Antique Silver Basic Hallmark Identification

By Daryl B. Chapman

When buying antique silver, you want to make the most out of your cash. Be sure to pick something that is authentic. However, it can be complicated to tell just by simply using your senses. To make sure that the items you purchased is not under-karat, experts recommend buyers to survey hallmarks printed on the antique.

What are hallmarks? Why is it so defining? Hallmarking is the oldest form of consumer´s protection when it comes to this kind of trading. It is a required marking on each precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum and other metals. In short, the hallmark is simply a method to identify the precious metal´s quality.

To identify the hallmarks, here are some important tips.

Markings - These can be either be words, letters or symbols. Frequently you can see 3 to 4 symbols, which imply the trader´s mark, purity mark, mark for its origin and how old it is.

Most people are having a hard time identifying between hallmark and trader´s mark. Trader´s mark simply indicates who manufactured the precious metal and it is just one of the marks in the hallmark. They usually consist of a set of initials.

Purity marks indicate the fineness of the precious metal. They are usually in symbols like lion, boar head, crab, eagles´ head etc. Numbers also indicate the silver purity such as 925, 850,900, 950, 999 etc. Others used letters such as 'PT' and 'S'.

Assay marks on the other hand, is the site where the silver is made. They are usually in a form of symbols like leopard head, which indicates London. Then a letter, which stands for the year manufactured, follows them.

Date letters range from A to U. J is not included. The date letters usually come after the assay mark and they are specific to the assay office.

Markings differ in every country - every country has its own system of hallmarking. Some of them are childlike and some of them are very complex or they are very difficult to read.

English hallmarks are well planned. They follow a systematical approach with their marking system. They use various kinds of symbols for the purity marks, trader´s marks and assay marks. A letter as its date mark always follows assay marks.

English hallmarks are user friendly because they are very easy to read. They bring into play manufacturer´s initials as the trader´s mark and they use the word sterling and 'PT' for silver plated in their purity marks.

The most difficult to read are French hallmarking. They use a lot of animals, insects and human faces as their symbols. Moreover, they never use numbers in their hallmarks.

Use hallmark references - it is difficult to memorize the marking system because it differ per country. It is much better to have a hallmark encyclopaedia as your reference or search in the internet for further hallmark symbols. Use it each time you buy antique silver in order to ensure that you are buying a quality one and not substandard antique silver.

With the high demand of antique silvers, you ought to be ready and be watchful for indecent dealers who want to overcharge gullible buyers. Through hallmarking, you can assertively get quality antique silver. If you are still clueless, ask your local antique dealer or research online for the different hallmarking.

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