In the five years that SilverMine has been online I have answered thousands of queries from visitors. Unfortunately, due to the constraints on my time I am now unable to answer individual questions... Sorry!

A good proportion of the queries received concern electroplated silver. If your silver is stamped EP, EPNS, EPC, EPBM, A1, quadruple plate, then it is not, in the strict sense of the word"silver". It is an alloy or other metal (usually copper or nickel) which is electroplated with pure silver, a process invented in 1844 which has it's own devotees and collectors.

If your silver has the lion passant mark, the figure 925 or the word "sterling" then it is Sterling quality silver (925 parts per 1000 pure silver), until recently the only silver standard allowed in the UK - ( 800 quality silver is now allowed to be sold as "silver" in the UK, 600 years of consumer protection up the river courtesy of our European colleagues...thanks) There is also the "Britannia Standard" silver of 95.8% purity usually marked with the Britannia figure

Some Continental (French, German) silver is marked with different finenesses such as 750, 800 and 850.

I'm sorry not to be able to offer individual help, I would like to thank those who sent their kind words and wishes over the past years. If you would like definitive information then I would suggest you visit our Bookshop where you will find a wide selection of titles concerning silver and silver plate, use the search boxes for Amazon's full range of Books, Videos, CD's DVD's and other goodies.

Thank You

David R. Clarke - Webmaster