Antique Silver Coin Purse
An antique silver coin purse is a pocket receptacle for currency, combining solid metalwork with functional design.
Antique Silver Coin Purse
An antique silver coin purse serves as a personal accessory designed to hold small currency, sovereigns, or cards. These items appear across various historical periods, including Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco eras.
The selections on this page encompass diverse physical forms. Buyers frequently encounter sovereign cases alongside mesh evening bags, cocktail purses, and shell-shaped containers.
Origins span British assay offices such as Birmingham and Chester, alongside continental European workshops. Materials frequently combine sterling silver with silk, leather, or blue guilloché enamel.
How they were made
Silversmiths constructed the primary body using sterling silver or silver gilt, often forming chain links, mesh, or rigid shell shapes. Artisans hammered, pressed, and engraved the metal to achieve polished finishes and detailed repoussé decoration.
Interiors and structural linings utilise materials such as silk, leather, and crocodile skin. Specialised components incorporate glass beads and blue guilloché enamel to complete the detailed surface patterns.
Antique Silver Coin Purse Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for silver coin purse among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings feature items incorporating sterling silver, crocodile leather, silk, and glass beads across Victorian and Edwardian periods.
What varies in quality
The standard of an antique silver coin purse rests upon the crispness of its chasing and engraving. Pieces featuring detailed scenes, such as repoussé figures or precise engine-turned guilloché enamel, demonstrate higher craftsmanship than plain polished surfaces.
Structural integrity also separates examples, notably the tightness of chain mail links and the secure fit of spring-loaded sovereign compartments. The retention of original internal silk linings and associated boxes elevates the preservation level.
Charles Penny Brown·Aaron Lufkin Dennison·The Boots Company·Robert Cawley·G. Norman·Henry Charles Freeman·Wright and Davies·Ludwig Krumm
The Antique Silver Coin Purse Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing 92.5 percent pure silver and 7.5 percent other metals, typically copper. This standard composition provides durability for functional daily accessories.
- Silver gilt
- Silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on its surface. This technique produces a rich two-tone appearance.
- Guilloché enamel
- A decorative technique where translucent enamel is applied over precise mechanical engine-turned metal patterns. It creates a repetitive geometric design beneath the glassy coloured surface.
- Sovereign case
- A small, fitted metal container specifically manufactured to hold gold sovereign coins securely. Many examples feature internal spring mechanisms for individual coin release.
- Chatelaine
- A decorative belt hook worn with a series of suspended chains carrying useful items such as purses, keys, and watches.
Antique Silver Coin Purse: Frequently Asked Questions
How were sovereign cases used?
Sovereign cases were carried in pockets or attached to chatelaines to store British gold sovereign coins safely.
Their internal spring mechanisms allowed the owner to retrieve a single coin quickly.
How do I date an Edwardian silver purse?
Dating involves examining the hallmarks stamped into the silver, which record the assay office and year letter.
Edwardian pieces typically align with the reign of King Edward VII during the early twentieth century.
How do I care for antique silver mesh?
Antique silver mesh requires gentle handling to prevent the delicate links from kinking or tearing.
Storage in a dry environment prevents tarnishing without requiring aggressive cleaning.