English Silver Hallmark Dates

The hallmarking of silver dates back to the 14th century and is a way of authenticating the precious metal. Hallmarks are small symbols that are stamped on silver items, usually on the underside or back of the item. In England, the hallmarking system is regulated by the Assay Office and is used to identify the origin and age of a piece of silver.

History of Silver Hallmarking in England

The history of silver hallmarking in England dates back to the 1300s when the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths was established. This guild was responsible for regulating the quality of silver and gold items produced in London. In the 1400s, the guild began to stamp items with a mark to indicate the quality of the metal used. This mark was known as the Leopards Head and is still used today.

In the 1600s, the guild began to use additional marks to indicate the origin of the silver. These marks were known as town marks and indicated the city or town where the silver was made. In 1773, the British government passed the Hallmarking Act which required all silver items to be tested and marked with the appropriate symbols.

What Do the Hallmarks Mean?

The hallmarking system is used to identify the origin, purity and age of a piece of silver. Each hallmark is made up of several symbols which indicate the following information:

• The Makers Mark: This is a symbol that identifies the maker of the silver item. It is usually the initials of the maker or a symbol that they have chosen.
• The Assay Office Mark: This is a symbol that identifies the Assay Office that tested the silver item. In England, there are four Assay Offices located in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh.
• The Standard Mark: This is a symbol that indicates the purity of the silver item. In England, silver items must be at least 92.5% pure silver.
• The Date Letter: This is a symbol that indicates the year that the silver item was made. The date letter changes each year, so it is important to look up the current date letter to identify the age of the item.

How to Identify English Silver Hallmark Dates

To identify the date of an English silver item, you will need to look at the hallmarks on the item. First, you should identify the makers mark and the assay office mark. Then, you should look up the current date letter for the assay office to identify the year that the item was made. You can find a list of the current date letters for each assay office on the Assay Office website.

Once you have identified the date letter, you can use a reference book or online guide to identify the year that the item was made. For example, if the date letter is F, then the item was made in either 1790, 1810, 1831, 1852, 1873, 1894, 1915 or 1936.

English silver hallmark dates can be a useful way of authenticating the age and origin of a silver item. By looking at the hallmarks on the item, you can identify the maker, the assay office, the purity and the year that the item was made.