Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
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GUIDE TO WORLD HALLMARKS

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Australian Hallmarks


Australian Silver Marks


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.

Austro-Hungarian Hallmarks 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

Austrian Hallmarks Austria-Hungary


Austro-Hungarian Hallmarks
1866-1922

Austrian Silver Marks

Austrian Hallmarks
Austria


Austrian Hallmarks
after 1922

Belgian HallmarksBelgian Silver Marks


Belgium HallmarksBelgium Silver Marks


Belgique Poincons
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.

Canadian Hallmarks Silver Canada
from 1946
925 standard minimum, usually with "Sterling" or "Silver" and a maker's mark.

Chinese silver marks China

Chinese Export
Silver Marks


Czech Republic hallmarks
Czech Republic
Marks in current use.


Czechoslovakian hallmarksCzechoslovakian hallmarks

Czechoslovakian hallmarks

Czechoslovakian silver marksCzechoslovakian silver marks
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

Dansk Hallmarks 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




England

Top example has the (leopard's head) town mark for London.

Bottom example has the (anchor) town mark for Birmingham.
British Hallmarks

Egyptian Hallmarks


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

Estonian Hallmarks 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.

European Hallmarks

Finland Hallmarks

Finland
1810 - Present

Finland Hallmarks
& Date Marks





France

1798 - present

French Silver & Gold Marks

French Silver marks 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


European Silver Marks

Germany

1886 - Present

German Marks Section

Hungarian HallmarksHungary Silver Marks

Hungary Silver Marks
Hungary

1937 - 1965

numeral indicates fineness
1=.935
2 =.900
3 =.800

see; Austria-Hungary for pre-1937 marks

Icelandic hallmarks Iceland

Standard mark and maker's mark, sometimes "Made in Iceland"
Site for Icelandic Maker's Marks


Yogya silver marks

indonesian silver marks
Indonesia

after c.1930
decimal standard mark, usually accompanied by a maker's mark.
Yogya Silver


persian silver marks

iranian silver marks
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.

Iraqi Hallmarks 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.

Ireland

c.1730 to 1923
Examples have the (harp) town mark for Dublin.
British Hallmarks

Israeli Hallmarks Silver

Israel

c.1950s to 1970s

Usually with "Israel" and sometimes a maker's mark.
More information is needed.

Italian Hallmarks Silver Italy


Italian Hallmarks
from 1872

Japanese Silver Marks


Japanese Hallmarks
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)

Latvian Hallmarks Latvia

20th Cent.

Silver purity in thousandths (.875 or .916) plus initialed Maker's Mark.

top ~ Local production
bottom ~ Imported ware

Maltese Hallmarks Malta

Current Maltese Assay Marks

Mexico

19th Century



Mexico

20th Century

20th Century
Mexican Marks

European Hallmarks

Netherlands

Dutch Hallmarks & Date Marks

European Hallmarks Norway

19th & 20th Cent.
Silver standard and maker's mark.

Norwegian Silver Marks

Polish HallmarksPoland Hallmarks

Polish Silver marks
Poland

Polish Hallmarks
after 1920

Portuguese Hallmarks

Portuguese Silver Marks

Portugal Hallmarks
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

Russian Hallmarks 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.

Scottish Hallmarks

Scottish Hallmarks - Glasgow
Scotland

18th C. - present
Top example has the town mark of Edinburgh
Bottom example is from Glasgow

British Hallmarks

Spanish hallmarks, Plata de Ley

spanish silver marks
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.

Swedish Hallmarks

Sweden Hallmarks
Sweden

1912 - Present
Marks used from mid 18th Cent.- 1912 are very similar.
Swedish Hallmarks
& Date Marks

Swiss Hallmarks 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.

Turkish Hallmarks

Ottoman Hallmarks

Turkish Silver MarksTurkish Marks
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



American Sterling
United States

from c.1870
Standard mark & maker's mark.

American Silver Marks


Related Pages at 925-1000.com:
British Hallmarks
Austrian Hallmarks
Dutch Hallmarks
Finnish Hallmarks & Makers
French Hallmarks & Makers
German Hallmarks
Italian Marks from 1872
Swedish Hallmarks
Danish Makers
Norwegian Makers
David-Andersen Marks
Georg Jensen Marks
Yogya Silver
Mexican Marks & Makers
Chinese Export Marks
American Silver Marks
Silverplate Trademarks


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