The Marks on British Silver
The marking of British silver is one of the oldest pieces of consumer protection legislation in the world. The marks consist of:
The Town (or "Hall") Mark The Standard Mark The Maker's Mark The Date Letter The Duty Mark Britannia and Lion's Head Erased
If the marks stamped on any piece of British silver are legible it is theoretically possible to tell that is of silver of a known fineness, where and when it was presented for assay, and who was responsible for it's manufacture. The laws have been rigorously enforced especially since the beginning of the18th century.
