APPRAISER: When you produced this out of your bag, I got very excited because it's obviously an early American piece of silver.

Does-does it have a-any family history?

GUEST: I don't know the full history.

I inherited it from my mother-in-law who inherited it from many generations on her side of the family.

She's from-- her family's from the Boston area.

APPRAISER: Well, the Boston area would, um, explain a lot, because this was made in Boston in the 18th century.

It's by a-a very famous Boston silversmith called Jacob Hurd.

There was a whole dynasty of silversmiths of that name in Boston.

Um, he was working in the 1740s and '50s.

Um, this is actually a typical Boston cann.

Funny enough, the old English word cann, C-A-N-N, has continued in usage in America to describe a-a s-silver mug like this.

It's wonderful to get a piece of colonial American silver like this, which is in basically untouched condition.

Um, it's obviously been put away, uh, and I don't think seen the light of day for a while.

GUEST: (chuckling) No, it hasn't, no, it's been in a drawer.

In a bag and a drawer.

APPRAISER: Well, that's nice.

It's nice in that it hasn't been, uh, knocked around, it hasn't been over polished.

I should think underneath this tarnish, there's probably a very nice surface patina.

The-the collectors of American silver love a nice, warm colored surface patina on silver.

Um, it's interesting that on-on this particular piece, we've got Hurd's maker's mark, which typically for a Boston piece of silver is up by the left-hand side of the handle.

There was no system of assaying and hallmarking.

For the most part though, they were pretty honest.

And, um, most of these colonial pieces are of the right silver standard.

There's always a premium in American silver of this date for things which come out of a family or that reason, it's worth more than something that say, has been up for sale and changed hands many times.

Have you ever had any idea what it might be worth?

GUEST: Not really.

(chuckles) APPRAISER: Well, I think one in this state, uh, fresh to the market, I think we could probably expect something in the region of $15,000 worth.

GUEST: (laughing) Oh, my God!

(laughs) APPRAISER: I-- GUEST: Oh, my word!

APPRAISER: Really?

You weren't expecting that, right?

GUEST: (laughing) No, um!

I was thinking maybe $2,000, $3,000.

$15,000-- oh, my gosh, whoo, um, wow.

Mm.

APPRAISER: It has all the factors that contribute to a high price: um, family history, great condition and a wonderful, clear mark and, uh, wonderful family initials on it.

It's a, it's a marvelous thing.

You're very lucky to have it.

GUEST: So it's a good thing I didn't polish it.

(laughs) APPRAISER: Enjoy it.