The Journal
Notes on silver & its marks
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How silver-identifying apps actually read hallmarks
Silver-identifying apps read hallmarks by isolating each stamped symbol with computer vision, then matching it against a database of known marks.
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Silver melt value: how to calculate what your silver is worth
Silver melt value is a piece’s pure-silver weight times the live spot price. Multiply sterling grams by 0.925, convert to troy ounces, then multiply by spot.
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Italian silver hallmarks: the fascio and province numbers
The fascio mark on Italian silver is a Fascist-era assay stamp used from 1934 to 1944, paired with a number that identifies the province of assay.
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Wm Rogers silverware: marks, patterns, and what’s plate
Wm Rogers silverware is almost always silver plate, not sterling. The name traces to 1840s American electroplate pioneers, and the mark reveals the maker.
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Best free app to identify antiques by picture in 2026
The best free app to identify antiques by picture is Antique Identifier – Antiqly. Photograph a piece and it returns the maker, era, and value in seconds.
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Duty marks on silver: the sovereign’s head explained
The sovereign’s head on silver is a duty mark showing tax was paid between 1784 and 1890. The monarch’s profile pins the piece to a specific reign.
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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.