What does an anchor and lion mean on silver?
Common Silver Marks If you find a lion on your piece, you’ll immediately know that it’s come from Britain. Symbols for where it was made include an anchor for Birmingham and a crown for Sheffield (in 1975, it changed to a rose). Another mark is the head of the reigning monarch.
What does the lion symbol mean on silver?
Lion Passant
A stamp indicating the purity of the silver is called the assayer’s mark. The mark for silver meeting the sterling standard of purity is the Lion Passant, but there have been other variations over the years, most notably the mark indicating Britannia purity.
What is the anchor mark on silver?
The anchor was adopted as the assay office mark by Birmingham and the crown by Sheffield, supposedly as a result of the delegations meeting at a public house in London called the Crown and Anchor. The guardians of the Assay Office meet annually in July when, until 1975, the date letter was changed.
What do the symbols mean on silver?
They include: 1) symbol for the town in which the silver content was certified, called an assay or town mark; 2) symbol for the year of manufacture called the date letter; 4) symbol for the standard mark guaranteeing the silver content. The English silver standard is also 925/1000.
How do you read Sterling Silver hallmarks?
Moving up in fineness, the next symbol you will find is 925. This number indicates the metal is silver and that it is 92.5% pure. Silver that is marked with 925 is known as Sterling Silver. Sterling Silver is commonly used in jewellery, cutlery (such as silver spoons), and other products because of its durability.
How do you identify Sterling Silver hallmarks?
Know the Common Marks For example, the lion passant is standard to identify a piece as sterling silver. If this mark isn’t there, it means the piece is most likely silver plated. You can find a list of the common town marks, date letters, and other hallmarks online or in a number of different guide books.
How do you read sterling silver hallmarks?
How can you tell if something is silver without hallmark?
How to Tell If an Item Is Made of Real Silver
- Look for markingsor stamps on the silver. Silver will often be stampedwith 925, 900, or 800.
- Test it with a magnet. Silver, like most preciousmetals, is nonmagnetic.
- Sniff it.
- Polish it with a soft white cloth.
- Put a piece of ice on it.
How do you check the purity of silver when buying?
Check the Label First One of the best and easiest ways to find out whether the silver jewellery you own is real or fake is by checking the label on the jewellery. If it has a small inscription on it which says ‘ster’ or ‘sterling’, it means that the silver in the item is 92.5% or close to pure silver.
What does the anchor on a hallmark mean?
This symbol shows which Assay Office tested and marked the item. The Anchor is the symbol of Assay Office Birmingham . Shows the year in which the article was hallmarked. These are traditional standard marks that can still be used today. Special hallmarks which celebrate major events.
When did they start using hallmarks on silver?
Hallmarks on silver have been used in Great Britain since the reign of Edward I (1272-1307) . In studying hallmarks on British silver has to be taken not only the marks themselves but also of the outlines and the shield in which date letters or maker’s marks are contained.
What do the hallmarks on Gorham Silver mean?
Dating a piece of Gorham silver is a question of decoding the hallmarks on the back or bottom of each piece. Hallmarks on the silver pieces were not consistent in the first few years. In 1848, Gorham silver marks consisted of a lion, anchor, and the letter “ G .”
What does the lion stand for in sterling silver?
You have a piece of British sterling silver. The lady’s head is the monarch, Queen Victoria. That mark was used from 1838 to 1890. The lion stands for sterling.