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.
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 silver typically shows hammer and sickle symbols, along with numbered purity marks. Quality varied significantly during this period.
Contemporary Russian silver follows international standards with 925 sterling marks, often accompanied by maker's marks from current Russian silversmiths.