Hercules brand is made by Iver-Johnson first introduced in 1900 and has many replicas but not worth too much about $100.00
No
Serial numbers were not required on rifles and shotguns until 1968.
With the serial number that you provided,your Ithaca double barrel shotgun with the damascus barrels was produced in the year 1900.
1896
Try the receiver, barrel, forend
You may have to break the shotgun down in to the barrel section and the receiver section first.Look under the barrel section on the flat just ahead of the lug for the serial number.
Who made it, what caliber is it, is it a rifle, shotgun or hadgun, how long is the barrel, is the barrel round or octagon, what is the stock made out of, what is the serial number(if any)? Who made it, what caliber is it, is it a rifle, shotgun or hadgun, how long is the barrel, is the barrel round or octagon, what is the stock made out of, what is the serial number(if any)?
Check the frame and barrel
Look on the receiver and barrel.
Try loooking on the reciever, tang and barrel
27p
next to the barrel