Admin What does a lion and anchor mean on silver?
If you find a lion on your piece, you’ll immediately know that it’s come from Britain. Symbols for where it was made include an anchor for Birmingham and a crown for Sheffield (in 1975, it changed to a rose). Another mark is the head of the reigning monarch. Some companies used symbols as a commercial logo.
What does the letter r mean on silver?
The letter “R” is a date indicator. You will have to go to the Encyclopedia of Silver Marks website to look up the mark.
What does hallmark on silver mean?
Silver hallmarks. A silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith, and other (optional) markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece.
Should sterling silver have a hallmark?
If for some reason the stamp or hallmark is so worn or tarnished, a professional can test their sterling with the use of Nitric Acid . Sterling silver has a positive reaction to Nitric Acid, while silver plated and other non silver metals will have a negative reaction to Nitric Acid.
What are silver hallmarks?
Silver hallmarks. A silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith , and other (optional) markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece. Sep 14 2019
What is British sterling hallmark?
The principal use of a hallmark on silver or gold is to show the fineness of the metal; sterling or Britannia for silver, the carat fineness for gold, e.g. 18 carat. British hallmarks also indicate to within 12 months of when the item was hallmarked, and this is of great interest to collectors.