numbers on silver plate

Marks can include 800, 825, 830, or 850, indicating 80, 82.5, 83, and 85% silver content, respectively. Silverplate: The silver content in silverplated wares is minimal. A silverplate marking, sometimes incorporated into a manufacturer’s mark, indicates that the item was made by electroplating

a base metal with a relatively thin coating of silver.

Full Answer

What is the meaning of the numbers on silver plating?

Pieces that usually come in a dozen (table- forks /-spoons / -knives, coffeespoons etc.) are punched with the weight of silver used for plating a dozen pieces. So tableforks and tablespoons were marked with a "45", smaller pieces were punched a lower figure (e.g. "35"), as less silver was needed to give them the same thickness of plating.

How do I identify a piece of silver that has been plated?

The maker or company name is usually stamped on the back of the piece along with an indication that it's plated: In America, for instance, these marks are A1, AA, EP, or the full phrases "sterling inlaid", or "silver soldered." According to industry standards, AA has one-third as much silver used in plating as does A1 pieces.

How many grams of silver were used to plate the entire piece?

10 grams silver were used to plate the entire piece Christofle made one notable change, instead of using 90 Grams of fine silver for electroplating, the company first used just 80 Grams, later upgraded to 84 Grams and the pieces were marked accordingly.

What do the numbers on the back of sterling silver jewelry mean?

But after the Civil War, silversmiths continued to stamp their own names on the back, along with the word "sterling" or the number 92.5 or 925, all of which indicate sterling quality. Some companies used symbols as a commercial logo.

What do numbers mean on silver plate?

Digits and Silver Quality Any piece of silver that has more than 92.5 percent silver is considered sterling silver or pure silver. If the silver markings percentage is 99.9, then you have fine silver. Therefore, you will be able to look and see a “925” or “999” on pieces of silver.

What number is written on silver?

Look for marks indicating silver jewelry. Some coins and jewelry will have a stamp with the numbers "999." This indicates that the jewelry is made of pure silver. If you see a stamp with the numbers "925" followed or preceded by the letter "S," you have sterling silver.

How do you read silverplate marks?

From left to right: maker's mark =symbol of silversmith or company; assay mark=symbol of the city in which silver content was tested, leopard head shown is London; standard mark=lion passant (looking forward) certified that silver content was 925/1000. A fifth mark, not shown, is a profile of the ruling king or queen.

What does the number 1 mean on silver?

French silver made for export carries an assay mark in the shape of the head of Mercury, along with a number to indicate the millesimal fineness: "1" for .

How do you identify a silver mark?

Silver hallmarks are one of the most important factors in identifying antique silver jewelry, flatware, and other items. These small stamped symbols on the back or underside of silver items can tell you the purity of the silver, the manufacturer of the piece, and sometimes even the date it was made.

Is silver always marked?

Q: Should Real Silver have a Stamp? A: Yes. In the United States, silver items should have 925 stamps to protect consumers. It is illegal for items that don't meet these standards, such as fake silver products, to have the 925 or 'sterling' stamp.

How can you tell if something is solid silver or silver-plated?

Check the colouring of the item carefully; genuine silver is generally less shiny and colder in tone than silverplate. If you see places where the silver appears to be flaking off or turning green, the item is silver plated.

Is silverplate worth anything?

Since there is only a small amount of silver on each item, there is no melting value for the silverplate. Pieces that are more decorative, rare, and in good condition might sell for more money. Silverplate value is more about the antique market than it is about the metal market.

Does all silver have a hallmark?

So investment silver does not have to be stamped. Any other items, as detailed in the earlier section of this page, are legally required to be stamped however. Many dealers won't buy silver items if they haven't been stamped, and a lack of silver hallmarks could denote a fake item potentially.

What are the 5 standard silver marks?

There are 5 standard marks found on British Silver:The walking lion for all sterling silver made in England.The standing lion for all sterling silver made in Glasgow.The thistle for for all sterling silver made in Edinburgh.The crowned harp for all sterling silver made in Dublin.More items...

What does it mean when an item is marked with a silver plate?

A silverplate marking, sometimes incorporated into a manufacturer’s mark, indicates that the item was made by electroplating a base metal with a relatively thin coating of silver. When items are marked Quadruple Plate, this indicates four layers of silver were applied to the item over the base metal.

What are some examples of silver?

Many collectible items are made of silver-colored metal that can sometimes be confused with sterling silver, but which have little or no silver content in them. These are far less valuable than items made of sterling silver. Examples include: 1 Alpaca: While it is sometimes referenced as “new silver,” this gray-colored alloy has only 2% silver content mixed with copper, zinc, and nickel. Items of Mexican or South American origin emulating silver can be found with the Alpaca mark. Alpaca does not polish to a high shine like sterling silver. It can also be used as a base for silverplating. 2 German silver: This silver-colored metal actually contains no silver at all. It is an alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc. It will not polish to the high shine possible with silver alloys. Marks include German Silver and E.P.N.S (electroplated nickel silver). Originating in Germany, it was used as a less expensive substitute for sterling, primarily in the late 1800s and early 1900s. 3 Nickel silver: This is another silver-colored material with the same metal content as German silver. It is a mixed metal alloy with no silver content, used around the same time frame as German silver to simulate more expensive sterling silver. Items made of this substance are marked nickel silver.

