What Are Silver Hallmarks?
Silver hallmarks are small stamped impressions found on silver items, but they carry a meaning far greater than simple decoration. Each mark tells part of the story of the piece—its authenticity, origin, and even its maker’s identity. Collectors, jewelers, and historians often rely on these marks to trace the history and value of silver objects.
A traditional set of silver hallmarks usually features four important elements:
The Date Letter – A single letter, often in a specific font or shape, that reveals the year the piece was made.
The Town Mark – A symbol that indicates the assay office where the silver was tested and approved.
The Maker’s Mark – The initials or unique symbol of the silversmith or company that produced the item.
The Lion Passant – A walking lion stamp, traditionally used in England, signifying the piece meets the sterling silver standard of 92.5% purity.
Together, these marks form a kind of fingerprint for silver, ensuring authenticity and offering a window into its past. Whether you’re a collector or simply curious about an heirloom, understanding silver hallmarks is the key to unlocking the story behind the shine.
Silver Date Letter Hallmark Guide
This chart provides a reference to the date letter system used on sterling silver and other hallmarked items. Each letter mark, shown in a specific shield shape and font style, corresponds to a particular assay year. By comparing the letter, its style, and the outline of the punch mark, collectors and appraisers can accurately determine the year a piece was tested and marked by the assay office.
Why They Differ by City
Each assay office (Birmingham, Edinburgh, Sheffield, London, etc.) was independent and used its own system of date letters:
London Assay Office
The distinction between salt spoons and mustard spoons in Georgian silver can definitely be confusing, since they’re often very similar in size and shape. A few ways to tell:
Size
Salt spoon – typically around 2.5–4 inches long.
Mustard spoon – often slightly larger, around 3.5–5 inches, to scoop from deeper mustard pots.
Bowl Shape
Salt spoon – bowls are usually round or oval, sometimes with gilding (to resist salt corrosion).
Mustard spoon – bowls are often elongated or oval, though gilding is also common (mustard can tarnish silver).
Context of Use
If it came with a mustard pot or has marks consistent with mustard serving sets, it’s more likely a mustard spoon.
If paired with open salt cellars, it’s a salt spoon.
Gilding
Both were gilded inside, but gilding was more common in salt spoons, since salt is especially corrosive to silver.