TL;DR Coin silver is a 19th-century alloy made from melted-down coins mixed with metals like copper to form silverware. The United States had no national assay or hallmarking system, so a piece carries a maker's or retailer's mark, often with COIN, PURE COIN, DOLLAR or C. Some makers added pseudo-hallmarks copied from English marks, but there are no official date letters or town marks.
Coin silver hallmarks are the marks that were stamped onto silverware and other silver items during the 19th century. These hallmarks can help you identify the maker of the piece, its age, and its origin. Knowing how to read and interpret these hallmarks is a valuable skill for anyone interested in collecting antique silverware.
What is coin silver?
Coin silver is a type of silver alloy that was used to make silverware and other items during the 19th century. It was made from melted-down coins, which were mostly composed of silver. The coins were melted down and then mixed with other metals, such as copper, to create a silver alloy. This alloy was then used to make silverware and other items.
How do you read coin silver hallmarks?
Coin silver hallmarks are the marks that were stamped onto silverware and other silver items during the 19th century. These hallmarks can help you identify the maker of the piece, its age, and its origin. American coin silver was never officially hallmarked. The United States had no national assay office, and apart from a short-lived assay office in Baltimore in the early 1800s, no authority tested or stamped silver. What you find are the marks a maker or retailer chose to strike.
Makers Mark
The makers mark is the most important hallmark on a piece of silverware. It is usually a symbol or initials that identify the maker of the piece. It is usually found on the back of the piece, near the handle.
Fineness Marks
Words or letters such as COIN, PURE COIN, DOLLAR, STANDARD, PREMIUM, or a single C or D claim that the silver matches the coin standard. US silver coins were about .892 fine under the 1792 coinage law and .900 fine after the Act of January 18, 1837. These stamps were the maker's own claim, not a tested guarantee, and the real fineness of a piece varies.
Pseudo-Hallmarks
Some makers added small pictorial stamps, such as a head, a letter, or a lion passant, laid out to look like English hallmarks. No assay office applied these pseudo-hallmarks, and they say nothing official about purity or date. Some combinations have been traced to particular makers or wholesalers, which helps with attribution.
Town and Retailer Names
There is no official town mark. Many makers and retailers stamped their name and city in full, for example "C.D. SULLIVAN & CO. / St LOUIS Mo". That name, checked against a directory of American silversmiths, is what dates and places a piece.
Why do coin silver hallmarks matter?
Coin silver hallmarks are an invaluable tool for anyone interested in collecting antique silverware. Knowing how to read and interpret these hallmarks can help you identify the maker of the piece, its age, and its origin. With a bit of research, you can become an expert in identifying coin silver hallmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is coin silver?
Coin silver is a silver alloy used to make silverware and other items during the 19th century. It was made from melted-down coins, which were mostly composed of silver, then mixed with other metals such as copper to create the alloy. That alloy was then worked into silverware and other objects.
What hallmarks appear on coin silver?
American coin silver carries no official hallmarks, because the United States had no national assay system. Expect a maker's or retailer's name, often with a town, and sometimes COIN, PURE COIN, DOLLAR or C to claim coin-standard fineness. The maker's mark is the most important, usually found on the back of the piece near the handle.
Does coin silver have date letters?
No. American coin silver has no official date letters. A letter that looks like one belongs to a pseudo-hallmark copied from English practice and gives no year. Date a piece from its maker's or retailer's working years instead.
What do COIN and pseudo-hallmarks mean?
COIN, PURE COIN, DOLLAR and similar stamps were the maker's own claim that the silver matched US coinage: about .892 fine before 1837 and .900 after the Act of January 18, 1837. Pseudo-hallmarks are pictorial stamps imitating English marks; no assay office applied them, and none indicates purity or date.
If you want more in-depth details you should check out the app Silver Marks to identify over 15,000 marks. It is on Google Play too.
