Hallmark Identification

I have a gold band that my father found while metal detecting at the Casa Munras resort in Monterey, CA. 54 years ago. The band was approximately 15" deep in hard pan soil and had been there for many years. There is initials "RM" engraved in the band and a hallmark ( l 4 l ) I am trying to figure out what the hallmark represents. The Munras family were very influential Spanish family involved in many of California's Spanish Land Grants in the 1800's......
Thank you,
Dennis

 

Welcome Dennis,
I’d suggest you remove your phone number.
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Thank you

 

The RM on the inside is more likely to be the initials of the owner than anything to do with the maker.

 

Looks like a man's wedding band, although it would be odd to engrave just the groom's initials inside.

 

Yes, I figured that to be the case.... Possibly belonged to a Munras family member???

 

This is confusing. I thought the family name was Munra. It is Munras.

 

That is correct

 

I agree - this belonged to some guy whose wife was SERIOUSLY cheesed off at him for losing his wedding ring. The single set of initials is a bit odd but not unknown.

 

he was foolin around......& the girlfriend found the ring and tossed it...!

 

He dropped it when he was taking it off on his way to his girlfriend's.

The last initial M is the only thing that immediately suggests the ring could have belonged to a member of the Munras family. Without knowing who was living on that property when, & whether 15 inches is all that far down in the stratigraphy or not, the M is not enough to draw any conclusions. It's a resort now. Was it already one 54 years ago? If not, what was there then? If there were plowed fields, the ring could have ended up 15 inches down quickly. If there was building, regrading, backhoes at work, ditto.

Were there male members of the Munras family with the first initial R? Did they live there? When? Were they ever married? How much has the earth been disturbed? You could answer all these questions & still not be able to say with certainty the ring was ever Munras property.

The mark may give some information but not my field of expertise. Has the fineness of the gold been tested? If it tests as 14K, that may be all the mark signifies. Many countries did not routinely mark gold jewellery until sometime in the 20th century. Where was the Munras family before it was in California?

We are all tempted to think we have found some lost or overlooked treasure, or something of historical importance. It happens, but not most of the time. Don't let your hopes cloud your reason.