| (Warning: This article is long and reading it may | | | | official country hallmark is also present. |
| improve your ability to make money on eBay) | | | | - "Solid Silver" - This is defined by the U.S. government |
| In Article One I discussed the opportunities for savvy | | | | (refer below*) as an alloy containing at least 92.5% |
| eBay sellers in the growing investor market for antique | | | | pure silver which means it has to be sterling. It is illegal |
| and collectible silver. The many types of marks on | | | | in the U.S. to represent any product by this name that |
| these goods can be confusing, however, often | | | | is not sterling silver. |
| resulting in poorly described listings. One can be | | | | - "Coin Silver" - This alloy gets its name from 18th and |
| assured that at least 30% of the 12-15,000 weekly | | | | 19th century American silversmiths who melted down |
| listings in the 'Antiques-Sterling' category will have | | | | silver coins in order to fabricate items to sell. Typical |
| inaccurate or misleading descriptions. The resulting | | | | items were silverware and other table service wares. |
| buyer confusion and uncertainty causes poor selling | | | | The U.S. government defines this to be an alloy of |
| prices, lost sales and seller credibility issues. | | | | 90% (900) purity (refer below*). Many items with less |
| In this article eBayers will learn how to identify and | | | | than 90% purity are frequently and illegally sold as "coin |
| understand the many different marks and where to | | | | silver" in the U.S. on eBay and in other venues. |
| research them. With this background sellers can write | | | | - Continental Sterling - This is a misleading term used |
| professional descriptions in their eBay auctions, eBay | | | | by some who sell European made items which have |
| stores and other selling venues. Properly identifying and | | | | purity standards less than 92.5%. Similar terms used |
| listing silver items gives sellers credibility and an edge | | | | are Russian Sterling, German Sterling, French Sterling, |
| over the hundreds of uninformed sellers in this | | | | etc. all of which are marked with official national |
| competitive market. | | | | standards that are less than 925. Continental Silver is |
| Think of it this way - if one were going to get into the | | | | the correct way to describe European goods provided |
| car selling business he or she should know as much as | | | | the official hallmark and assay mark are present to |
| possible about makes, models, engines, performance, | | | | authenticate the actual purity. |
| etc. Right? The same thing applies to selling silver | | | | - Silver Standards - In the U.S. the standards are pure |
| goods. The marks tell the story behind the piece i.e., the | | | | (.9999%), sterling and coin (refer below*). In the U.K. the |
| maker, age, origin, history, quality, pattern, etc. | | | | standards are britannia (95.8 % purity) and sterling. |
| Understanding marks will increase the sellers' ROI | | | | Britannia was used exclusively in Britain from 1697 to |
| because they become better buyers as well as | | | | 1720 and has been optional since. Other countries have |
| resellers. | | | | their own sets of official standards. Typically, but not |
| Identifying and Deciphering Silver Marks - The list | | | | without exception, these are 950, 935, 925, 900, 875, |
| below provides the basics for learning the many marks | | | | 850, 835, 812, 800, 750, and 675 purities as determined |
| and and metal types. For further research and | | | | by official assay. These numbers represent the |
| education there are many excellent reference books | | | | decimal fraction (percentage) of silver content in the |
| available for both beginners and experts. I've provided | | | | manufactured item. For example, an item marked '800' |
| a short list of suggested books at the end of the | | | | is 80% pure. 950 and 935 can be legally referred to in |
| article. Understand that many reference books are | | | | the U.S. as sterling, regardless of the country of origin, |
| narrow in their scope i.e., specific to certain time | | | | but the lesser standards cannot. 950 is sometimes |
| periods, countries, etc. For this reason one should | | | | referred to as Martelé Silver. Note: In the U.S. it |
| purchase only one or two books which cover a wide | | | | is a federal crime to import, sell, label, advertise, or |
| array of marks from many makers and countries. As | | | | otherwise represent any item as "sterling" or "solid |
| experience is gained by listing and selling silver one can | | | | silver" which does not have a purity of 92.5% or |
| build a good reference library. For online research there | | | | greater (refer below*). |
| are several excellent websites that are contributed to | | | | - Loth Numbers - This was a numerical system used in |
| and used by collectors and dealers worldwide. I've | | | | Austria-Hungary and Germany-Prussia in the 18th and |
