Help with dating of an at least Victorian era shoulder board cypher

[authentic*vintage]

After posting to my jewelry group, we have discovered that this piece is a shoulder board cypher. There is hand engraving on the back (almost as if it were cut from a larger piece, perhaps?)

Can anyone offer any insight into a more precise era and possibly country, based on the photos? This is going into my collection, so no hurry.

[unclekipsy]

I agree it was cut from another "slab"...perhaps a coin....coin silver ?  The alpha-numerics do appear engraved so probably not coin silver. I cannot tell what country it may be from. Nice piece.

[authentic*vintage]

Thanks! I almost wonder if it had been cut from a serving tray or some other piece that may have been engraved on the back due to the handwritten engraving. The seller tested it at sterling silver, so probably not a coin.

It has intrigued me ever since I received it.

[unclekipsy]

Sterling silver, with a required purity of at least 92.5%, it’s a bit more valuable than coin silver. Your thought that it was cut from a silver tray makes good sense !