A silver object that is to be sold commercially is, in most countries, stamped with one or more silver hallmarks indicating the purity of the silver, the mark of the manufacturer or silversmith, and other (optional) markings to indicate date of manufacture and additional information about the piece.

What number is silver stamped with?

Authentication Hallmarks International sellers of silver will stamp silver as 925, 900 or 800. These numbers indicate the level of purity of the silver. Sterling silver has a purity of 92.5 percent or higher.

Is all silver marked?

Sterling silver must be at least 92.5% silver. US law does not require precious metal to be marked with a quality stamp. Some European countries do require marking. Many tourists in the US (and international online shoppers) will question goods sold without markings that indicate precious-metal quality.

How can you identify silver?

Pure silver makes a strong ringing sound when rubbed against each other so one of the best ways to identify the purity of silver is by rubbing them with another metal or another silver item. If you have a coin and you drop it on a flat surface, it should make a sound like a ringing bell.

What silver means English?

British sterling silver is easy to identify as it has always has a lion stamped on it. But what do the other marks mean? This is the British assay mark proving that the piece has been tested as 92.5% pure silver with an additive of 7.5% usually copper.

Whats difference between silver and sterling silver?

The answer is a definite yes. Sterling silver is an alloyed form of silver which is much more suitable to use in jewellery and other metalwork. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver. Instead fine silver is alloyed with copper to create sterling silver, which is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper.

Can silver not be marked?

Sterling silver must be at least 92.5% silver. US law does not require precious metal to be marked with a quality stamp. Some European countries do require marking. Many tourists in the US (and international online shoppers) will question goods sold without markings that indicate precious-metal quality.

Is silver worth anything?

The commodities markets list the price of pure silver as an investment instrument, but it has to be at least 99 percent pure. A small piece of sterling silver that hasnt been transformed into anything has a value similar to that of spot silver, but it could be worth a lot more depending on its application.