 |
Marks of Gold and Silver
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
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.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on Marks of Gold and Silver from Infoplease:
|
|