| linked one of the best sites at the bottom of the article. | | | | 19th centuries for authenticating official assays. It is |
| Professional valuations and appraisals are also | | | | based on a purity of 16/16. So that 15/16 is 15 Loth |
| available for those who want a quality listing but don't | | | | equaling .937 purity, 14/16 is 14 Loth equaling .875 purity, |
| want to research marks. | | | | 13/16 is 13 Loth equaling .812 purity, and so on. Most of |
| Those who are just starting into silver sales need to | | | | the antique silver from these countries found listed on |
| be very careful not to misinterpret marks. As stated | | | | eBay is 13 Loth and, as noted above, it is often |
| above, one-third of the eBay sellers incorrectly list and | | | | misrepresented as German Sterling. Austria-Hungary |
| describe items because they've learned just enough | | | | used this system until 1866 and Germany-Prussia until |
| information about marks to be dangerous. Often these | | | | 1886. |
| erroneous sellers think because there is a lion, crown, | | | | - Zolotnik Numbers - These numbers are found on |
| or anchor mark on their item it is English sterling when, | | | | Russian silver items going back several centuries. The |
| in fact, it is silverplate bearing a pseudo mark. Just | | | | root of this system began in the 11th century with the |
| today I saw a new seller's auction of a creamer and | | | | Russian gold trade. A lot of antique Russian items are |
| sugar bowl set that she listed as English sterling made | | | | auctioned on eBay and other venues so it is important |
| in 1903. In reality it was American silverplate circa | | | | to know some basics. The numbers are based on 96 |
| 1877-1880. She thought the pattern number, 1903, was | | | | 96 being pure. What is sold mostly on eBay is the |
| the date it was made and that the lion in the | | | | more common 84 Zolotnik, or 84/96 which equals 875 |
| trademark meant English sterling. This is just one | | | | (87.5%) purity. 88 Zolotnik is 88/96 or 916 purity and so |
| example of many that make sellers look bad and limit | | | | on. A common problem with the 84 mark is mistaking |
| their chances for a profitable sale. | | | | certain types of French silverplate for Russian 84 |
| Use Knowledge As A Selling Point - After properly | | | | Zolotnik. One way to tell the difference is the French |
| researching the marks on the merchandise one can | | | | silverplate mark will have either a 'Gr' or 'G' after the |
| accurately title and describe the listings. Items can be | | | | 84 which represents grams of silver used in the plating |
| guaranteed to be as claimed because the seller has | | | | process. Also the Russian 84 Zolotnik will always be |
| enough confidence to do so. This gives credibility to | | | | accompanied with one or more official marks and a |
| the seller and the merchandise which will draw smart | | | | maker's mark in Russian Cyrillic letters. If an item is |
| investors and collectors to the auction. The result will | | | | claimed to be Russian and it bears on the number 84, |
| be strong bidding action and higher sale prices. | | | | then consider it to be fake or plate. |
| Use Accurately Identified Marks for Search | | | | - Silverplate - This is a very thin layering or coating of |
| Optimization - For example, a seller identifies a piece | | | | pure silver over a base metal. The most common |
| as Danish and made by Georg Jensen circa 1909-1914. | | | | base metals used are copper, brass, nickel-silver, white |
| When used to keyword the auction title and | | | | metal, and Britannia metal (see below). The two types |
| description this information will be a magnet for | | | | of silverplate are Sheffield plate and electroplate. |
| high-end collectors . This translates into bigger profits. | | | | Sheffield derives its name from Sheffield, England |
| Which of these two titles works best? "Antique Silver | | | | where it originated. The technique used was a |
| Bowl with Hallmarks" or,"Beautiful Georg Jensen Art | | | | 'sandwiching' of a layer of base metal between a top |
| Nouveau Sterling Centerpiece c.1909-1914". The second | | | | and bottom layer of pure silver. The metals were |
| one of course. This is simply using strategic keywords | | | | wrought or rolled until the two metals were bonded. |
| in the title which gives life to the listing. | | | | Thus the base metal was 'plated' and could then be |
| Okay, so what's to learn? There's plenty. The following | | | | used for manufacturing. Electroplating was invented in |
| is just the short list, but with this foundation a seller can | | | | 1805 but didn't come into popular use until 1840. This is |
| build their road to success as an expert silver dealer | | | | an electrolytic process whereby molecules of silver |
| on eBay and other venues. | | | | are deposited onto the surfaces of a sheet of base |
| Things You Must Know: | | | | metal until the desired coating or thickness is achieved. |
| - Hallmarks - Just about every eBay seller | | | | Because electroplating is quick and not labor intense |
