A sterling silver and vermeil letter opener bearing the coronation mark for the now longest serving English Monarch; Queen Elizabeth II.  This letter opener is exceptionally well made, and is very heavy.  A very tactile piece in the hand, and beautifully made, as one would come to expect from the jeweler to the Queen; Garrard.  Garrad & Co. are one of the finest silversmiths to ever work. George Wickes founded Garrard in London in 1735, and although in recent years it has endured a difficult time, it has produced some of the finest silver works and jewellery the world has ever seen. In 1843, Queen Victoria appointed Garrard to the position of Crown Jewellers, leading to the production of numerous pieces of silverware and jewellery for the Royal Family, as well as the upkeep of the Crown Jewels. In 1852, Garrard were given the responsibility of re-cutting the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond into a brilliant. The company continued to handle some of the most famous jewels, such as the Cullinan diamonds (including Cullinan I, "The Great Star of Africa"), and created such pieces as the Imperial Crown of India in 1911, the crown of Queen Mary for her coronation, and the Crown of Queen Elizabeth in 1937. In 1848 Garrard produced what is now referred to as The America's Cup, and is the oldest international sporting trophy. The Cup is an ornate sterling silver bottomless ewer originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a yacht race around the Isle of Wight in England, which was won by the schooner America. The letter opener was produced in 1958 the year of the Queen's ascension to the throne.  The opener has full English assay hallmarks for London, Garrad and the date letter 'c' for '58, along with the bonus coronation mark which only features on the year of the coronation of monarchs.  A wonderful and rare piece in excellent condition.