Hallmark Info

 

Offical British Silver Hallmarks

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Britannia silver

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The Britannia silver standard of 958 (95.84% of fine pure silver) was introduced by William III by an act of Parliament in 1697 to replace the sterling silver as the mandatory standard for items of silver, with the sole intention of limiting the practice of melting sterling silver coins to produce silver items.

This change to a higher standard instigated a change in the recognized hallmark of the lion passant guardant denoting sterling standard, to the superior icon of the seated Britannia supporting an oval shield.

Britannia silvers purity was comparable to that already used by the best silversmiths in Europe, However, Britannia standard silver was also much more expensive, and following lobbying from silversmiths, the sterling standard was re-introduced mid 1720's along with the former lion hallmark.

The Britannia standard wasn't abolished at this time, but its use diminished significantly until the late 1800's when there was a period of revival lasting thirty years or so.

More recently in 1999, following the change in hallmarking, Britannia silver is now denoted with the superior fineness hallmark 958 with the optional use of the 'Britannia' icon