Vintage Coin Purse
A vintage coin purse holds small currency securely while offering a glimpse into early twentieth-century accessory design.
Vintage Coin Purse
A vintage coin purse encompasses small pocket containers and larger evening bags designed to hold coinage and small essentials. The selections span the nineteenth century up through the nineteen-twenties, incorporating Edwardian, George V, and Art Deco aesthetics.
The most frequent examples encountered on this page are sterling silver sovereign cases and compact chain mail or mesh cocktail purses. These items originate from British assay offices as well as continental European workshops.
Beyond standard purses, forms extend to double sovereign cases and combination card compacts. Materials range from solid silver and crocodile skin to glass beads and silk ikat fabric.
Materials and construction
Makers utilised sterling silver and silver gilt to form rigid sovereign cases and flexible chain link meshes. Silversmiths stamped hallmarks onto these items to indicate the year of manufacture, assay office, and maker.
Textile and leather components involve crocodile skin, silk ikat, and fabric linings paired with metal mounts. Glass beads are hand-stitched onto evening bags, while guilloché enamel is applied to metal surfaces in intricate patterns.
Listings feature items from the nineteenth century, the Edwardian era, the reign of George V, and the nineteen-twenties.
Assessing craftsmanship
Quality rests upon the crispness of hallmarks, the tightness of silver mesh links, and the precision of guilloché enamel work. Finer pieces display careful engraving and sturdy hinges that secure tightly.
The refinement of the interior lining and the complexity of beaded or chased ornamentation separate standard utilitarian items from sophisticated luxury accessories.
Charles Penny Brown·Aaron Lufkin Dennison·The Boots Company·Robert Cawley·G. Norman·Henry Charles Freeman
The Vintage Coin Purse Glossary
- Sovereign case
- A small, rigid metal container specifically engineered to hold gold sovereign coins securely. These pieces often feature spring-loaded mechanisms or double compartments.
- Guilloché enamel
- A decorative technique where a precise, intricate geometric pattern is mechanically engraved into metal and covered with translucent enamel. This finish catches the light in distinctive ways.
- Silver mesh
- Interlinked metal rings forming a flexible fabric used for cocktail purses and evening bags. It drapes fluidly while maintaining metal durability.
- Hallmark
- A series of official marks stamped on precious metals indicating the purity, maker, and year of assay. These symbols provide a reliable method for dating items.
Vintage Coin Purse: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean a silver purse?
Use a soft microfibre cloth to gently remove dust and tarnish from sterling silver surfaces without damaging delicate mesh or enamel work.
Avoid liquid dips and abrasive polishes that can strip away original patinas or seep into fabric linings.
What fits inside a sovereign case?
These small circular cases are built to hold historical gold sovereign or half-sovereign coins safely in internal sprung clips.
Today, collectors use them to store similarly sized modern tokens, small medallions, or folded keepsakes.
Are chain mail purses fragile?
The tiny interconnected rings require gentle handling to prevent individual links from stretching or snapping under heavy weight.
Storing the bag flat inside a protective pouch preserves the flexibility and alignment of the metal mesh.
How do I date an Edwardian purse?
Examine the metal mounts for stamped assay office symbols and date letters corresponding to the early nineteen hundreds.
Stylistic cues like floral chased motifs and specific maker marks help narrow down the exact year of production.