What is the most common silver alloy?

Common Silver Alloys and Their Markings. Here are some of the most common types of silver alloys, with information on how they are often marked: Brittania silver (950): Brittania silver is an alloy made of 95% silver, which exceeds the requirement for sterling silver. It is most often marked 950.

What is the silver in an alpaca?

Alpaca: While it is sometimes referenced as “new silver,” this gray-colored alloy has only 2% silver content mixed with copper, zinc, and nickel. Items of Mexican or South American origin emulating silver can be found with the Alpaca mark. Alpaca does not polish to a high shine like sterling silver.

What is nickel silver?

Nickel silver: This is another silver-colored material with the same metal content as German silver. It is a mixed metal alloy with no silver content, used around the same time frame as German silver to simulate more expensive sterling silver. Items made of this substance are marked nickel silver. Read More.

Why do you put a stamp on silver?

Most silver items include a stamp to indicate the purity of the silver being used. Items containing the purest forms of silver would be labeled .999, but in reality, silver is too soft to be used in manufacture unless it is mixed with other metals.

Is sterling silver 925?

Hence, many sterling silver items are labeled .925. There are many different terms used to describe various alloys sold as silver. Some of them contain no silver at all, so it’s prudent to understand these terms when investing in antiques or collectibles.

When did 925 silver become the standard?

In 1973, the European Community (EC) agreed to recognize 925/1000 as the official sterling silver standard and 925 as the official standard mark. Since then, almost all silver of that quality sold among EC member countries has the 925 standard mark.

What is the 925 silver?

This ratio is called the "sterling standard" and has been used in the US since the mid-1860s. The numeric 925 is the millesimal expression of the 925/1000 standard.

Is 925 silver rare?

Very rarely are qualifying pieces of American silver from those years marked only 925. Rarer still, are American marks which include sterling and 925 together without a company name. This doesn't mean all pieces marked sterling or sterling silver old.

Is it legal to stamp silver?

It is perfectly legal, for example, to stamp silver with trademarks or brand names of companies no longer in business or whose trademark is no longer registered. A new piece marked Unger Bros.– a 19th century firm known for quality silver – and 925 is legal as long as the silver content tests at 925.

Is it harder to detect forged silver?

Forgeries attempting to copy genuinely old marks, are somewhat harder to detect. The difficulty in detecting such marks is generally related to the skill and knowledge of the forger. The silver marks most widely forged marks are generally those which have the potential for the greatest increase in value.

Is a date mark required on silver?

Beginning in 1999, neither date marks nor the lion passant were required on silver made and sold in England. Date marks are now optional; the standard mark was replaced by 925. Pieces for export must include the 1976 convention hallmark, a scale.

Can you remember all the silver marks?

As a practical matter, it is almost impossible to remember all the names, forms and variations of silver marks. General line dealers and casual collectors can probably avoid most mass produced silver fakes in today's market by following the guidelines on page 16. These short tips highlight the basic differences in how new and old marks are created and applied.

What is silver plate?

Silver plate is a coating of pure silver on a base metal such as copper or nickel silver (an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc) and was developed later than sterling or coin, but various forms date to the 18th century.

How much silver is in sterling?

Sterling, on the other hand, must be at least 92.5 percent silver. This standard-92.5 parts pure silver to 7.5 parts copper alloy, which strengthens softer silver-was established by the English during the 12th century and later adopted by most of the silver-making world, including the United States in 1868.

What is Venetian silver?

Venetian Silver: This flatware is made of a blend of silver and base metals is solid, not plated, but has a much lower silver content than either sterling or coin. Treble Plate: This stamp means that three layers of silver plating were applied to a base metal during manufacturing.

What does the number 92.5 mean on a coin?

But after the Civil War, silversmiths continued to stamp their own names on the back, along with the word "sterling" or the number 92.5 or 925, all of which indicate sterling quality. Some companies used symbols as a commercial logo.

What does the A1 and AA symbol mean?

A1 and AA: These discreet markings indicate the number of ounces of pure silver used in the plating. There's two ounces per gross of teaspoons for A1, and three ounces for AA.

What is the difference between sterling and silver?

Mint after the American Revolution-which rose to 90 percent in the years after 1837. Sterling, on the other hand, must be at least 92.5 percent silver. This standard-92.5 parts pure silver to 7.5 parts copper alloy, which strengthens softer silver-was established by the English during the 12th century and later adopted by most of the silver-making world, including the United States in 1868. Many people think of coin as much less valuable than sterling, but it has only about two percent less silver and, in some rare cases, may even contain more. Because of its age and beauty, a piece made from coin can sometimes be worth more than American sterling.

What is the best tool for anyone looking for silver?

While a book can be a great aid, the best tool for anyone looking for silver is a compact jeweler's loupe, which is a small magnification device that you can use to inspect miniscule details.