What a hallmark is
A hallmark is an official mark struck on precious metal after testing by an assay office, certifying its purity. Not every mark on silver is a hallmark: makers also stamp their own marks, and many countries use quality stamps without an assay system. Marks vary by country and era, and marks can be worn, partial or faked, so use this list as a guide and check specialist references for important pieces.
British hallmark parts
A full British hallmark traditionally has several marks, though not every piece carries all of them.
- Maker’s mark: the maker’s or retailer’s initials, usually in a shaped cartouche.
- Standard mark: shows the purity. For sterling silver (92.5 percent silver) in England this is the lion passant, a walking lion with a raised paw. Scottish sterling used a thistle and Irish silver used a crowned harp.
- Town or assay office mark: shows where the piece was assayed.
- Date letter: a letter in a particular style and shield that changes by year at each office. You need a date letter chart for the specific office.
- Duty mark: a head of the reigning monarch, used from 1784 to 1890 to show duty had been paid.
Since 1999 a British hallmark can omit the town mark and date letter, so the marks you see on newer silver may be fewer.
Common town marks
- London: a leopard’s head.
- Birmingham: an anchor.
- Sheffield: a crown on older pieces, and a rose on more recent ones.
- Edinburgh: a castle.
- Dublin: Hibernia, a seated female figure, along with the crowned harp.
An anchor and a lion together, as in the common PAA question, generally point to Birmingham silver of sterling standard.
Fineness numbers
Many countries use numbers showing parts per thousand of pure silver:
- 925: sterling silver.
- 958: Britannia silver, a higher British standard marked with a figure of Britannia.
- 900: often seen on US coin silver and some continental silver.
- 800, 830, 835: common on continental European and Scandinavian pieces.
If a piece has only a number and no other marks, it is a quality stamp rather than a full hallmark.
US and other marks
The United States has no national assay office system. American silver is usually marked “sterling”, “925” or “925/1000” along with a maker’s name or logo. “Coin” or “900” suggests older coin silver, made in the 19th century from melted coin. Because there is no official body, date letters are generally absent, and you may need to research the maker to date a piece.
Silver plate marks
Silver-plated items carry a thin layer of silver over a base metal and are not hallmarked as silver. Typical marks include EPNS (electroplated nickel silver), EPBM, “A1”, “silver plate” or “plated”. Worn plate may show a yellowish or coppery base metal underneath.
Swedish and Scandinavian marks
Swedish silver commonly shows a set of marks that includes a state mark of three crowns, a town or assay mark, a date letter and the maker’s mark, with a fineness figure such as 830 on certain objects. Marks and rules changed over time, so use a Swedish or Scandinavian reference chart for exact identification. Denmark and Norway have their own systems.
How to identify old silver
- Look for marks under good light and magnification.
- Note which marks you can see and compare them against a chart for the relevant country.
- Check that the style and construction match the apparent date, using antique periods as a guide.
- Look at wear, patina and weight; very light or very new-looking pieces may be plated or modern.
- Consider a professional assessment if value matters.
Cautions
Marks can be forged, transposed from a genuine piece, or added later. A mark is evidence, not proof. Avoid aggressive polishing, which can wear marks away. If you are looking at gold or jewelry, our gold hallmarks guide explains the equivalent marks, and how to start collecting antiques has advice on buying carefully.
FAQ
How to identify old silver?
Check for hallmarks or fineness numbers, compare style with the claimed period, and examine wear and construction. A specialist can confirm.
What does an anchor and lion mean on silver?
Typically the anchor is the Birmingham assay office mark and the lion passant indicates sterling standard.
What are the codes for silver?
Common fineness numbers include 925 (sterling), 958 (Britannia), 900 and 800.
What are the different markings on Swedish silver?
Usually a three crowns state mark, a town mark, a date letter and a maker’s mark, sometimes with a fineness number. Use a dedicated chart for details.