What is a duty mark on silver?
Duty Marks The excise duty on gold and silver articles was collected by the assay offices and the mark was struck to show that it had been paid.
How is silver plate marked?
You should see one of the following markings or something similar: “9.25,” “925/1000,” “Sterling,” “S/S” or “Sterling 9.25.” If you do not see any of these markings, it’s highly unlikely the item is genuine silver. If you do not see the sterling marking, the item is probably silver plated.
What is the European mark for silver?
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.
How do you read a silver mark?
Moving up in fineness, the next symbol you will find is 925. This number indicates the metal is silver and that it is 92.5% pure. Silver that is marked with 925 is known as Sterling Silver. Sterling Silver is commonly used in jewellery, cutlery (such as silver spoons), and other products because of its durability.
Is International Silver real silver?
Look for the Marking Sterling Silver spoons, you’ll see this marking on the back of the handle. International Silver, Silver Co., English Silver, German Silver, Silver-Plate, Silver-Plated or any other variation of the word silver indicates that the flatware is not real silver. These are just company hallmarks.
Is the International Silver Company real silver?
International Silver, Silver Co., English Silver, German Silver, Silver-Plate, Silver-Plated or any other variation of the word silver indicates that the flatware is not real silver. These are just company hallmarks.
What are the numbers for silver?
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 percentage of silver is international silver?
Real silver flatware is typically sterling silver, or 92.5% with 7.5% of a base metal, like copper.