Description

A rare little circular box, dating to the late 1700’s, known as a “score box”. The pull off cover is engraved with the numbers 1 to 10 and has a moveable pointer. Probably intended for pool or whist. Contains four one shilling silver tokens from the Isle of Wight dated 1811.

Total weight 25g, 0.8 troy oz.
Diameter 3cm, 1.25ins.
Maker Joseph Taylor
Birmingham 1798.
Sterling silver.

Marks. Stamped with a full set of English silver hallmarks inside the base. Maker’s mark “IT” below the base, probably for Joseph Taylor.

Literature. Counter boxes contained a number of disks, commonly stamped or engraved with portraits of English monarchs, that were used as game markers and counting devices. Counter boxes were rarely marked.

There is a description of counter and score boxes in Michael Clayton’s “The Collector’s Dictionary of the Silver and Gold of Great Britain and North America” in which he refers to a score box by Samuel Pemberton in the Birmingham Assay Office Museum.