Author: Donna Welch

This was a necklace that we found in my mother’s jewelry collection. It seems to be a coin in good shape. Can you give me any advice on it? Should I leave it in the casing or remove it? Any information will be helpful.

Karl from Dover

Dear Karl,
What your mom has or had is a Morgan 1921 silver dollar. It wasn’t uncommon to find dollar or half dollar coins in necklace form (sometimes other coins as well). Condition on most is poor but the coins, if older like hers, are usually real silver.

The Morgan dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904 and then again in 1921 like yours. If you look closely on the back of the coin, between the D and the O of “dollar,” there should be a tiny letter. That will give you the mint where it was struck (made).

The value on them in general for the year 1921 is in the range of $25 to $40 depending on the condition. If it were mine I would leave it in the setting until you bring it to someone to see. If you are looking to sell it, let them remove it. Until then don’t clean it; just keep it as you found it.

Note: Never clean coins yourself. Always let a professional in coins handle that, because cleaning can lower the value of coins.

Dear Donna,
My sister came across these glasses at a flea market. We decided to get your input on them. They are different, but do they have any value?

Kim and Bev
Dear Kim and Bev,These glasses are fun and wild! They look like mid-century style opera glasses. That is how women would use their spectacles back in the day — to watch operas, plays, etc. — and maybe they were used for the same purpose even in the 1950s and ’60s.

It’s tough to tell the age from a photo but if they are from the ’50s or ’60s they would probably have a value in the range of $100. Beware, though; these glasses were reproduced because they were so funky and fun. New ones would be in the range of $10 to $20.

I think for you to really determine the value you should have them looked at in person. But until then you have a general idea, and time to have fun with them. They could still be used today depending on the lens strength.

Dear Donna,

This is a set of placecard holders. At least that’s what they look like to me. Curious about your thoughts.
Nettie

Dear Nettie,
You are right; they are placecard holders.
Your made-in-England Coalport flower placecard holders are from the Coalport potteries. They have been around since the late 1700s (in England). The placecard holders were a common form and still are available today.

Who doesn’t like flowers, right? I think that’s why they are still around. Some have such fine detailing in the porcelain and vibrant colors. The more flowers, the finer the detailing, the higher the values. In general a set of six would be anywhere from $30 to $60.

Dear Donna,

This is a bath set (commode set?) that we believe is from the 1800s. Any information you could share would be helpful.
–Lynn

Dear Lynn,
It was most likely made during the Victorian era (mid to late 1800’s) or later. It’s unusual to find several pieces matching still together today, due to damage, disuse, or being lost or given away.

Back in the Victorian era they had a real need for almost all the pieces. Pieces consisted of covered chamber pots for under the bed, bowl and pitchers, toothbrush holders, main slop pot (for chamber pot contents), etc. I have seen sets with up to 20 different matching pieces.

Yours is considered earthenware (pottery). Tough to figure out the manufacturer by the mark, but it could be English, German or Australian. They imported so many of them and lots were unmarked, but it’s not that important to the value of your set.

The secondary collectible market isn’t high for such items today. The decorative need isn’t there, and there’s not much use for them today either. But having several pieces could make your pieces in the range of $150 as long as they are not damaged.

Dear Donna,

I had considered having this clock converted to battery-operated and then began to research. I believe it is a George Nelson for Howard Miller sunburst spike clock. If so, I think it would be best to leave it unaltered! I love this fun clock from my childhood home, but it’s not in character with my own home. Would you know the value for this, and how would you recommend I sell it?

June

Dear June,

Any antique or collectible that is in running and good condition is best left alone.

Your Howard Miller clock is very collectible and I found prices all over the place, from $150 to $300. Some of the clocks from the same period of time — 1960s to 1970s — brought an even higher value.

Mid-century items are the in thing right now so I am thinking if your clock is working you should be able to get in the range of $150 to a reseller or try for the collector online yourself. My personal suggestion would be to tuck it away for now. It’s money in the bank as long as you noted your information with it for future generations.

Dear Donna,

My 95-year-old father recently sent me this antique creamer. (At least I think it’s a creamer!) It was handed down to him from his mother. It’s about 5.25 inches long, four inches wide and 2 inches high. My dad was curious about it and wondered what it’s worth. I would appreciate any information you can find out about it; I’d love to share it with my dad.

Carol from Nashua

Dear Carol,

Your creamer is from a company that has been around in England since the late 1800s. It is part of a larger set of dishes, I assume. I believe yours is from the 1940s, but this company produced wares for so long, with many patterns with different marks, and it’s the marks on the bottom that would help give you a better idea of their age.

If you were to replace this set it would cost a fortune for a new one today, though the secondary market for the antique and older ones is slim, partly because there are so many pieces still around today and this generation has no interest in large sets of dishes. So the value of your creamer is in the $5 range (not damaged). Priceless, though, to have gotten it from your dad!

Donna Welch has spent more than 30 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing, and recently closed the physical location of From Out Of The Woods Antique Center (fromoutofthewoodsantiques.com) but is still doing some buying and selling. She is a member of The New Hampshire Antiques Dealer Association. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at [email protected], or call her at 391-6550 or 624-8668.