| misunderstands this. Specific to precious metals, a | | | | almost all plating was done this way by 1860 which |
| hallmark is defined as a mark or series of marks | | | | doomed the Sheffield plate method. Today Sheffield |
| struck into the metal that officially authenticates the | | | | plate is prized by collectors due to its superior |
| metal purity (fineness or content) and which is | | | | hand-wrought quality and antique value. There are |
| internationally recognized as a guarantee of purity. | | | | several different quality grades of electroplate |
| eBay sellers frequently confuse hallmarks with maker's | | | | silverplate. These are based on the thickness of the |
| marks, logos, company trademarks, and simple number | | | | plating resulting from the amount of silver used. The |
| marks such as 925 or 835. While such number marks | | | | two common types of Victorian Era silverplate are |
| are used to indicate purity or content they are never | | | | triple plate and quadruple plate. You will see a lot of |
| to be considered as hallmarks unless they are | | | | these types auctioned on eBay. The key thing to |
| accompanied by the official standard mark of the | | | | know about silverplate is that it has no significant silver |
| country of origin. Why? Because anyone can | | | | weight, thus there is no precious metal value |
| fraudulently strike these numbers into the metal without | | | | associated with it. The market for silverplated items is |
| official assay. Hallmarks are the official marks of | | | | based on rarity, uniqueness, antique qualities, |
| guaranteed metal purity in precious metal items. | | | | craftsmanship, and design qualities only. |
| Trademarks and maker's marks are simply the mark | | | | - Sterling Silverplate - There is no such thing! This |
| of the manufacturer of the item. Think of it like the | | | | description is often used by eBay sellers who don't |
| karat marks on gold jewelry. If a ring says Cartier 18K, | | | | know anything about silver or who are keyword |
| the hallmark is the 18K, not the maker's name, Cartier. It | | | | spamming to increase clicks on their listing. Because |
| guarantees the ring has a gold purity of 75% and it is | | | | sterling is an alloy it is unsuitable to use as a silver |
| recognized worldwide. Silver hallmarks work the same | | | | source for plating. |
| way, there's just a lot more of them than there are for | | | | - E.P.N.S. - You will see these letters marking the |
| gold. | | | | bottoms of many older American and British |
| - Country Marks - Almost every country requires | | | | silverplated items. This stands for Electro Plated |
| official nationalized marks or symbols to be used as | | | | Nickel-Silver. Many novice eBay sellers and those who |
| the hallmarks for their precious metals standards. | | | | don't bother to do any research mistakenly list E.P.N.S. |
| Probably the best known of all is the Lion Passant | | | | items as sterling. Common variations on this are E.P., |
| used by England to guarantee sterling since the 14th | | | | E.P.C. (Electro Plate on Copper), E.P.W.M. (Electro Plate |
| century. There are far too many country marks to list | | | | on White Metal), E.P.B. or E.P.B.M. (Electro Plate on |
| here but you can research them in the online | | | | Britannia Metal). Just know that any item marked with |
| reference sites listed at the end of this article. | | | | E.P. is silverplate and as such has no precious metal |
| - City Marks - A mark or symbol used in many | | | | value. |
| countries to denote the city where the item was | | | | - Nickel-Silver - This is a common base metal alloy |
| made. The leopard head representing London and the | | | | consisting of nickel, copper and zinc. There is no silver |
| anchor representing Birmingham are two of the best | | | | in it whatsoever. The name was coined because the |
| known and most commonly seen on eBay. Again | | | | metal is silvery in color and polishes to a shine. Other |
| there's too many to list but they can be researched in | | | | names used for the same metal are: Alpacca or |
| the reference guides listed below. | | | | Alpacca Silver; Brazil Silver; German Silver; Peru Silver; |
| - Maker's Marks - These are the registered names, | | | | New York Silver; New Silver; Nevada Silver; |
| initials, trademarks, logos, brands, symbols, or other | | | | Norwegian Silver; Silverite; Venetian Silver; Potosi Silver; |
| marks used over several centuries by silversmiths and | | | | and Sonora Silver to name just a few. Many people |
| manufacturing companies to identify their wares. There | | | | have been stung buying things like old German Silver |
| are literally hundreds of these worldwide. You will | | | | ladies purses thinking they had something of real value. |
| usually find these struck or imprinted onto an | | | | Nickel-silver is strong and durable but it doesn't have |
| inconspicuous place on the item along with the hallmark | | | | any metal value. |
| and other marks. | | | | - White Metal - This is a silvery colored alloy usually |
