Silver mark help. Austrian? Euro?

This is on a piece of what for all intensive purposes many would look at and call American coin silver. I’m not going to post the piece right now because it’s something I’m interested in and don’t want to expose it. I know in 99.99% of cases the whole item helps. I don’t think it would in this case but to the right expert it may. In this situation I’m asking for help on the mark alone though. It reminds me of Austrian marks with the number on one side of the pictorial animal mark. This one looks to have maybe a number or letter on right and maybe bird on left. Looks like a mountain lion or lion or leopard or fox maybe. My next guess was French maybe. It looks sort of familiar. The item has a very American crest. Guessing foreign made and brought to U.S.. Anyone know it? It’s not mine and these are only photos available.

 

looks like a fox..

 

Is the shape really as much like an elongated double pointed diamond as it appears in your image or is that an artifact of the viewing angle?

French maker's marks for solid silver (as opposed to plated) are in cartouches of this shape. And they often hold both letters and symbols.

 

I agree. It also looks quite a bit like the London assay office leopard mark. It’s a tough one.

 

This is literally all I have to go on. It definitely looks like a diamond to me. I’m looking more at French marks and thinking more that seems likely. A lot of makers used pictorial animals in their makers marks. You’re right with the number/letters/symbols surrounding the main mark.

 

I hope u grab it.........if it means that much to u..

 

As Bakers said, the cartouche has the shape of a French maker's mark for precious metals. And as komo said, it is a fox head.
If it is French, it should have French assay marks as well, otherwise this mark doesn't mean much.

A French maker's mark as such doesn't say anything about the value of an item, especially if you can't ID the maker.
If you like the item, and it is worth the money to you, buy it. If not, don't buy it for an unknown maker's mark.

 

The item has a lot more going for it than this or most any mark would give it. It’s a pretty neat thing and if I happen to get it I’ll show y’all. I have a feeling it will go quite a bit beyond where I’m willing to chase it but stranger things have happened. It certainly could have an assay mark hidden somewhere and likely does. If not it was probably polished off. Or made for a specific American who got it out of France after obtaining it directly from the smith without it being assayed. I wonder if that ever happened? The seller doesn’t specialize in silver and even when they sell it they don’t research it much. Considering the placement of this mark I’d say it being polished off was likely. It’s not in a friendly spot for preservation. Or knowing the French maybe they hid the assay mark well. Anywho thanks for your feedback. It’s value will be in its form and American crest but of all the foreign places it could have been made I like France.

 

Thanks. I don’t know if that was a general wink or knowing wink meaning you know the thing in question? I hope I get it. Honestly it may be better if I don’t. I can’t afford to just own it really but the second it would get in my hands I’d fall in love and wouldn’t be able to sell it. Catch 22 kinda.

 

Actually I have a basket question I’ll be listing separately. Was hoping you would take a gander. Supposedly PNW but idk.

 

ya....twist my arm !!