How is silver plate marked?

How is silver plate marked?

Silver products sometimes may be marked 925, which means that 925 parts per thousand are pure silver. Some jewelry described as ”silver plate” has a layer of silver applied to a base metal. ”Coin silver” is used for compounds that contain 90% pure silver.

Is real silver always marked?

There are actual laws and fines involved for the mis-marking and mis-representation of precious metal jewelry. So real, solid, quality silver jewelry should be marked: SS, 925, ST, STERLING, or even just SILVER. Most fake silver jewelry is tin over brass, copper, or some other non-descript base metal.

What is a hallmark on silver?

The vast majority of English, Scottish and Irish silver produced in the last 500 years is stamped with either 4 or 5 symbols, known as hallmarks. The prime purpose of these marks is to show that the metal of the item upon which they are stamped is of a certain level of purity.

What is a leopard’s head silver hallmark?

The leopard’s head silver hallmark, which has been used in various forms as the symbol of the London Assay Office since hallmarking began. Most British and Irish silver carries a number of stamps indicating not just the standard or purity mark (typically the lion passant) but also the initials of the maker, a date letter and the place of assay.

Why is there a sovereign’s head on my Silver?

Many items of Georgian and Victorian silver will carry a sovereign’s head – a ‘duty’ mark reflecting a tax on precious metals collected between 1784 and 1890. The excise duty on gold and silver articles was collected by the assay offices and the mark was struck to show that it had been paid.

What is the animal head on the British coin?

It sounds like this piece may be from London (the “animal head”). The woman’s head may be a tax mark, called the “duty mark”. The duty mark was used from 1785-1890. Since the duty mark is a woman’s head, that would be for Queen Victoria who reigned from 1838-1890.