4     The Duty Mark

 

 

 

S

ilver has for many years been used to collect tax and help governments swell their coffers. This was the case in 1784 when a new tax was imposed on silver and introduced a new mark on silver which was the King’s head, shown in profile. The first king was George III. His head is shown facing to the left, but from 1786 onwards the monarch’s head has always pointed to the right. In 1841 when Queen Victoria came to the throne the sovereign’s profile once more reverted to facing to the left. It stayed this way until 1890 when the stamping of the monarch’s head showing that tax had been paid was discontinued.

The only provincial cities that are assaying outside of London today are Birmingham and Sheffield and they were both established in 1773. Birmingham still uses the anchor as its assay mark and Sheffield the crown. It is said that the two directors of the cities involved were using the Crown and Anchor pub in London as their base whilst waiting for their petition to be heard in Parliament, and, on the spin of a coin, decided between the two of them who would have the anchor and who would have the crown.

 

 

The Hallmarking Act   (www.theassayoffice.co.uk)

According to the UK Hallmarking Act of 1973 (amended 1998) it is illegal to offer items for sale described as gold, silver or platinum unless they have been tested and hallmarked by a UK Assay Office. An item may be exempt if it weighs less than 1.00 gm in gold or 7.78 gms in silver. It is also exempt if it weighs less than 0.50 gm in platinum.

Note: There is no weight exemption in the Republic of Ireland, and all items destined for sale there must be hallmarked.

The following information has been offered by Thomas’s UK, 36 Sheep Street, Skipton, UK, Diamonds, Fine Jewellers.

The UK Common Control mark for sterling silver is 925 finesse. Silver has a new commercial standard 800; this means that much jewellery and silverware which has previously been condemned as substandard is now acceptable, although it is not of sterling silver standard. This will bring into recognition European silver in the 800/835 grouping which will be hallmarked 800. It is important to watch out in the use of permitted symbols today. The lion passant (rampant in Scotland) is the mark associated with sterling silver, while 958 Britannia silver had a distinctly different mark. It is in the interest of the collector to be on his guard. On silver after 1999 one must look at the purity as a numeral, because the symbols may be confusing.