English Hallmarks Explained. . .                Hallmark Placement  Hallmarks are like labels. The English hallmark system, rigorously enforced especially since the beginning of the 18th century, enables one to determine the known fineness of the silver, where and when it was presented for assay (confirmation that passed minimum silver requirements), and who was responsible for it's manufacture.  Although the same symbol may be used for many years there are often subtle changes within the symbol, e.g. crown details, as well whether it appears within a shield or not, and the details of the shield. Below are examples of mark types.

MARK OF ORIGIN    London   Birmingham      Edinburgh      Dublin  The leopard’s head was introduced in 1300. Originally called the King's mark, this also served as guarantee of silver content during the 14th and 15th centuries. It tells you that the object was made in the city of London. The leopard is  crowned between the years of 1478 and 1821.

STANDARD OF FINENESS      Since 1300, the standard of coinage (92.5%) has been used for silver. This enabled the ready interchange of silversmith's work into coins, and vice versa as the economic situation, either personal or national, required. The lion passant (one paw raised) in various styles has been used since 1545.

MAKER'S MARK                                                  A statue was passed in 1363 that every goldsmith/silversmith was to have an individual mark by which his work could be recognized. This was to prevent the forgery of leopard’s head marks upon substandard product.  Originally, makers' marks were pictures, e.g. a grasshopper. By the beginning of the 17th C., more people were able to read and it became the practice to use the maker's initials.

DATE LETTER                  1807-8      1903-4 Towards the end of the 15th C. the date letter system was introduced to establish when a piece was presented for assay or testing of the silver content.  It is changed annually in May and enables easy dating of a piece. Over time, cycles of date letters were differentiated by changing fonts, cases and shield shapes.

DUTY MARK                   In 1774 a fifth and temporary mark was created to show that duty to pay for the American War of Independence had been paid. The mark chosen was the current reigning monarch’s head, in this case George IV’s who ruled from 1820 to 1830. After 1890, the system reverted to four hallmarks and continues so to this day.

THE BRITANNIA MARK            1676-1720 Silver content  only 95.84% During this period only, the silver standard was raised while silver coinage was retained at 92.5%.  This meant that silversmiths could not use coin silver without refining it, thus protecting coinage. In 1972, sterling was reintroduced as the standard and little Britannia marks will be found after 1735.

COMMEMORATIVE MARKS are just that, e.g. The Jubilee Mark 1933-1935 for 25th anniversary of King George V and Queen Mary's ascension to the throne;  The Coronation Mark for Queen Elizabeth appeared on plated items 1952-1953;  The Silver Jubilee Mark used on items weighing more than 15 grams in 1977.

Abstracted from:  Jackson's Hallmarks, Tardy's International Hallmarks on Silver, Discovering Hallmarks on English Silver, John Bly