Attention: "pandajones": I would agree with the FA that your plates are most likely of period pieces, but please note: In my experience, the period Tsarskoye Selo Nicholas II "everyday" service DOES have the BLUE banding/border, with the eagle's wings more "upright," and has the collar of the Order of St. Andrew surrounding the shield on its breast On the other hand, the earlier period so-called "Coronation Service" of Alexander III has a "fuller" eagle with wider/more open wings, a "tighter" Collar of Saint Andrew surrounding the breast shield, and NO BLUE BAND, simply white and gold bandings. Thus you get the cypher of AIII on the reverse (of the "Coronation Service"), AND if replacement pieces were made for that service during the reign of Nicholas II, you would then have the reverse markings of "HII." One thing to look for: On the AIII Coronation Service, the Saint George figure on the shield on the breast of the eagle,"faces" LEFT, while on the Tsarskoe Selo Service, the figure faces RIGHT. I have some of both, obtained from an especially trusted and reliable dealer in Imperial Russian items. Because of the original (and later period replacement) numbers made, neither are particularly "rare." Of course, especially for collectors, CONDITION is everything, but in your case, the "sentimental value" is the overpowering value! Best regards, AP
