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A golden acorn, about 1 inch long, contains a tooth embedded in it. The top of the case, of soft gold, is shaped and finished to resemble the cap of an acorn, but is open at the top to permit the tooth to be seen. The body of the case is cast of harder gold, and resembles the nut of the acorn. It is hollow, to accept the tooth. A nut of white gold joins the rim to the case. The tooth is held in the case by wadded or packed paper.
The tooth itself, probably a lower left second molar, is now in three parts. It has elements of the crown and root system present. It has been studied and photographed carefully (see link below).
The acorn is believed by family members to have been a watch fob; if so, a ring or loop would have been necessary to attach the acorn to a chain. There is no ring present now.
L. David Roper's genealogy web page (www.roperld.com) contains further information about Benjamin Franklin's tooth.
Believed to be a tooth from Franklin's mouth |
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