Almost all marks on almost all antique and collectible silver and silver plate, were applied with stamps. These can take the form of pictures, words, names, letters, or numbers. By 1839, scientists in Britain and Russia had independently devised metal deposition processes similar to Brugnatelli's for the copper electroplating of printing press plates. Since new molds are usually made by copying originals, marks on originals are usually transferred to the new molds. 3. Since 2015 visually identical UK Hallmarks are being struck in India and Italy by sub-offices of Birmingham & Sheffield Assay Offices respectively: The series of hallmarks described above are still in use in today. These short tips highlight the basic differences in how new and old marks are created and applied. New silver marked 925 is also acceptable in the US because that is also the US standard. Scottish hallmarks have been regulated by statute since 1457 but the earliest known example dates only from 1556 to 1557. Wm Rogers Silver Plate Candlesticks Set Of 2 / Pair 9 Inch Tall $35. For Ireland these included the Jubilee Mark marking the golden jubilee of the 1916 Rising (1966) and the Dublin City Millennium (1988). Additional types of objects made include keys, costume jewelry, zippers, wind instruments such as clarinets, sculptures and art pieces, and replica silver coins and bullion. Right ~ 19th Cent. Which had incidentally, been used as the gold assay mark for Sheffield when the Assay Office was first entitled to test gold, after March 1st 1904. Some authentic Victorian-era silver-plated pieces do bear applied discs with the manufacturers name. The collector in pursuit of sterling silver, or any solid silver item, should beware of any articles sold as nickel silver or German silver, for, again, these are not, in fact, real silver. This same system was also used to frame gold hallmarks. Identifying English, Irish and Scottish Silver The marks on silver made in other countries often use symbols that can be quite confusing until you decipher what they mean. Please send us an email at chris@antiquesilver.org. Without one of these marks, the item is most likely plated. The head was encircled by a frame, optionally composed of convex, concave and straight lines. is actually pure silver. A small sampling that may help to identify the country of origin. of metal. Figs. PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item. Therefore, by debasing silver or gold, the offender was undermining the coin of the realm. 10 - Any mark that is exceptionally small is suspicious. : describes (when possible) a symbol present on the silver plate hallmark gothic : the letters are in gothic style date indicates approximate period of firm's activity ALPHABETICAL LISTING OF SILVERPLATE MARKS etc.). Mackie marks his rings with one of two hallmarks. This mark became crowned in 1478 and remained crowned until 1821. From 1929, Japan Mint assays and hallmarks the articles made of silver. Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums. Special commemorative hallmarks are created to celebrate major events. STERLING means that 925 out of 1000 parts are silver. Since 1999, the date letter has been optional. denting silverplate, so be careful. This ratio is called the "sterling standard" and has been used in the US since the mid-1860s. Almost all the pieces we'll be discussing are made for the antique reproduction trade. Silver at that time was sometimes marked "COIN" or "PURE COIN", but can also be without a standard mark altogether. If they offended again, a limb would be hacked off and, until the 1720's, the death penalty was the usual sentence meted out to persistent offenders. until 1886. Many of the rings are direct copies from Victorian-era original. appropriate link below to go to the tables of date letters. $200.00 Included BR50 Stock fitted for recoil lug and magazine well in house. Back of silver flatware. Unique, individual or custom markssuch as serial numbers, order numbers, artists marks, hallmarks, etc.were generally made with hand-struck punches, each punch bearing a single letter, numeral or symbol. Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750, BENEDICT is preceded, on each subsequent line, by INDESTRUCTO, SHEFFIELD PLATE, E.P.N.S., MADE IN USA., Electroplated Nickel Silver, Old Sheffield Plate and Close Plate Makers Marks; from 1784, Guide to the Archive of Art and Design, Victoria & Albert Museum, Elkington Electroplate Silver / Silver Plate Marks and Date Letters: Elkington-Elkington, Mason & Co-Elkington & Co-Elkington & Co. TOUCH Both sterling and silverplate will have You must examine how marks are made as well as how the mark reads. The date 1622 is when the Atocha sank; Atocha pieces were made after 1990. Silversmiths in Baltimore, Maryland, had a maker-date system from 1814 to 1830. HOME; American Marks. Electroplated Nickel Silver, Old Sheffield Plate and Close Plate Makers Marks; from 1784 by George Mappin. A fact only disclosed in very confusing language in extremely small print. 