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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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hallmarks
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The marks impressed in objects of silver and gold (and since 1975 platinum). The most important is the standard mark, which signifies that the metal has been assayed (tested) and found to be of *sterling quality. In silver this is a purity of 92.5%. The standard mark on English silver has been, since 1544, a lion passant (walking with the right foreleg raised). On silver assayed in Edinburgh it was from 1759 to 1974 a thistle, and since then has been a lion rampant (standing on hind legs).
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The assay office mark gives the city in which the silver was assayed; the four now in operation are London (a leopard's head), Birmingham (an anchor), Sheffield (until 1974 a crown, now a rose) and Edinburgh (a castle). The other marks are the initials of the silversmith, a single letter for the year, and at certain periods the monarch's head for the reign.
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The assay office marks are the same on gold, with minor exceptions, but the standard marks have differed since 1798 (on most gold items, such as wedding rings, the hallmarks are too small to be identified with the naked eye). Gold differs from silver in being assayed at various levels of purity, defined in carats. Pure gold is 24 carats, and the standard of gold is marked either as carats or as a percentage of 24. Thus an 18-carat gold ring will have on its inner surface either the number 18 or 75.0 (for 75%).
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