The Journal
Notes on silver & its marks
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EPNS Silver Plated Marks: Complete Identification Guide
For the full manufacturer tables, quality-number decoder, and every EPNS stamp in one place, see our complete EPNS marks reference. Disclaimer: EPNS pieces are silver-plated base metal and…
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Silver Makers Marks UK: The Complete Identification Guide
Silver makers marks UK collectors encounter on antique pieces are the single most direct link between a finished object and the craftsman who created it. Before an assay…
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UK Silver Hallmarks Symbols Explained: Lion Passant, Crown, Date Letter and More
UK silver hallmarks explained, those small, stamped symbols punched into the surface of British silverware, form a legal identity system that has protected buyers and regulated silversmiths for…
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Silver Hallmarks Identification UK: The Complete Guide for 2026
Silver hallmarks identification UK is a skill every serious collector, estate sale buyer, and antique dealer needs to master before spending a penny on British silver. A hallmark…
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Silver Date Letter Hallmarks: The Complete UK Guide
Silver date letter hallmarks give every piece of British silver a verifiable birth certificate, stamped in metal at the moment of assay. No other national hallmarking tradition produces…
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Sheffield Silver Hallmarks: The Complete Guide to the Crown Mark and Beyond
Sheffield silver hallmarks use a crown as their unique assay office mark, one of the most recognisable symbols in British silver collecting and a reliable shortcut to dating…
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Pewter vs Silver: 7 Ways to Tell the Difference at Home
The pewter vs silver difference is one of the most persistent identification challenges in antique collecting, and it has been catching out buyers since the medieval period. Both…
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Edinburgh Silver Hallmarks: The Complete Guide to the Castle Mark and Beyond
Edinburgh silver hallmarks use a triple-towered castle as the town mark, making Scottish silver from Edinburgh immediately recognisable to any trained eye. This castle mark has appeared on…
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Dublin Irish Silver Hallmarks: The Complete Identification Guide
Disclaimer: This guide provides educational information for collectors and dealers. For high-value pieces, always seek a qualified professional appraisal before buying or selling. Dublin Irish silver hallmarks have…
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Coin Silver Marks: The Complete American Silver Identification Guide
Last Updated: January 2026 | Reviewed against 200+ documented coin silver pieces from American silversmiths active between 1750–1900 Coin silver marks on American pieces tell a specific story:…
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British Silver Hallmarks Identification Chart: A Complete Guide
British silver hallmarks identification chart knowledge separates a confident collector from one who overpays for plated ware or undersells a genuine Georgian piece. The UK’s hallmarking system, the…
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British Silver Assay Offices: A Complete History of UK Hallmarking
British silver assay offices have been the cornerstone of consumer protection in the precious metals trade since Parliament mandated silver testing in 1300, making UK hallmarking one of…