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Marks of Gold and Silver

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The date-mark on gold or silver articles is some letter of the alphabet indicating the year when the article was made. Thus, in the Goldsmith’s Company of London:—From 1716 to 1755 it was Roman capitals, beginning from A and following in succession year after year; from 1756 to 1775 it was Roman small letters, a to u; from 1776 to 1796, Roman black letters, small, a to u; from 1796 to 1815, Roman capitals, A to U; from 1816 to 1835, Roman small letters; from 1836 to 1855, Old English capitals; from 1856 to 1875, Old English, small; 1876 to 1895, Roman capitals.

The duty-mark on gold and silver articles is the head of the reigning sovereign, and shows that the duty has been paid. This mark is not now placed on watch-cases, etc.

The Hall-mark, stamped upon gold and silver articles, is a leopard’s head crowned for London; three lions and a cross for York; a castle with two wings for Exeter; three wheat sheaves or a dagger for Chester; three castles for Newcastle; an anchor for Birmingham; a crown for Sheffield; a castle and lion for Edinburgh; a tree, salmon, and ring for Glasgow; Hibernia for Dublin. (See Hall Mark, Silver.)

The Standard-mark of gold or silver is a lion passant for England; a thistle for Edinburgh; a lion rampant for Glasgow; and a harp crowned for Ireland.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Marjoram
Mark
Mark (St.)
Mark (Sir)
Mark Banco
Mark Tapley
Mark Time!
Mark of the Beast (The)
Mark’s Eve (St.)
Marks in Grammar and Printing
Marks of Gold and Silver
Market-penny (A)
Markham (Mrs.)
Marl
Marlborough
Marlborough Dog
Marlow
Marmion
Marmo Lunense
Maro
Maron or Marron (French)