The front says
Beverly Pack
1954
Maid of Cotton
In appreciation for a job well done.
National Cotton Council
The back on the top says
Wallace
Sterling
H104
On the bottom
Halifax
I took this to gold and silver buyer. They did acid test and said it was plated.
Then I my took it to another guy, I don’t believe he tested it. He just said it was plated.
What we’re looking at here is a Wallace sterling plate (i.e., a “plate,” not a piece of silverplate). This eBay seller certainly seems to think so - same design, same pattern number:
Do a Google search for “Wallace H103,” and you’ll find more examples. They sometimes sell for less than melt value, but no one is claiming it isn’t sterling.
And here’s some info on the Maid of Cotton, which was a beauty pageant:
Right. I did look up and found several Wallace h104 pieces. Looked just like the one I have. I asked AI as well and sent photos. AI claims that it’s unlikely Wallace made a silver plated piece with a Sterling stamp on it. Nonetheless I still got 2 separate opinions about the plate being plated silver.
With American silver, if it says, “STERLING,” it is. Anything else would constitute fraud.
The two opinions you got were from people who wanted to get the piece for waaaay less than its melt value. Don’t do business with either of them, ever again. They’re either incompetent, dishonest, or both.
ETA: Sorry about the confusion between H103 and H104. The H104 is larger, a full 12" in diameter. And it’s got over 500g of sterling silver, so its melt value is high. The current spot price of silver runs around $1 per gram. Melt value is somewhat less, because sterling is only 92.5% silver, and scrap metal dealers need a profit margin.
The H103 is just a little over 10", and around half the weight.
Jeff is entirely correct about dealing with those people. I collect and sell silver. I do my own testing and evaluation. I am not always right. I have taken items to places to sell or have evaluated and been told they were plate when they were not. Just to find a reputable buyer here in the Dallas are I took the same piece a large Revere Bowl marked sterling with an aqua enamel lining that I had bought in the 1960 to several places to “sell”. I was amazed at the disparity of responses. One buyer said it was only worth $10, several others said it was plate. I did sell it for $100 scrap (the enamel lining was chipped and fractured a very hard repair) to a reputable buyer. Knowing what you have, researching, testing and exploring your options are the only way to ensure you are not being fibbed to. This forum is a wonderful place to learn.
