Silver Toddy Ladle with Baleen Handle and George II Shilling c1800

Description

Heading : Silver Sauce or Toddy Ladle with Baleen Handle
Date : c1800
Period : George III
Origin : England
Decoration : single-piece handle – barley twist to full extent other than the lowest one inch. with silver end cap; round bowl with regular everted lip; no spout; very finely-grooved ‘milled’ edge to the lip; George II shilling dated 1743 set in to the bowl
Size :  29.1 cm in length
Condition : Excellent; a few scuffs and scratches to the bowl; a small oval dent; coin is rubbed. particularly to the underside; there is what would appear to be an old pin to the handle. where it has split along half its length. but the repair is doing a good job of keeping it solid
Restoration : None
Weight :  49 grams (composite) 

This can only have been made after the reign of George II ended in 1760 and probably around the time of commencement of the Napoleonic wars when the price of silver increased rapidly as the supply was interrupted and coins were use as ‘make weights’