The Standard Mark

The first statutes regulating the standard of silver and gold were laid down in an Act of 1300 in the reign of Edward I.

Until the middle of the 16thC the two hallmarks of the Leopard's head crowned and the date letter plus the maker's mark were sufficient guarantee of the standard of silver (92.5% pure) and gold (18 ct).

Despite the riches won from the dissolution of the monasteries, Henry VIII debased the currency year after year and in 1544 the Goldsmiths' Company declared that "none of the Company enterprise is to work any worse silver than upright Sterling upon pain of being punished by the Wardens", and the standard mark of the Lion Passant Guardant was introduced.

This apparently enraged the King so much that he demanded the surrender of the Goldsmiths' Company's charter. Only the King's death in 1547 seems to have saved the day for the Company.

Until 1550 the the lion passant guardant - walking to the left, its head turned over its shoulder - was crowned, after that time the lion passant became uncrowned and remains so until the present day. After 1822 the Lion Passant ceased to be guardant.

In Scotland the Thistle mark was used from 1759 until 1975 when it was replaced by the Lion Rampant. Prior to this time the Assay Masters mark was stamped on the piece.

It is ordained, that no goldsmith of England, nor none otherwhere within the King's dominion, shall from henceforth make or cause to be made any manner of vessel, jewel, or any other thing of gold or silver, except it be good and true allay* that is to say, gold of a certain touch, and silver of the sterling allay or of better, at the pleasure of him to whom the work belongeth; and that that none work worse silver than money; and that no manner of vessel of silver depart out of the hands of the workers until it be essayed by the Wardens (Gardiens) of the craft, and further that it be marked with a Leopard's Head and that they work no worse gold than of the Touch of Paris; and that the Wardens of the craft shall go from shop to shop among the goldsmiths to essay if their gold be of the same Touch that is spoken of before, and if they find any other than of the Touch aforesaid, the gold shall be forfeit to the King

And that none shall make rings, crosses, nor locks, and that none shall set any stone in gold except it be natural. And that gravers, cutters of stones and of seals, shall give to each their weight of silver and gold (as near as they can) upon their fidelity; and the jewels of base gold which they have on their hands they shall utter as fast as they can; and from thenceforth, if they buy any of the same work they shall buy it to work upon, and not to sell again.

And that all the good towns of England, where any goldsmiths be dwelling, shall be ordered according to this statue as they of London be; and that one shall come from every good town for all the residue that be dwelling in the same unto London, for to be ascertained of their Touch. And if any goldsmith be attained hereafter because that he hath done otherwise than before is ordained, he shall be punished by imprisonment, and by ransom at the King's pleasure. And notwithstanding all these things before-mentioncd, or any point of them, both the King and his Council, and all they that were present at the making of this ordinance will and intend that the right and prerogative of his crown shall be saved to him in all things."

*Allay=Alloy