Explore Silver Hallmarks by Region
UK Silver Hallmarks
London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh assay offices. Lion passant, date letters, and duty marks explained.
American Silver Marks
Sterling vs coin silver, "925" stamps, and major American silversmiths from Gorham to Tiffany & Co.
European Silver Marks
French owl and eagle head marks, German crescent & crown, Russian kokoshnik, Dutch lion, and Italian star marks.
Beginner's Marks Guide
New to hallmarks? Start here. Learn what hallmarks are, why they exist, and how to read them step by step.
Hallmarks Chart
Visual reference tables of the most common silver hallmarks organized by type: date letters, town marks, and standards.
Identify Your Hallmark
Found a mark on your silver? Follow our step-by-step identification guide to determine origin, age, and maker.
What Are Silver Hallmarks?
Silver hallmarks are small stamped symbols on silver objects that guarantee the metal's purity. Introduced in 1300 at Goldsmiths' Hall in London, hallmarking is one of the oldest forms of consumer protection in the world. A complete hallmark typically includes four elements: a standard mark (purity), a town mark (assay office), a date letter (year of assay), and a maker's mark (manufacturer's initials).
Understanding these marks allows collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts to determine where, when, and by whom a piece of silver was made, which directly affects its value and authenticity.
Why Silver Hallmarks Matter for Collectors
For anyone buying or selling antique silver, hallmarks are the single most important authentication tool. A correctly identified hallmark can:
- Confirm the silver purity (sterling 925, coin 900, continental 800)
- Reveal the exact year of manufacture through date letter systems
- Identify the assay office where the piece was tested
- Pinpoint the silversmith or manufacturer through maker's marks
- Distinguish genuine antique silver from reproductions and plated items
Need Help Identifying a Mark?
Use our step-by-step guide to identify hallmarks on your silver pieces.
Start IdentifyingFrequently Asked Questions
The symbols stamped on silver are called hallmarks. They typically indicate the silver purity (e.g., lion passant for British sterling), the assay office where it was tested, a date letter showing the year, and the maker's initials. Together, these marks tell you exactly what your silver is and where it came from.
Real sterling silver will have hallmarks such as "925", "Sterling", or a lion passant stamp. Silver-plated items are marked "EPNS" (Electroplated Nickel Silver), "A1", or "Silver Plate". If you see no marks at all, the piece may be unmarked coin silver or a reproduction. A magnet test can help too, as real silver is not magnetic.
The number "925" means the item is 92.5% pure silver, which is the international standard for sterling silver. The remaining 7.5% is usually copper, added for durability. This stamp is used worldwide and is the most common silver purity mark you will encounter.
British assay offices use a rotating alphabet system where each letter represents a specific year. The letter style (font), case (uppercase or lowercase), and shield shape all vary by cycle and assay office. For example, London used a Gothic lowercase "a" for 1876 and a Roman capital "A" for 1896. Our UK Hallmarks page has complete date letter tables.
Yes. Each European country has its own hallmarking system. France uses an eagle head for 18-carat gold and an owl for imported silver. Germany uses a crescent and crown symbol for 800-grade silver. Russia historically used the kokoshnik mark. Our European Hallmarks guide covers the major systems in detail.