Identify Silver Hallmarks: Step-by-Step Guide
Found a mark on your silver and want to know what it means? Follow this guide to systematically identify the origin, age, purity, and maker of any silver piece.
Step 1: Locate the Marks
Silver hallmarks are typically found on:
- Flatware (spoons, forks, knives): Back of the handle, near the stem
- Hollowware (bowls, trays, teapots): Underside of the base
- Jewelry: Inside of rings, clasp area of necklaces, back of brooches
- Candlesticks: Base rim or inside the base
Step 2: Count the Marks
The number of individual stamps is your first clue to the origin:
| Number of Marks | Likely Origin | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| 4 – 5 marks | British (England, Scotland, Ireland) | Go to UK Hallmarks |
| 1 – 2 marks (text) | American ("Sterling" or "925" + maker) | Go to US Marks |
| 2 – 3 marks (pictorial) | Continental European | Go to European Hallmarks |
| "EPNS" or "Silver Plate" | Not solid silver — plated | See Hallmarks Chart plated section |
| No marks at all | Possibly unmarked coin silver, reproduction, or base metal | Consider a professional appraisal |
Step 3: Identify the Purity Mark
The standard mark confirms the item is genuine silver and tells you the purity level.
| What You See | What It Means | Silver Purity |
|---|---|---|
| Walking lion (lion passant) | English sterling silver | 92.5% |
| Thistle | Scottish sterling silver | 92.5% |
| "925" or "STERLING" | International sterling standard | 92.5% |
| Seated woman (Britannia) | Britannia standard | 95.8% |
| "800" | Continental European standard | 80.0% |
| Crescent & Crown | German silver | 80.0% |
| Minerva head | French silver | 95.0% or 80.0% |
| "84" (number) | Russian zolotnik | 87.5% |
| "COIN" or "C" | American coin silver | 90.0% |
Step 4: Find the Town Mark
If your piece has a pictorial symbol alongside the purity mark, it's likely a town mark identifying the assay office.
| Symbol You See | Assay Office |
|---|---|
| Cat-like face (leopard's head) | London, England |
| Anchor | Birmingham, England |
| Crown or rose | Sheffield, England |
| Castle with 3 towers | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Harp with crown | Dublin, Ireland |
| Shield with wheat & sword | Chester, England (closed 1962) |
| Horseman with dragon | Moscow, Russia |
| Crossed anchors | St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Pineapple shape | Augsburg, Germany |
Step 5: Read the Date Letter
British silver uses a rotating alphabet system where each letter represents a year. To decode it:
- Note the letter. Is it "A", "b", "M", etc.?
- Note the case. Is it uppercase (A) or lowercase (a)?
- Note the font. Roman, Gothic, Old English, Italic, or Black letter?
- Note the shield shape. Square, pointed, oval, rectangular, or ornate?
- Cross-reference with the date letter table for the specific assay office you identified in Step 4. Our Hallmarks Chart has complete tables.
Step 6: Decode the Maker's Mark
The maker's mark identifies the silversmith or manufacturer. After 1739 in Britain, this was always the maker's initials. Before that, symbols and devices were used.
- Two-letter marks (e.g., "HB" = Hester Bateman, "PS" = Paul Storr) are typical of British silver
- American marks often use the full company name ("TIFFANY & CO", "GORHAM", "REED & BARTON")
- Our UK Hallmarks and US Marks pages list major makers
Quick Decision Tree
→ Yes: It is NOT solid silver. It is plated or base metal.
Does it have a lion passant (walking lion)?
→ Yes: British sterling silver (92.5%). Look for town mark and date letter next.
Does it say "Sterling" or "925"?
→ Yes: Genuine sterling silver. Look for a maker's mark to identify the manufacturer.
Does it say "800" or have a crescent & crown?
→ Yes: Continental European silver (80%). Likely German, Italian, or Swiss.
Does it have a pictorial mark (woman's head, animal, symbol)?
→ Yes: Likely European. Check our European Hallmarks guide.
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