23 Close up view of the mark on Indian badge above, Tiffany Studio New York. 5-7 New silver whistle in Fig. FAQ; Main Website. imitating silver-like Nevada Silver or German Silver. Reproductions, particularly new silver plate, are generally cast in molds. really good for tableware. An assay office was legally established in 1814, and marks were placed on all silver sold. In your e-mail, please include as much of the following as possible. 35-38 An old Meriden napkin ring, Fig. Pieces with this mark can be exported from England to any country which has signed the same treaty. 31-34 Silversmith James Mackie has been making reproductions of figural silver-plated napkin rings since 1992. Not very conclusive. Irish silver also contains the image of Hibernia. Original stamped marks are just the opposite: clean sharp edges with an almost perfectly uniform depth of impression. The original includes both a pattern and order number missing in the fake. Many collectible items are made of silver-colored metal that can sometimes be confused with sterling silver, but which have little or no silver content in them. Simply learn to recognise those Antique Silver Hallmarks. just number 800, Italy Profile Facing Left with Number If a piece was made in a foreign country for import into England, it would include a maker's mark, control mark and standard mark. For the bourbon whiskey, see, Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Maker's Marks, British and Other Worldwide Sterling Marks, A Small Collection of Antique Silver and Objects of vertu, Fineness Certification of Precious Metal Wares: Japan Mint, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Silver_hallmarks&oldid=1136985439, A stamp indicating the purity of the silver is called the, Each silver maker has his or her own, unique. 16-18 REO is a silver wholesaler located in the US. The oval tab marked 925 shown here is soldered on a new rattle. The silver standard mark. Town marks for imported silver have differed from the normal marks England has also agreed to accept standard marks on silver imported into England from any nation that signs a 1976 treaty, or convention, guaranteeing strict testing of silver content. These include thimbles, brooches, tussie-mussies, charms, needle cases and other similar pieces. Tip: Sometimes polishing an item will reveal hidden markings, repairs, wear, and other indications of metal content. These marks are accepted in Europe, England and the United States. DAB is the mark of contemporary English silversmith David Bowles. From this time, English silver was required to be at least 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals. A typical hallmark on silver made in England for either export or sale in England. But it is a general rule that virtually all pieces marked 925 or sterling 925 are modern. It was George Richards Elkington and Henry Elkington of Sheffield, England, who, in 1840, patented the modern process for producing electroplated nickel silver. HEFT This is kind of like intuitive Usually, said precious metal, as the name suggests, is silver. The lower grade of silver is 800 parts per thousand, or 80% silver referred to as 2nd Standard. You can also dent sterling a lot easier than From pharaohs, Roman emperors and continuing today, fineness, or standard marks, have been used to guarantee minimum amounts of precious metal in relation to non-precious metal. I, There were many small potteries making stoneware and other ceramics, Kovels Adds Thousands of New Prices and Photos to Online, The Kovels.com price guide has just gotten bigger and better!, Terry Talks About Kovels 2021 Price Guide and Gives Tips on, Dear Lee, These have been the strangest few months I. Mar 18, 2015 - Explore Sandi Logan's board "Collection of porcelain & pottery makers marks", followed by 455 people on Pinterest. (e.g. Main Menu~American; Modernist Silver Marks; Gorham Date Marks . Keep in mind genuine marks on 19th and early 20th century silver and silver plate vary considerably in appearance and new marks frequently change. For coins, With earring posts, hanging loops and other jewelry findings removed, Atocha pieces are sometimes offered as old Spanish coins, far right. The golfer match safe shown here (Fig. When the Birmingham Assay Office was established in 1773, largely due to the representations of the great Midlands industrialist, Matthew Boulton, the mark of an anchor was adopted as the town mark. $ 25.00 IncludedAnschtz LG380 This was the last of the recoilless springer . A fifth mark, not shown, is a profile of the ruling king or queen. These symbols may be placed in any order. ( ABCD ) : the letters are inside an unique outline (of various shape) [ ABCD ] : the letters are inside a shield hand, tower, crown, etc. It will flex. Silverplate does not yield as easily. Simply learn to recognise those Antique Silver Hallmarks. A magnet will firmly stick to a silverplated item, but it will not adhere to sterling silver. Usually, said precious metal, as the name suggests, is silver. HOME; American Marks. The first London silver hallmark to be used was the leopards head, in the year 1300. Complex marks, like the Tiffany example previously discussed, may include both standard company marks found on all pieces, as well as unique marks for individual pieces such as an order number, pattern number, date letter and others. 