William III Silver Mug, 1698 Wm Andrews

This is a great example of a William III silver mug with excellent Britannia standard hallmarks for London 1698 by William Andrews.

The mug is an early version of the can-style with reeded bands and matching reeded, strap handle. It is engraved to the front with contemporary ownership initials "I*K" where "I" was the old English way of writing a "J". Made from the purer Britannia standard silver (95.8% pure compared to 92.5% Sterling standard), this late 18th century mug is in excellent original condition with a good antique patina. 

Britannia standard was introduced in 1697 as a measure against the illegal coin clipping of sterling silver coins, this mug therefore being an early example in the new standard.