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Australia
late 19th & 20th Century
Silver standard indicated by "Sterling Silver" or any combination of abbreviations. Usually accompanied by an initial maker's mark, sometimes with pseudomarks. |
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Austria-Hungary
Left ~ 18th Cent. The 13 indicates silver purity, 13/16 lothig or .813, year 1753
Right ~ 19th Cent. until 1866. The letter at top indicates town, A = Vienna, year 1857 |
  
 
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Belgium
top left ~ 1831 - 1968. Second standard mark for .800 silver. First standard mark was a Lyre.
top right & center row ~ 1868 - 1942, Unofficial Standard marks, hallmarking was not compulsory. Official standard marks were A1 for .900 and A2for .800, both in a Gothic font.
bottom ~ from 1942 - Standard mark, must be accompanied by a makers mark in barrel form lozenge.
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Canada
from 1946
925 standard minimum, usually with "Sterling" or "Silver" and a maker's mark.
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Czech Republic
Marks in current use.
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Czechoslovakia
top ~ 1922 -1929, numeral indicates fineness
4 =.750, 3 =.800, 2 =.900 1 =.950
middle ~ 1929 -1942
5 =.800, 4 =.835, 3 =.900, 2 =.925 1 =.959
bottom ~ 1942 -194? (Bohemia & Moravia)
5 =.800, 4 =.835, 3 =.900, 2 =.925 1 =.959 |
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Denmark
1888 - Present
Top ~ Silver must be marked with a maker's mark and fineness in thousandths.
Bottom ~ It may also be marked with the Copenhagen assay mark (3 towers above date) and
with the Assayer's initials (ill. example - C.F. Heise)
Danish Assay & Maker's Marks |
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England
Top example has the (leopard's head) town mark for London.
Bottom example has the (anchor) town mark for Birmingham.
British Hallmarks |
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Egypt
1906 - Present
left: Assay, indicates city of assay and silver standard of .900, .800 or .700
middle: National mark, the Cat figure was replaced by the Lotus Flower in 1946
right: Date letter, the Roman letters were replaced with Arabic letters in 1940 |
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Estonia
c.1920-c.1939
National mark of lion passant guardant.
Numerical standard mark - .935, .900, .875 & .800
These marks are usually accompanied by an initial maker's mark. |
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France
Silverplate marks
Maker's mark in a rectangle as opposed to the diamond shape used on silver. Numeral indicates silverplate thickness.
French Silver & Gold Marks |
 
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Hungary
1937 - 1965
numeral indicates fineness
1=.935
2 =.900
3 =.800
see; Austria-Hungary for pre-1937 marks
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Indonesia
after c.1930
decimal standard mark, usually accompanied by a maker's mark.
Yogya Silver
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Iran
20th Cent.
84 standard mark, it is usually accompanied by a maker's or town mark.
The lion mark was used c.1967-79. The example is for .840 silver, double line around the cartouche indicated .900 silver. |
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Iraq
mid 20th Century
left: Assay, indicates city of assay and silver standard of .800, other standards likely exist
middle: National mark, map of Iraq
right: Arabic date letter. |
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Ireland
c.1730 to 1923
Examples have the (harp) town mark for Dublin.
British Hallmarks |
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Israel
c.1950s to 1970s
Usually with "Israel" and sometimes a maker's mark.
More information is needed.
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Japan
1 - Character mark "jungin" meaning "pure silver".
Used primarily in during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and for a short period after.
2 & 3 - Ordinances of 1928 & 1954 called for use of decimal standard marks (eg. .950) |
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Latvia
20th Cent.
Silver purity in thousandths (.875 or .916) plus initialed Maker's Mark.
top ~ Local production
bottom ~ Imported ware |
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Mexico
19th Century
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Portugal
1886 - 1938
Both eagle and boar were used, cartouche shape changed to indicate city of assay. In 1938, the Roman numerals below creature's head changed to Arabic numerals and the boar mark was dropped.
Current Portuguese Assay Marks |
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Russia
Top ~ c.1750 - 1896
Left to right ~ Maker's Mark, Assayer's Mark above year, silver purity and Town Mark (St. Petersburg)
Bottom left ~ 1896 - 1908, Assayer's initials to right of head also indicate town.
Bottom right ~ 1908 - 1917, Symbol to left of head indicates town.
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Scotland
18th C. - present
Top example has the town mark of Edinburgh
Bottom example is from Glasgow
British Hallmarks |
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Spain
1934 - Present
Pentagram is a quality mark indicating a minimum of .915 purity, it is usually accompanied by a maker's mark in a hexagonal stamp or an importer's mark in a triangle. |
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Switzerland
top~ 1882 - 1934
Bear - .875 and above
Grouse - .800
bottom ~ 1934 - Present?
Duck - .925
Grouse - .800
Hallmarks compulsory for watch cases,
optional on all other silverware.
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Turkey
top ~ Ottoman Empire, ? - 1923
Tughra Mark of the Sultan & Standard Mark
.800 & .900 used
middle ~ Turkish Republic
marks used from 1923
bottom ~ Turkish Republic
marks used 1939-1942 |
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