The Journal
Notes on silver & its marks
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Pseudo-hallmarks: decorative marks that aren’t real hallmarks
Pseudo-hallmarks are decorative marks that mimic real hallmarks but guarantee nothing. Struck by makers, not assay offices, they never prove silver content.
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English silver hallmarks: a regional identification map
English silver hallmarks identify the assay town: London used a leopard’s head, Birmingham an anchor, Sheffield a crown. The town mark maps a piece to its region.
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Best app to identify antique silverware patterns in 2026
The best app to identify antique silverware patterns is Antique Identifier – Antiqly, which names the design from a photo of its mark and motif.
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Silver hollowware vs. flatware: identifying and valuing each
Hollowware is silver that holds, like teapots and bowls; flatware is what you eat and serve with, like spoons and forks. Each is marked and valued differently.
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Scandinavian silver hallmarks: Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian marks
Scandinavian silver hallmarks are read by country: Denmark’s three towers, Sweden’s three crowns and cat’s foot, Norway’s 830S maker marks.
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Towle sterling silver patterns: an identification guide
Towle sterling silver patterns are identified by the maker’s lion mark, the word STERLING, and a stamped pattern name like Old Master or King Richard.
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How to value old silver with an app in under a minute
The fastest way to value old silver is to scan its hallmark with an identification app. In under a minute it returns the maker, era, and an estimated…
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Silver purity marks worldwide: from 800 to 999 explained
Silver purity marks from 800 to 999 show how much pure silver a piece contains, expressed in parts per thousand. 800 is 80% pure; 999 is fine silver.
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Crowned letters on silver: what they signify and how to read them
A crowned letter on silver is usually a date letter or a town assay mark, not a purity sign. The country of origin decides what it means.
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AI vs. human appraiser: who reads silver hallmarks better?
The better hallmark reader depends on the piece. AI apps win on speed and common marks. Human appraisers win on worn, rare, and high-value silver.
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Why some antique silver has no date letter (and how to date it)
Antique silver often has no date letter because date letters are a British-only convention. American and most European silver never used the system.
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How to identify antique silver with no hallmarks
You can identify antique silver with no hallmarks by weight, sound, tarnish, and construction. A missing stamp does not mean the metal is base.
