Silver Hallmarks Identifier & Guide

Standard Marks: Silver Purity Indicators

The standard mark (also called the fineness mark) is the most important hallmark component because it tells you the actual silver content of the piece.

For a comprehensive guide to numeric purity marks (925, 800, 835, etc.) used internationally, see our Silver Purity Marks guide.

British Assay Office Marks

The assay office mark (town mark) identifies where the silver was tested and hallmarked. Different offices operated during different periods, and many historic offices have now closed.

Other historic British assay offices include Newcastle upon Tyne (closed 1884), York (closed 1857), and Norwich (closed 1697). Several smaller offices operated for limited periods.

Date Letters

The date letter is one of the most complex parts of British hallmarking. Each assay office used a repeating cycle of letters (typically A-U or A-Z, skipping J and sometimes other letters) in specific typefaces and shield shapes. When a cycle completed, the next cycle would use a different typeface or shield.

For example, a capital Roman A in a pointed shield might indicate 1756 in London, while a lowercase italic a in an oval shield could mean 1816. The same letter can represent entirely different years at different offices or in different cycles.

The date letter system was standardized across all UK offices in 1975, with all offices now using the same letter each year, changing on 1 January.

Additional British Hallmarks

Duty Mark (Sovereign's Head)

From 1784 to 1890, a duty was charged on gold and silver items at the assay offices. During this period, an additional mark showing the reigning monarch's head in profile was added to hallmarks to show the duty had been paid. This mark is a useful dating tool – if you see a sovereign's head, the item dates between 1784 and 1890.

Commemorative and Jubilee Marks

Special optional marks have been issued to celebrate royal events:

• 1935 – Silver Jubilee of King George V
• 1953 – Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
• 1977 – Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
• 2002 – Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
• 2012 – Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II
• 2022 – Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

These marks appear in addition to the standard hallmarks and are a helpful quick dating reference.

Import Marks

Foreign-made silver items imported into the UK for sale must be assayed and hallmarked by a British assay office if they meet sterling standard. Import hallmarks include:

• The standard mark (lion passant for 925, Britannia for 958)
• An assay office mark
• A date letter
• The letter F in an oval (for foreign) or later a special import fineness mark (925 in an oval, for example)

Import marks indicate the piece was made abroad but met British standards.

Convention Marks

The 1972 International Hallmarking Convention created a system of common control marks (CCM) shared between member countries. These marks include a stylized balance scale along with a fineness number (e.g., 925) and the sponsor's mark. Convention marks are accepted across member states. Member countries include Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Common Foreign Silver Marks

While this guide focuses on British hallmarks, it's useful to recognize common silver marks from other countries:

For a detailed guide to international silver purity numbers, visit our Silver Purity Marks page.

How to Spot Silver Plate and Fake Hallmarks

Not everything that looks like silver is solid silver. Silver plate (a base metal coated with a thin layer of silver) is common, and unfortunately, some items bear misleading pseudo-hallmarks designed to imitate genuine marks.

Common Silver Plate Marks

If you see any of these marks, the item is not solid silver and has little to no intrinsic metal value:

• EPNS – Electroplated Nickel Silver (no silver content in base metal)
• EP or E.P. – Electroplate
• A1 – Quality designation for plate, not solid silver
• Silver Plate – Self-explanatory
• Sheffield Plate – Fused plate (copper sandwiched between silver layers), not sterling
• German Silver or Nickel Silver – Contains no silver at all, despite the name (alloy of copper, nickel, zinc)
• Quadruple Plate – Indicates thickness of plating, but still not solid silver

Spotting Fake or Misleading Hallmarks

Some unscrupulous makers stamp pseudo-hallmarks on plated items or fakes to imitate genuine silver. Watch for:

• Isolated "925" or "Sterling" stamps without accompanying assay office, date letter, or maker's mark. Genuine British hallmarks are a coordinated set of multiple marks.
• Poorly struck marks that look blurry, shallow, or inconsistent in depth.
• Marks in unusual positions or orientations that don't match the hallmarking conventions of the supposed origin.
• Mismatch between marks – e.g., a London leopard's head paired with a date letter that was never used in London.
• Modern items with old-looking marks – Fake antique hallmarks are sometimes added to new items.

How to Read Silver Hallmarks: Step-by-Step

1. Clean the marks gently – Use a soft cloth to remove dirt or tarnish. Do not use abrasives or harsh cleaners.
2. Photograph the marks – Take clear, well-lit close-up photos. Use natural light or a bright lamp at an angle to reveal details. The free antique identifier app can analyze hallmark photos instantly.
3. Count the marks – A full British hallmark typically has 4-5 marks (maker, standard, office, date letter, and possibly duty or commemorative marks). Fewer marks may indicate plate, foreign silver, or an incomplete hallmark.
4. Identify the standard mark first – Look for the lion passant, Britannia, lion rampant, or thistle. This tells you the purity and often the country.
5. Identify the assay office mark – Leopard's head (London), anchor (Birmingham), crown or rose (Sheffield), castle (Edinburgh or Exeter), etc. This narrows down the location.
6. Find the date letter – Note the letter, its case (upper or lower), typeface (Roman, italic, Old English, etc.), and the shape of the shield surrounding it.
7. Cross-reference the date letter – Use the Date Letter Finder to look up the letter by office and year. Each office has unique cycles.
8. Look for additional marks – Sovereign's head (duty mark, 1784-1890), commemorative marks, import marks (F in oval), or convention marks.
9. Research the maker's mark – Once you know the office and date, you can research the maker's initials in hallmark directories or databases.