| - Date Marks - Also called Date Codes, these are | | | | containing a mixture of antimony, tin, lead, zinc, and |
| unique symbols, characters, letters, or numbers used | | | | cadmium. In the U.K. the British fine arts trade uses the |
| by some well known manufacturers as a means of | | | | term 'white metal' to describe all foreign items which |
| dating the production year of their merchandise. These | | | | do not have official British Assay Office marks struck |
| are cataloged and are very useful in accurately dating | | | | on them. |
| many items. Unfortunately many companies didn't use | | | | - Britannia Metal - Another non-silver base metal similar |
| date marks which makes precise dating of their work | | | | to pewter which is popular because it is durable and |
| impossible. | | | | polishes to a silver-like luster. This is an alloy of 93% tin, |
| - Pseudo Marks - These marks were created by | | | | 5% antimony and 2% copper. Not to be confused with |
| silversmiths to mimic the well known and long | | | | 958 Britannia from Great Britain. |
| established British sterling hallmarks. These smiths | | | | The hundreds of known marks and their meanings are |
| typically made silverplate items and silver items of | | | | complex and often confusing. The information you've |
| lesser purity than sterling. The marks were intentionally | | | | received in this article should increase your |
| designed to give a perception of sterling quality about | | | | understanding of what many of the marks represent. |
| their work in order to profit on the reputation and | | | | You can now build upon these basics to become an |
| renown of British sterling. This does not necessarily | | | | informed buyer and reseller with a substantial edge |
| mean they were all practicing fakery, though some | | | | over your competition. Thanks for following this article |
| certainly were. In fact, many pseudo marks are | | | | series and please watch for Article Three: A Focus on |
| legitimately registered trademarks of reputable firms | | | | British Sterling. |
| which manufacture in sterling, coin and silverplate. For | | | | Suggested Reference Books: |
| example Gorham, a highly respected American sterling | | | | |
| and silverplate maker, incorporated the Birmingham | | | | 1. Kovels' American Silver Marks by Ralph and Terry |
| anchor mark into their maker's mark. Much of the 19th | | | | Kovel; Random House Reference, 1st Ed., 1989. |
| century Chinese export silver also bears pseudo | | | | ISBN-13: 978-0517568828 |
| marks on some very high quality 800 and 835 | | | | 2. Dealer's Guides: English Silver Hall-Marks by Judith |
| standard marked goods. Pseudo marks are often | | | | Banister; Foulsham Publishing, 2004. ISBN-13: |
| mistaken for British sterling hallmarks so buyers and | | | | 978-0572029999 |
| sellers alike must be able to recognize them. This is | | | | 3. Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by |
| one of the main reasons why research is so critical to | | | | Dorothy T. Rainwater, Martin Fuller and Colette Fuller; |
| successful selling. | | | | Schiffer Publishing, 2003. ISBN-13: 978-0764318870 |
| - Pattern Numbers - These are proprietary numbers | | | | 4. American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The |
| which are often found along with the hallmarks and | | | | Definitive (1948) Edition by Stephen G. C. Ensko; Dover |
| maker's marks. These are used by the manufacturer | | | | Publications, 1983. ISBN-13: 978-0486244280 |
| for patent registration, pattern identification and | | | | 5. All About Antique Silver with International Hallmarks |
| inventory control. | | | | by Diana Sanders Cinamon; AAA Publishing; 1ST |
| - Sterling - Sterling is defined by the U.K., the U.S. (refer | | | | edition, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0978516802 |
| below*) and most other nations as an alloy containing | | | | 6. Discovering Hallmarks on English Silver by John Bly; |
| at least 92.5% pure silver. The other metal in the alloy | | | | Shire Publishing, 9th Ed., 2008. ISBN-13: |
| is copper which strengthens the metal for fabrication | | | | 978-0747804505 |
| into usable and decorative wares. The word sterling | | | | 7. English, Irish, & Scottish Silver: at the Sterling and |
| comes from 14th century England. The sterling | | | | Francine Clark Art Institute by Beth Carver Wees; |
| standard in Great Britain and elsewhere has been | | | | Hudson Hills Press, 1st Ed.,1997. ISBN-13: |
| 92.5% (925) fineness since that time. | | | | 978-1555951177 |
| - 925, 0.925 or 925/1000 - This number is often found | | | | (These and other excellent reference books on this |
| stamped into silver items. It represents sterling when | | | | subject are available at and other fine booksellers.) |
| accompanied by the official standard hallmark of the | | | | * U.S. Guide to Precious Metals & Jewels: Laws |
| country of origin. The presence of this number on an | | | | & Standards (See paragraph 23. |
| item does not guarantee it to be sterling unless the | | | | |