Russian silver hallmarks reflect the country's complex history, from Imperial Russia through the Soviet period to modern times. These marks help identify authentic Russian silver pieces.
Imperial Russian Marks
Pre-1917 Russian silver often bears the kokoshnik mark (woman's head in profile) along with purity marks like 84, 88, or 91 (indicating zolotniks, the old Russian purity system).
Soviet Period Marks
Soviet silver typically shows hammer and sickle symbols, along with numbered purity marks. Quality varied significantly during this period.
Modern Russian Silver
Contemporary Russian silver follows international standards with 925 sterling marks, often accompanied by maker's marks from current Russian silversmiths.
If you want more in-depth details you should check out the app Silver Marks to identify over 15,000 marks.