The Journal
Notes on silver & its marks
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Chester silver hallmarks: identification and closing dates
Chester silver hallmarks show three wheatsheaves and a sword. The Chester assay office ran from 1701 until its closing date in 1962.
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Why the date letter’s font and shield shape matter on silver
The date letter’s font and shield shape matter because together they fix a silver hallmark to one assay office and one exact year, not just a cycle.
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How to scan a silver mark with your phone camera
To scan a silver mark with your phone, fill the frame with the hallmark, diffuse the light to kill glare, and lock focus before you shoot.
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Is grandma’s silver worth anything? A quick appraisal guide
Yes, grandma’s silver is often worth real money—if it’s solid sterling. Plated pieces rarely sell. The hallmark tells you which you have in seconds.
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Russian silver hallmarks: the kokoshnik and assay marks explained
Russian silver hallmarks center on the kokoshnik, a woman’s head in profile. It certified purity and date on pieces made from 1896 to 1917.
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Antique Snap app review: is it worth it for silver collectors?
Antique Snap is a photo-based identifier, but its silver hallmark accuracy is inconsistent. For collectors, a hallmark-focused app like Antiqly works better.
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Wallace sterling silver marks and pattern identification guide
Wallace sterling silver is identified by the WALLACE STERLING maker’s mark and a named pattern such as Grande Baroque, Sir Christopher, or Rose Point.
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The leopard’s head hallmark: London’s town mark through the centuries
The leopard’s head is the town mark of London’s assay office, used since 1300 to show where silver was tested — crowned until 1821, uncrowned ever since.
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Curio Antique Identifier review: cost, accuracy, and alternatives
Curio Antique Identifier is a photo-first app that dates and values antiques in seconds. It costs around $4.99 weekly after a short free trial.
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Silver date marks vs. date letters: what’s the difference?
A date letter is one specific hallmark: a single stamped letter giving the exact year. A date mark is the looser umbrella term for any mark that dates…
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Where are hallmarks located on silver? A piece-by-piece guide
Silver hallmarks are usually located on the underside or back of a piece — near the base on holloware and on the stem of flatware, grouped in one…
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Sterling silver flatware value: what sets and patterns sell for
Sterling silver flatware value ranges from about $25 per piece to over $5,000 for a full set, driven by pattern, weight, maker, and completeness.
