

GUEST: Okay.

APPRAISER: The inscription is what makes it.

GUEST: All right.

APPRAISER: Because this engraving, you're probably looking more like at $3,000.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: Possibly even $5,000 at auction. It's just... it's a very special, unique thing. And it was such a treat to see it.

GUEST: Well, thank you.