2023 - WorthPoint Corporation | 5 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 2900. Because it resembles silver, at first glance, EPNS can be mistaken for solid silver, a fact upon which counterfeiters and other unscrupulous individuals rely. 16, 18). we respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Figs. The laws governing silver hallmarking are very strict and if an item does not comply with a standard the item will not be hallmarked and will probably be destroyed. A silver plated item should not have a legal hallmark, as it will not be pure enough to be considered as silver. Sir Christopher double jigger by Wallace. All Rights Reserved. Ornate capital letters or the fleur-de-lis were used in France. Figs. Cast marks tend to be shallow with ragged or blurred edges and uneven in depth of impression. By tradition, it is said that Birmingham and Sheffield tossed for the marks derived from the sign of the Crown and Anchor tavern in London - where the promoters of the two new offices met. 11 & 12 - Any cast or molded mark is suspicious. Many unmarked pieces of American silver were made by 1825. Every new piece produced in the mold has the same mark as the original including model number, 199. Menu. A new piece marked Unger Bros. a 19th century firm known for quality silver and 925 is legal as long as the silver content tests at 925. These marks mean the same standard as US silver prior to 1870-or 90% silver: These marks mean the same as a content of 92.5% silver: These marks mean electroplated, developed in the US around the Civil War by William Rogers: EPNS Electroplate This is a fantasy product. Engraving Cutting a design into a piece using an engraving The fake is made from two pieces of silver. 26-28 New silver brooch, above, appears with forged Unger Bros. mark in Fig. Most of them offer detailed photographs and extensive information that will help you determine the value of the antique. Pieces with this mark were widely sold throughout the US beginning in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Marks on precious metals have been regulated by law since ancient times. 925-1000 . Most of these marks contain obvious features such as size, lack of detail, a convention mark, or the 925 standard mark, that will help you easily identify pieces as new. The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh was thought to be in the 1490s and the earliest surviving records date from 1525. A piece with both marks meets the requirements of both the EC and US, two huge markets. In fact the vast majority of mass produced silver reproductions today, whether made in Thailand, India, England, Europe or America, now include 925 in the mark. With almost any silver or silverplate item, you'll notice tiny stamped marks somewhere on the piece. 30 Typical Atocha silver "coin" with confusing marks. This helps to understand the value of the product and make informed decisions about buying and selling of such items. Pieces for export must include the 1976 convention hallmark, a scale. Further details in the EPNS/EPBM page One concave line represented 140/1000 fineness, a straight one 150 and a convex one 160. surface and then filled with enamel. Figs. It is a comprehensive guide to historic silver patterns from a number of silversmiths and companies. Collectors look at, Q: I am looking for information on this chair. In 1731, the figure of Hibernia was added. The 925 standard mark above is smaller than the diameter of the lead in the wooden pencil shown for comparison. The makers mark bears the initials of the maker in a shield approved and registered at the assay office. Manufacturers change their marks over time but there are online resources that can help you to identify each hallmark. Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums. Some reputable dealers will help you determine the value of your silver and buy at prices that are fair. The difficulty in detecting such marks is generally related to the skill and knowledge of the forger. 1903 Springfield Scope Mount. The separate standard mark may appear as 925 only or 925 enclosed in a simple shape such as an oval, square or circle. Silver plate is a coating of pure silver on a base metal such as copper or nickel silver (an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc) and was developed later than sterling or coin, but various forms date to the 18th century. Queen Victoria faces left. IDENTIFY WORLDWIDE MAKERS' MARKS & HALLMARKS marks4ceramics: Porcelain, Pottery, Chinaware, Figurines, Dolls, . Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums. These so-called convention hallmarks consist of a registered maker's mark and either two or three other marks: a control mark, a standard mark and, if the piece was made in England, an assay mark. Ingot Bar It is the sound flea market fans rushing towa Dear Lee, I have attended many auctions in all parts of the country. However, even those discs should be examined very carefully. Quick Makers' Marks. Go no further. French silver made for export carries an assay mark in the shape of the head of Mercury, along with a number to indicate the millesimal fineness: "1" for .920, "2" for .840 and "3" for .750. Porcelain Microwave and Dishwasher safe 3 Dinner - 1.5inH x 11inW x 11inD 4 Salad - 1inH x 9inW x 9inD 4 Cereal - 3inH x 6inW . Silver hallmarks have been used in the UK for hundreds of years. nac@nacvalue.com. This is still the standard for sterling silver. Each silversmith registered and was assigned a number. If you are unable to 37. This mark is referred to as a hallmark. To find Kovels silver hallmarks database, go to Look for your mark.Other articles and marks can be found inSilver and Other Metals identification guideand in the Article on Marks, and enter Silver in the filter. Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums HOME; American Marks. Fig. [citation needed] Prior to the general adoption of sterling silver as the standard of purity in 1868, silver was generally obtained from the melting of coins. Of the various minerals categorized as precious metals, silver is the most plentiful. Quick links. The directory of gold and silversmiths, jewellers and allied traders 1838-1914, Jackson's silver and gold marks 3rd edition, Marks of London goldsmiths and silversmiths, 1837-1914, https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/hallmarking, Online encyclopedia of silver marks, hallmarks and makers marks, Finial antique silver spoon collectors magazine, The Goldsmiths' Company Ask-the Library service, Hallmarking Archive Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, Hallmarks England and specific towns such as, lion passant denotes silver marked in England, lion rampant denotes silver marked in Scotland, palladium indicated by the helmeted head of Pallas Athena. Sign up for more easy craft ideas, fun hobbies, and DIY projects. Pressmarking is an automated form of hand marking but in the 21st century marking by laser is also an option. metal frames, imitates stained glass. Main Menu~American; Modernist Silver Marks; Gorham Date Marks; Kirk Date Marks; Reed & Barton Dates . A false silver hallmark has always been treated with the utmost severity by the law and in the past a silversmith was pilloried for their first offence, where they would be pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables. Learning how to define the origin of a piece of silver, the year made and the silversmith is great fun and also a way of perhaps finding a rare item that was made in a particular year or city. Many centuries later, once Westerners got ahold of it, they knew it by the name white copper, translated from Mandarin and Cantonese. Any piece with this maker's mark cannot be earlier than the mid-1970s. Often enough, the seller will make no effort to indicate the wares utter lack of elemental silver. 1A - 1D Typical examples of new silver and silver plate reproductions with new, faked or confusing marks. Antique Silver Hallmark Identification Forums. Silver Identification Guide The marks on the bottom of a piece of silver can be an indication of the age, maker, and origin of the piece. If this sounds like a lot of work, it was. For an item to be deemed sterling silver, 92.5% of the metal content in the alloy must be pure silver. Alaska Silver A base metal If the plating is thick, the item may even test as sterling under traditional acid testing. confused with Britannia Metal (pewter look). Cultivate your knowledge of metals with books in the WorthPoint Library. Silverplate Trademarks Section British Hallmarks Explained London Date Letters 1696 - 1935 & Maker's Marks Birmingham Date Letters 1773 - 1924 & Maker's Marks Chester Date Letters 1701 - 1925 & Maker's Marks Exeter Date Letters 1701 - 1883 & Maker's Marks Newcastle Date Letters 1702 - 1884 & Maker's Marks The pattern number appears on the left of the word Makers; the order number appears to the right (see white arrows). The makers mark will never be recycled even if it falls out of use. Here are some common marks on silver or silverplate . Sometimes called the Sterling Mark, the lion passant, the mark for Made in England, first appeared on English silver and gold in 1544. com www . Both standards are marked with the head of Minerva inclusive of a numeral 1 or 2 to indicate the standard. Exact source thought to be Thailand, but that is not certain. Being able to identify hallmarks on silvers will help you to have a better understanding of what your antique is worth. passant) and the date letter have both been optional. Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:41 pm. From marks4antiques.com - The most updated price guide and makers' marks research online As a member, you can ask for our assistance at any time for free . The most significant change has been dropping the mandatory use of the passant lion as a standard mark. 25 Original Tiffany silver mark on which the forgery in Fig. What's the difference between silver plated and sterling silver? Bottom of candlesticks, figurines, vases and decorative pieces. All 925 marks, whether standing alone or combined with other symbols as the above example, are very nearly a guarantee of a reproduction. The use of 925, however, does not preclude the use of sterling. The dating system was discontinued in 1830 when the silversmiths developed another system. I have a piece that has multiple nautilus shell marks, would love to know about the origin. Identify ECU in ProECU Once selected it will query the ECU CAL ID and VIN Number and bring up a list of ROMs that have that CAL ID in your C:\EcuTek folder. Silver plate or electroplate is formed when a thin layer of pure or sterling silver is deposited electrolytically on the surface of a base metal. The control mark, a set of scales, was adopted in 1976. By far the vast majority of qualifying items made in the US ca. Parcel Gilt Only part of article is treated with gilding. On this and following pages are examples of marks frequently seen on new silver. Hence, many sterling silver items are labeled .925. Homeowners Personal Contents & Collections. Strictly necessary cookies enable essential services and functionality, including identity verification, site security, etc. It gives the collector and dealer who understands them, specific permanent marks to establish firm dates of production. Starting in 1894, the Forbes Silver Company [,a secondary trademark of the Meriden Britannia Company ,] produced a variety of small silverplated pieces for use by women in the home, including a very large line of silverplated toiletware, as well as a general line of household silverplate. According to the law, quality-marked silver also must bear the name or a U.S. registered trademark of the company or person that will stand behind the mark."[1]. 2 (95% or 80%), Germany Crescent Moon and Crown (80%)-Sometimes The term Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS) refers to the coating of the base metal nickel silverwhich in itself contains no actual silverwith precious metal. Thus, through the application of a thin outer layer of silver, nickel silver could henceforth bear an even closer resemblance to its pricier cousin. See original mark below. Sterling and 925 virtually never appeared as separate words standing apart in vintage marks. HOME; American Marks. inlay used as decorative markings in silver. Hallmark Identification [Date Letters] Scottish Provincial Marks Identification. "Hotel" Main Menu~American; Modernist Silver Marks; Gorham Date Marks; Kirk Date Marks; Reed & Barton Dates . 2 posts Page 1 of 1. Dress your table with a touch of the sea and revel in the crisp white and deep blues of the Royal Doulton Pacific range. 1,2, or 3; 925, Netherlands Lion with Number 1 or 2 (93.4% or 83.3%), Russia 84 or 96; Sometimes Womans Head The marks on the bottom of a piece of silver can be an indication of the age, maker, and origin of the piece. Wholesale price $5. The article will not include elaborate forgeries of museum quality silver made before 1850 or silver of other standards. Electroplating processes were invented in England in the 1830s and 1840s; this method is still used today. Since its invention, the technique of electroplating use has spread across the globe. Fig. 1) symbol for the town in which the silver content was certified, called an assay or town mark; 2) symbol for the year of manufacture called the date letter; 3) symbol representing the silversmith or factory which made the object, called maker's mark or sponsors mark; 4) symbol for the standard mark guaranteeing the silver content. There are many different terms used to describe various alloys sold as silver. In addition . With the 925 standard mark, a piece of silver can virtually be sold world wide with the same mark. $66.60. The alloy it contains is also the reason it's very durable. Now, years later, collectors know that fine American silver was also made during the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. But while most governments strictly monitor standard marks, very few regulate marks not related to the content of precious metals. Use the standard mark to determine the fineness of the metal. Note that coverage of Scottish provincial marks is far from . Silver Date Marks Hallmarks on British & Irish Silver NOTE: Since 1 January 1999 the traditional fineness mark (e.g. Marked PAJ 925. Makers' Marks & Hallmarks on British & Irish Silver. [citation needed], The United States also had no date marking system. This is generally not done today. Fig. Niello Black 14 & 15 New 1-inch dia. HOME; American Marks. Elkington Electroplate Silver / Silver Plate Marks and Date Letters: Elkington-Elkington, Mason & Co-Elkington & Co-Elkington & Co. www.ascasonline.org. 5) optional profile of the current king or queen. He holds a CAPP in Appreciable Residential Contents and has been an adjunct professor of Fine and Decorative Arts at Centenary University. PHOTOS REQUIRED - marks + item. These include 1) ATOCHA; 2) date 1622; 3) sterling quality or standard mark, 925. It should have the initials within a shield. silver you will have an idea of what the weight should be, based on past Typical pre-1975 British hallmark. But if a piece was made in England for sale at home it would require a fourth mark, a British assay mark. In Birmingham, metalsmiths engineered their own version of what they called German silver.. A well researched mark which includes a date stamp in the bottom line, M. Fortunately the forger overlooked the order number and pattern number. Marked Tiffany Studio New York on back. since 1904. The other is somewhat more elaborate with the letters separated by a crown. Machinerys Encyclopedia www.archive.org. 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. Stamped marks are generally much cleaner and sharper than cast marks. 4301 Wendy Way NOTE: Since 1 January 1999 the traditional fineness mark (e.g. The biggest danger in detecting new molded marks is to stop your examination after you have matched a suspected mark to marks in a reference book. Fig. No vintage silver is marked REO. Hi there I have this basket that has some unidentified marks to the base. Pieces of silver with fake marks tend to be found on simply shaped objects easily cast as a single piece. Try now. Analytical cookies collect data anonymously, about how visitors use our site and how it performs. Figs. It is perfectly legal, for example, to stamp silver with trademarks or brand names of companies no longer in business or whose trademark is no longer registered. You can also catch many forgeries by knowing how original marks were applied. Origin. 800 is usually found on continental silver. A single mark usually indicates that the piece of silver was made in America, although there are some Irish and Scottish pieces with just the makers name. the same feel. Between 1867 and 1933, Austria-Hungary and later, Hungary used the crescent moon crowned head of ancient Greek heroine Diana as the hallmarking symbol of legal silver alloys. Silver products sometimes may be marked 925, which means that 925 parts per thousand are pure silver. Gorham Silver Company used a special mark for their Martel silver from 1899 to 1912. About Silverplated Objects and Non-Silver Mistaken for Sterling, Illustration: The Spruce / Hilary Allison. From left to right: maker's mark =symbol of silversmith or company; assay mark=symbol of the city in which silver content was tested, leopard head shown is London; standard mark=lion passant (looking forward) certified that silver content was 925/1000. The presence of the 925 mark is a clue to this piece's recent manufacture. To locate it in different items, check: Bottom of silver trays, bowls, teapots and dishes. This qualifies the piece for sale in England. The earliest silversmiths in the colonies used their initials. ( ABCD ) : the letters are inside an unique outline (of various shape) [ ABCD ] : the letters are inside a shield hand, tower, crown, etc. PAJ is the mark of an unidentified maker/importer. identify the assay office from one of the town marks below you may have a piece of Silver Forum Index . The date letter shows the year that assaying was carried out. Post . It may help to have a magnifying glass and some silver polish handy. The Standard Mark In the case of silver there are two standards, Sterling (92.5%) and Britannia (95.8%). The four standard marks of a hallmark were the standard/purity mark, the assay office symbol, the date letter and the maker's mark. lion passant) and the date letter have both been optional. hdogv Trigger Blade: Anschutz 007434 in silver Magazine Capacity: 10 Magazine Release: Extended Stock Style: BR50-U2 Walnut Upgrades included on this rifle: Epoxy bedding done in house. Many other marks can be found on a silverplate piece. Antique silver hallmarks have been used to control the quality of goods made of silver since the 14th century and the organisation that regulates the craft, Goldsmiths Hall, gave the world the term hallmark. "Idenitfying UK Silver Plate Mark on Goblets Post by Dannd Sun Feb 23, 2014 7:40 pm" The mark was first found on a group of new silver match safes with sports themes. ( ABCD ) : the letters are inside an unique outline (of various shape) [ ABCD ] : the letters are inside a shield hand, tower, crown, etc. hallmark are the Assay Office mark, a numerical fineness mark and a sponsor's or The standard mark can now be expressed numerically, or millesimally, as 925. General line dealers and casual collectors can probably avoid most mass produced silver fakes in today's market by following the guidelines on page 16. Embossing Raising designs on silver from the reverse side by