How to Identify and Verify Genuine Antique Silver Hallmarks
If you're buying antique silver - a tea set, a cream jug, a mirror frame, or a set of cutlery - the small stamped marks on the piece can tell you almost everything about it: who made it, where it was assayed, when it was made, and how pure the silver actually is.
To verify antique silver hallmarks:
- Look for a purity stamp such as 925, 800, or 900
- Check that the marks are crisp, evenly struck, and sensibly placed
- Use a magnifying glass or loupe to read small marks clearly
- Cross-reference any date letter against a published hallmark chart
- Weigh the piece - solid silver feels noticeably heavier than plated items of the same size
Buying from a seller who photographs and verifies the actual marks on each piece adds an extra layer of confidence.
What Are Silver Hallmarks?
A hallmark is a small official stamp applied to a piece of silver to certify its purity and origin. In countries with a long silversmithing tradition - the UK being the most well-known example - hallmarking has been a legal requirement for centuries, administered by official assay offices that test the metal before it's stamped. Elsewhere, purity marks (like "800" or "925") serve a similar function even without a formal assay system behind them.
Genuine antique silver will almost always carry at least one of these marks somewhere on the piece - usually on the base, the rim, or an inconspicuous edge. Not sure whether your piece even counts as antique or vintage in the first place? Our guide to the difference between antique and vintage breaks that down.
The Standard Components of a Hallmark
A full British-style hallmark set can include up to five individual marks, though older or non-UK pieces may only show one or two:
Maker's mark
usually the initials of the silversmith or manufacturing company, often inside a shield or cartouche
Assay office mark
a symbol identifying which office tested and certified the piece (for example, a leopard's head, an anchor, or a castle)
Date letter
a single letter in a specific typeface and shield shape that, cross-referenced against published charts, pins down the exact year of assay
Purity mark
a number or symbol confirming silver content, such as "925" for sterling silver, or "800"/"900" for continental European silver standards
Duty mark (historical)
found on older British pieces, this indicated that duty tax had been paid; it was discontinued in 1890
Not every piece will show all five - smaller items, foreign silver, or pieces made after certain reforms may only carry one or two of these marks, and that's normal.
Antique & Vintage Collectibles Australia
Shop genuine antique and vintage collectibles from KoalaHub's curated selection for collectors and interior enthusiasts across Australia.
View ProductAt-Home Checks You Can Do
Before you buy - or after a piece arrives - there are a few simple checks you can do yourself:
- Look for a purity number. "925," "800," or "900" stamped somewhere on the piece is the clearest sign you're dealing with solid silver rather than plate.
- Check for consistency. Genuine hallmarks are crisp, evenly struck, and appear in a sensible location (base, rim, inside a lid). Blurry, uneven, or oddly placed stamps are worth a second look.
- Use a magnifying glass. Hallmarks are small by design - a jeweller's loupe or even a phone camera zoomed in can make the difference between guessing and reading the mark properly.
- Cross-reference date letters. If a UK-style date letter is present, free online hallmark charts (from resources like the London Assay Office) let you match the letter shape to a specific year.
- Weigh the piece. Solid silver has a distinct heft compared to plated items of the same size - not a definitive test on its own, but a useful sanity check alongside the marks.
Signs a Piece May Be Plated or Not Genuine
A few red flags are worth knowing:
"EPNS" or "EP" Stamps
"EPNS" or "EP" stamped instead of a purity number means Electroplated Nickel Silver - a silver coating over a base metal, not solid silver. This isn't necessarily a bad purchase (EPNS pieces have their own collector value), but it's a different category from sterling or continental silver and should be priced accordingly.
Worn-Through Plating
Worn-through plating showing a yellowish or greyish base metal underneath is a clear sign of plate, not solid silver.
Unmarked Pieces
No marks at all doesn't automatically mean fake - some older or handmade pieces were never hallmarked - but it does mean you're relying entirely on the seller's word, so ask for more detail before buying.
Suspicious "925" Stamps
A "925" stamp that looks freshly added, inconsistent with the piece's overall wear can occasionally indicate a later modification - genuine period hallmarks should show the same age and patina as the rest of the piece.
Why Seller Verification Still Matters
Even with all of the above, reading hallmarks accurately takes practice - date letter charts vary by country and era, marks can be worn or partially struck, and some historical marks are genuinely ambiguous even to experienced collectors. That's why, alongside learning to read marks yourself, it's worth buying from a seller who:
- Photographs the actual hallmarks on the specific piece you're buying, not just a stock image
States clearly what can and can't be verified from those marks (a good seller won't invent a maker or date that isn't legible) - Stands behind the piece with an authenticity guarantee
At KoalaHub, every hallmarked silver piece we list has its marks photographed and described as part of the listing, and every item carries our Authenticity Guaranteed badge - so you're never left guessing.
Antique & Vintage Collectibles Australia
Shop genuine antique and vintage collectibles from KoalaHub's curated selection for collectors and interior enthusiasts across Australia.
View ProductFAQ
What are the 5 standard silver marks?
The five traditional British hallmark components are the maker's mark, assay office mark, date letter, purity (standard) mark, and - on older pieces - a duty mark. Most pieces show two or three of these rather than all five.
How do you know if antique silver is real?
Look for a clear purity stamp (925, 800, or 900), check that hallmarks are crisp and consistently placed, and weigh the piece - solid silver feels noticeably heavier than plate. When in doubt, buy from a seller who verifies the marks on the piece itself.
Can fake silver say 925 on it?
It's uncommon but not impossible - some mass-produced or deliberately misleading items have been stamped with a false "925." This is one more reason genuine hallmark photography and seller verification matter more than the stamp alone.
Looking to add a genuine hallmarked piece to your collection? Browse our Antique & Vintage Collection for hand-selected silver pieces, each with its hallmarks photographed and verified - including our Antique Sterling Silver Cream Jug, 800 Silver Tea Set, and 800 Silver Coffee Pot & Sugar Bowl Set.
