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November 18, 2023
9 min read

Antique Silver Hallmarks Explained

E
Elizabeth Sterling
Antique Specialist
Antique Silver Hallmarks Explained

Reading the Story in Silver

Silver has been hallmarked for centuries, providing one of the most reliable systems for dating and identifying antiques. Those tiny, often cryptic stamps on the back of a spoon or the bottom of a teapot contain a wealth of information. Learning to read them allows you to know exactly what you have.

Sterling vs. Silver Plate

The first step is to determine if your piece is solid silver (Sterling) or silver plate (a thin layer of silver over a base metal like copper).

  • Sterling Silver: Usually marked "925", "Sterling", or with a specific pictorial hallmark (like the Lion Passant in England). It means the piece is 92.5% pure silver.
  • Silver Plate: Often marked "EPNS" (Electro Plated Nickel Silver), "EP", "A1", or "Quadruple Plate". These have little melt value compared to sterling.

Common Pictorial Hallmarks (British)

British silver hallmarks are the most comprehensive. A standard set usually includes four or five marks:

  1. Standard Mark: Indicates purity. The Lion Passant (a walking lion) denotes Sterling Silver (92.5%). The Britannia figure denotes higher purity (95.8%).
  2. City Mark (Assay Office): Tells you where it was tested.
    • Leopard's Head: London
    • Anchor: Birmingham
    • Crown: Sheffield
    • Castle: Edinburgh
  3. Date Letter: A letter that changes every year, in a specific font and shield shape. This allows you to date a piece to the exact year. You'll need a hallmark guidebook or website to decipher this.
  4. Maker's Mark: Usually the initials of the silversmith or manufacturer.
  5. Duty Mark: (Optional) The profile of the reigning monarch, used during certain periods to show tax was paid.

American Silver Marks

American silver marking was less regulated than British. Before 1868, many American silversmiths used "Coin" silver (90% pure), often marked "Coin" or "Pure Coin". After 1868, the Sterling standard was adopted, and you will simply see the word "STERLING" stamped on the piece, often accompanied by a maker's mark (like Tiffany & Co., Gorham, etc.).

Continental Silver

Other countries have their own systems.

  • France: The Head of Minerva indicates 950 standard (higher than sterling).
  • Germany: A Crescent Moon and Crown mark (post-1888) indicates 800 silver (80% pure).

Tools for Identification

To read hallmarks effectively, you'll need:

  • A good magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe (10x magnification).
  • A reliable reference book (like "Jackson's Hallmarks") or an online database (like 925-1000.com).

Conclusion

Hallmarks are a fascinating code that connects you directly to the history of the piece. Once you start looking for them, you'll never look at a piece of silverware the same way again.