British Silver Hallmarks (Part 1): Decoding the 700-Year-Old System

In Rarequiste’s collection philosophy, British Silver always holds a special place. Not only because of their exquisite craftsmanship, but also because of the Hallmarking System that has lasted for more than 700 years.

For beginners, that row of tiny mysterious symbols is like the Da Vinci Code. But as long as you master the key to deciphering it, you can read its past and present life the moment you pick up an old spoon: Who made it? Where was it made? In which year was it made? And most importantly—is it solid silver?

Today, Q will take everyone to dismantle this code.

🧐 What are Hallmarks?

Hallmarks are not simple trademarks. It is one of the earliest forms of consumer protection in the world, starting in the era of Edward I in 1300. All gold and silver items must be sent to the Goldsmiths’ Hall for Assay, and marked after passing.

Usually, a standard piece of British antique silver will have 4 to 6 stamps:

• Journeyman Mark: Confirms the specific worker. As shown in 1️⃣ above.
• Maker’s Mark: Confirms the maker/firm. As shown in 2️⃣ above (William Chawner).
• Standard Mark: Confirms purity. As shown in 3️⃣, the Lion Passant (925/1000).
• City Mark: Confirms origin (Assay Office). As shown in 4️⃣, the Leopard’s Head (London).
• Date Letter: Confirms year. As shown in 5️⃣, the letter k (1825).
• Duty Mark: Represents tax paid (1784-1890). As shown in 6️⃣ (George IV).

1. Standard Mark: Looking for that “Lion” 🦁

This is the first symbol our eyes look for when picking up silverware at a flea market.

🦁 Lion Passant

If you see a lion walking proudly to the left (Lion Passant), congratulations, this is the mark of Sterling Silver (925). This means the silver content is at least 92.5%. This is the most common British sterling silver mark, used since 1544.

🦁 Lion’s Head Erased

If you see not a whole lion, but a severed lion’s head, this represents Britannia Silver, with a purity as high as 95.8%. This situation is relatively rare, mainly appearing between 1697-1720 (mandatory period) or on modern haute couture silverware.

⚠️ Avoid Pitfalls: If you can’t find the lion, but only see “EPNS”, “A1”, “Silver Plated” or no purity mark at all, then it is most likely Silver Plate.

👉 Unsure? Check our Silver Plate Decoding Guide to distinguish the real from the fake.

After confirming it is sterling silver, the next step is to see where it was “born”.

There are four main surviving Assay Offices in the UK:

• 🐆 London: Leopard’s Head
• ⚓️ Birmingham: Anchor
• 👑 Sheffield: Crown / Rose
• 🏰 Edinburgh: Castle

💡 Deep Dive: Besides these four, history hides many famous “Lost Offices” like Chester and Exeter.

👉 Want to see the full map of 10+ cities? Read Part 2: The Lost Cities of Silver: A Guide to British Assay Offices

3. Date Letter: The Key to Precise Dating 📅

This is the most hair-pulling but also the most interesting part. The British use letters to represent years. But this is not simple A, B, C, D…

• Letters cycle every 20-26 years.
• To distinguish different cycles, the font of the letters and the shape of the outer frame will change constantly.

💡 Deep Dive: Does ‘A’ stand for 1776 or 1896? Why is this system so complex?

👉 This topic is huge, so we wrote a dedicated guide Part 3: The Da Vinci Code: How to Date British Silver in Seconds?

💡 R’s Practical Tips: Don’t try to memorize all the year tables (that’s what Q does). As a novice, you only need to download an online query website (such as 925-1000.com) or buy a pocket guide. Checking against the outer frame shape on the spot is the safest way.

4. The Duty Mark: The Monarch’s Profile 🤴

This is a supplementary tool for advanced daters. Between 1784 and 1890, the UK imposed a heavy tax on silver. Once the tax was paid, the silver was stamped with the profile of the reigning monarch.

Note: If you see a Queen’s head on silver after 1890, it is likely a “Jubilee Mark” (commemorative), not a Duty Mark.

5. Advanced Marks 🕵️‍♀️

Besides the basic four, you might encounter:

🌍 Import Marks

If the sterling silver was made abroad and imported to the UK for sale, it bears an “Import Mark”.

• Before 1904: Usually the letter F (Foreign).
• After 1904: Specific symbols for each town, e.g., Phoebus Sun for London, Libra for Sheffield.

🔨 Maker’s Mark & Journeyman’s Mark

• Maker’s Mark: Initials of the master or firm (e.g., G.S).
• Journeyman’s Mark: In large workshops, to distinguish which specific worker made a piece (for piece-rate payment), workers would stamp their own tiny symbol (like a dot or star). This is often microscopic.

📝 Summary: How to identify like an expert?

When you pick up a silver spoon next time, follow this order:

1. Find the Lion: Is there a lion? Yes -> 925 Sterling Silver. No -> Put it down.
2. Look at the City: Is it a Leopard Head (London) or an Anchor (Birmingham)?
3. Check the Year: Take out your phone or guide, check the letter and outer frame to determine the specific era.
4. Look at the Condition: Is the hallmark clear? If the hallmark is worn very badly, it means that this thing has been used frequently or over-polished.

Collecting silverware is collecting a piece of undoubted history. Every stamp is a token left to you by that craftsman hundreds of years ago.

References

• SilverCollection.it - Decrypting UK Sterling Marks

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🇬🇧 British Silver Series

1. The Basics (You are here): British Silver Hallmarks: Decoding the 700-Year-Old System
2. The Map: The Lost Cities of Silver: A Guide to British Assay Offices
3. The Timeline: The Da Vinci Code: How to Date British Silver in Seconds?