Common Hallmarks

This List thanks to http://www.theiaao.com

Precious metals are very soft when in their pure form. Other elements are added to them to create alloys which have improved mechanical properties, making them useful for everyday items such as jewellery and silverware. Usually it is impossible to tell how much of the pure metal is in the alloy by visual appearance, weight or touch.

Hallmarks are marks applied to precious metals to indicate the amount of pure metal in the alloy. Traditionally applied by striking with a punch, hallmarks can now also be applied using lasers.

The term hallmarking dates back to 1478 when goldsmiths and silversmiths had to send their wares to Goldsmiths’ Hall in London to be marked. However, the concept of marking precious metals to show their purity predates this by well over a century. This rich history has made hallmarking not only one of the oldest and most successful forms of consumer protection but has also been an invaluable tool in the detection of fakes. The hallmark has become widely used to add value to items and offers a wide range of marketing possibilities.

These days, hallmarking is carried out by assay offices which are situated in many countries over the world, but are most prevalent in Europe, the Middle-East and Asia. In some countries, assay offices are operated by the state and in others they are run as private operations. Some countries operate compulsory systems, others operate voluntary systems. The vast majority, but not all offices, are independent of the customers they serve.

While each state has its own particular rules for hallmarking, most hallmarks comprise the following marks:

A Sponsor’s Mark (often also termed a Responsibility Mark or Maker’s Mark), indicating who was responsible for sending the item to be hallmarked.

Other marks may be seen, such as Date Letters, Commemorative Marks to indicate special occasions and symbols which were used historically to represent different purities.

The Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (shortened to the Hallmarking or Vienna Convention) was signed in Vienna in November 1972. This was an agreement between states to permit mutual recognition of hallmarks. This allowed items marked in one country with what was termed a Convention Hallmark to be sold in another signatory country without the need for re-hallmarking. The Convention Mark essentially comprises a National Hallmark with an additional mark called a Common Control Mark added.

A typical examples of a Hallmark and a Convention Hallmark is shown below:

UK National Hallmark

Order of marks: Sponsor’s Mark, Lion Passant (the traditional symbol for sterling silver), Fineness Mark for sterling silver (92.5% silver), Leopard’s Head (the symbol for the London Assay Office), Date Letter

UK Convention Mark

Order of marks: Sponsor’s Mark, Common Control Mark, Finenes Mark for sterling silver (92.5% silver), Leopard’s Head (the symbol for the London Assay Office)

 

Date Letters 1773 to 2010

 

More Marks and Date Letters

		Lion Passant The symbol of the lion passant was used until 1999. If it appears in your hallmark it tells you that the item is made of sterling silver. Sterling silver is made up of 925 parts silver to 75 parts other metal.
		Britannia The figure of Britannia was used until 1999. If it appears in your hallmark, it tells you that the item is made of Britannia silver. Britannia silver is made up of 958.4 parts silver to 41.6 parts other metal.

For information on more recent standard marks, please visit The Assay Office

 

 

					The mark of the sovereign's head does not appear in all hallmarks, but if it does, it will tell you that the item was marked during a year when duty was levied on gold and silver by the Crown. Duty marks will appear on items marked at The Birmingham Assay Office from 1784 until 1890. The outlines of these marks may vary; for example, the first duty mark for George III, used between 1784 and 1786, sometimes appears with a trefoil outline. The double duty mark for 1797 was only used briefly during that year when the duty was doubled. The duty mark for a new monarch could be introduced a year or two late and at any time of the year. For example, a Birmingham hallmark for 1838 can have either the duty mark for William IV or Victoria. Likewise, the old punches were often used for some time after each sovereign's death.

 

For American marks try here - http://www.925-1000.com/americansilver__Menu.html

For British marks try here - http://www.925-1000.com/british_marks.html