Short, handleless, inverted bell-shaped raised cylindrical cup with molded rim and rounded, concave or domed bottom, engraved on exterior between rim and two incised lines below ":.N:.HEV:." in serif letters. Bottom underside struck once with a crowned italic roman letter "A" near the edge. Exterior below rim is stamped upside down with a small eagle head, facing left.
Maker not known. Antoine L'Echaudel. L'Echaudel was the fermier générale (excise or tax collector) for Paris, 1744-1750. Both stamps are unique to him: the crowned italic A is his poinçon de charge or charge mark (indicates tax paid on the weight of the unfinished item) while the eagle head is his poinçon de decharge or discharge mark for small silver objects (indicated all taxes paid and piece was ready to sell).
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