American Solid Silver “S. Brown” manufactured this sterling piece, as indicated by the stamp, but the hallmarks that follow are actually bogus, as they imitate the English system because of its cachet in the marketplace.

What is the silver hallmark number?

925
900, silver known as “coin silver” varies in purity. Silver at that time was sometimes marked “COIN” or “PURE COIN”, but can also be without a standard mark altogether. After the adoption of the sterling standard, pieces were marked with “STERLING”, the number “925” or the notation “925/1000”.

How is Italian silver marked?

Italian silversmiths rarely submitted their pieces to the optional official hallmarking. Usually silver pieces were marked only with the ‘800’ (purity degree 800/1000), sometimes coupled with the silversmith’s hallmark. The ‘800’ was an unofficial mark and there was no uniformity in its shape.

Does a hallmark mean solid silver?

Silver hallmarks are a key part of determining the purity of an item purporting to be made from silver. Hallmarks are legal stamps, applied to items manufactured from a number of precious metals. These include gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

What is a British hallmark for silver?

Silver Hallmarks A British hallmark is a legal mark that is punched or moulded into items manufactured using precious metals. The precious metal indicated will be a noble metal; either gold, silver, platinum or palladium.

What are hallmarks and how do they work?

Hallmarks are legal stamps, applied to items manufactured from a number of precious metals. These include gold, silver, platinum and palladium. They identify the main metal, and how much of it can be found, in a number of items. Silver hallmarks are particularly likely to be found on silver jewellery and antique silver items (such as cutlery).

What is the minimum hallmark required for silver?

Today, the compulsory minimum hallmark requirement is to show the sponsor or maker mark, fineness, and assay office. The sponsor’s mark is either the maker, the importer, or the seller. Older English silver may have several different hallmarks however. The first fortunately remains largely the same today, and is quite easy to identify.

Where can I find information about silver marks and marks?

925-1000.com is the most extensive internet resource for research of Silver Marks, Hallmarks, Trademarks & Maker’s Marks found on Antique and Vintage silver.