On English silver, a walking lion, or “lion passant” as it is called, indicates that an object is sterling; the anchor is the symbol of the city of Birmingham.

How can you tell if sterling silver is antique?

The first thing you’ll want to do is look for the Sterling name on the silverware. In most cases, you’ll find the word sterling on the back of each piece’s handle. In some cases, your silver may have a different identifying logo that is used to mark sterling pieces.

What do the symbols on silver mean?

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; The English silver standard is also 925/1000.

What does an F mean on silver?

In 1867 the Foreign Mark was introduced adding an “F” to the appropriate British hallmark. 958 for Britannia Standard. A special Assay Office mark was introduced to be used in the addition to the annual date letter, while the “F” mark was omitted.

How much is my sterling silver spoon worth?

Sterling silver souvenir spoons range in price from $5 to $2500. THE VAST MAJORITY of spoons are less than $60, and a very high percentage sell for less than $30. Many of the spoons pictured at this site would sell for under $60.

How can you tell if a pattern is sterling silver?

How to Identify Your Pattern

1. Almost all sterling silver is marked with the word “sterling” or the number “925.” If the piece is marked with either of these, you can be certain it’s crafted of sterling.
2. If it’s marked “plated,” “electro-plated,” or another version of this word, you’ll know it’s silverplate.

Where did the sterling silver anchor stamp come from?

Assay Office: The anchor stamp represents the Birmingham Assay Office. So the example item was a Sterling silver item, made by Nathaniel Mills in the mid 1840s, and assayed in Birmingham. . .

What do the letters mean on sterling silver?

American sterling marks on antique pieces use the lion or sometimes the dragon symbols in addition to the letters and/or symbols which signified the company or maker. Each country at one time had their own markings.

What does the shape on sterling silver hallmarks mean?

The shape is used with letters to help date the item. The hallmarks will tell you if the item is sterling silver, what town it was assayed in, the date of assay and the maker’s initials. The symbol for English sterling is a walking lion, or “Lion Passant”.

What do the marks on British silver mean?

British silver will also have the mark of the assay office as follows: a leopard head (with or without a crown) for London, castle for Edinburgh, a flower for Sheffield, and an anchor for Birmingham. This type of silver may have other marks for the Coronation in 1953 or other royal events.