American Silver Marks: A Complete Guide to US Silver Identification
Unlike Britain, the United States never established a government-run hallmarking system. American silver marks are manufacturer-applied, meaning each silversmith or company used their own proprietary stamps. This makes identifying American silver both more challenging and more rewarding for collectors.
Sterling Silver vs Coin Silver in America
Before 1868, most American silver was made from melted coins at 90% purity (coin silver). After the Sterling Silver Trade Mark Act of 1868, the "Sterling" stamp became standard for 92.5% silver.
| Standard | Purity | Common Marks | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coin Silver | 90.0% | "COIN", "C", "D" (dollar), "PURE COIN", "STANDARD" | 1790s – 1870s |
| Sterling Silver | 92.5% | "STERLING", "925", "925/1000" | 1868 – present |
| Silver Plate | Base metal coated | "EPNS", "SILVER PLATE", "QUADRUPLE PLATE", "A1" | 1840s – present |
Collector tip: Early American coin silver (pre-1860) by known makers can be extremely valuable. A simple coin silver tablespoon by Paul Revere Jr. has sold for over $50,000 at auction. Always check for maker's marks, even on plain-looking pieces.
Understanding "925" and "Sterling" Stamps
The "925" stamp indicates 92.5% pure silver and is recognized internationally. In America, you'll commonly find:
- "STERLING" — Spelled out in full, used by most American makers from the 1860s onward
- "925" — Numeric purity mark, increasingly common from the mid-20th century
- "925/1000" — Precise fractional notation, used by some manufacturers
- "STG" — Abbreviation sometimes used on small items where space is limited
Major American Silversmiths and Their Marks
| Maker's Mark | Company / Silversmith | Active Period | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion, anchor, G | Gorham Manufacturing Co. | 1831 – present | Largest US silversmith. Martelé Art Nouveau line is highly prized. |
| TIFFANY & CO / T&Co | Tiffany & Co. | 1837 – present | Luxury silver. Pattern numbers help date pieces precisely. |
| R&B / Eagle | Reed & Barton | 1824 – 2015 | Francis I flatware pattern. Taunton, Massachusetts. |
| IS / 1847 ROGERS BROS | International Silver / Rogers Bros | 1847 – 1984 | Major plate manufacturer. "1847" is the founding date, not silver content. |
| WM ROGERS | Wm. Rogers & Son | 1825 – 1978 | Silver plate. Often confused with solid sterling. Usually marked "IS". |
| S. KIRK & SON | Samuel Kirk & Son | 1815 – present | Baltimore. Famous repousssé pattern. Kirk Stieff line. |
| WALLACE | Wallace Silversmiths | 1835 – present | Wallingford, CT. Grand Baroque flatware pattern. |
| TOWLE | Towle Silversmiths | 1690 – present | One of America's oldest. Old Master flatware pattern. |
| W / WHITING MFG CO | Whiting Manufacturing | 1866 – 1926 | Lily of the Valley pattern. Acquired by Gorham in 1926. |
| PR (script) | Paul Revere Jr. | 1783 – 1818 | American patriot and silversmith. Pieces are museum-level rare. |
How to Date American Silver
Since the US has no date letter system, dating American silver relies on other clues:
- Mark style changes: Gorham changed their date-coding system multiple times. Letters and symbols next to the maker's mark indicate specific years.
- Patent numbers: If present, can be looked up in US Patent Office records for exact dates.
- "Sterling" presence: If marked "Sterling," the piece dates after 1868. If marked "Coin" or "Pure Coin," it's pre-1870s.
- Construction techniques: Hand-hammered (pre-1850s), machine-rolled (1850s+), die-stamped (1870s+).
- Pattern identification: Many flatware patterns were registered with specific introduction dates.
Common Pitfalls When Identifying American Silver
- "1847 Rogers Bros" is NOT sterling silver. The "1847" is the founding year of the Rogers Brothers company, and their products are silver-plated, not solid sterling.
- "German Silver" contains no silver at all. It's an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel.
- "Nickel Silver" and "Nevada Silver" are also silver-free base metal alloys.
- "Mexican Silver" marked "925" is legitimate sterling. Mexico has a strong silver tradition and uses the "925" standard.
Need Help With an American Silver Mark?
Our identification guide walks you through decoding any silver mark step by step.
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