Silver Hallmarks Guide: How to Read Marks on Silver
Read silver hallmarks: purity marks, assay office, date letters and maker's marks for British silver, plus American, European and plated silver marks.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Silver is one of the best-documented antique materials thanks to hallmarks — small stamped symbols that tell you purity, where it was tested, when, and who made it. Learning to read them is one of the most useful skills for valuing antiques.
British hallmarks
A full set of traditional British hallmarks typically includes:
- Standard mark — the purity. The lion passant (a walking lion) indicates sterling silver (92.5%). The Britannia figure indicates the higher Britannia standard.
- Assay office mark — where it was tested: for example a leopard's head (London), an anchor (Birmingham), a crown or rose (Sheffield, depending on period), a castle (Edinburgh).
- Date letter — a letter in a specific style and shield shape that identifies the year. Each assay office used its own cycles.
- Maker's mark — usually initials in a shield.
- Duty mark — the sovereign's head, used for a period in the 18th–19th centuries when duty was paid.
With the date letter and assay office, you can often date British silver to a specific year using published tables.
American silver marks
American silver generally doesn't use a hallmark system. Look for:
- "Sterling" or "925" — sterling standard
- "Coin" or "Pure Coin" — often 90% silver, earlier 19th century
- Maker's names and marks
European silver marks
Many countries used purity numbers and symbols: 800, 830, 835, 900, 925. National marks vary (for example, French silver uses small symbols such as heads for different purities). Specialist references cover each country.
Silver plate marks — not silver
These indicate plated items (a thin layer of silver over base metal):
- EPNS (electroplated nickel silver)
- EP, EPBM (electroplated Britannia metal)
- A1, "Silver plate", "Quadruple plate"
- Pseudo-hallmarks that imitate British marks on plated wares
See sterling vs. silver plate.
Tips for reading hallmarks
- Use a loupe (10x) and raking light.
- Photograph marks to zoom in.
- Note the shape of the shield around the date letter — it matters.
- Don't polish marks away.
Value beyond the metal
Sterling silver is always worth at least its melt value, but antique silver by notable makers, with fine decoration or in desirable forms, can be worth well above scrap. Never scrap antique silver without checking.
Scan it
Scan the item with AntiqueIQ for a quick identification, era and estimated value range, then confirm details from the hallmarks. Related: how to test silver at home and sterling silver flatware value.
Frequently asked questions
What does a lion stamp on silver mean?
On British silver, the lion passant indicates sterling silver (92.5% pure).
Does 925 always mean sterling?
Yes, 925 means 92.5% silver, the sterling standard.
Is EPNS real silver?
No. EPNS means electroplated nickel silver: a thin silver coating over a base alloy.