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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 - 1868, 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.1920-1924
National mark of fleur de lis, EW = Eesti Wabariik (Estonian Republic), 84 zolotnick =.875 silver standard.
1924-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 = .875 purity, it is usually accompanied by a maker's or town mark.
The lion mark was used c.1967-79. The example is for .875 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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Russia
Top ~ c.1750 - 1896
Bottom left ~ 1896 - 1908, Assayer's initials to right of head also indicate town.
Bottom right ~ 1908 - 1917
Guide to Russian Hallmarks |
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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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