| The English hallmark system was born in 1300, | | | | it met British laws for silver purity and quality. |
| when King Edward I ordered that every gold or | | | | Apart from assay marks, there will also be a date |
| silver item should be tested for fineness by the | | | | mark and in some cases a duty mark to indicate |
| officers of the Goldsmiths' Guild in London before | | | | that a relevant tax had been paid too. Typically a |
| it could be offered for sale, and that a mark | | | | single piece will carry a Sterling Guarantee (such |
| should be stamped on the piece as a guarantee | | | | as a Lion), a Town mark from where it was |
| that this test (or 'assay') had been passed. | | | | assayed (Anchor, Crown, Castle etc.) a Date |
| All solid (sterling) silver that has been registered in | | | | Letter (normally in a shield, circle or square) to |
| the United Kingdom should carry assay marks. | | | | identify the year of Assay (A-Z or a-z) and a |
| There are some exemptions for very lightweight | | | | Makers Mark (Typically some initials such as NM,H |
| items which usually carry the "925" mark. These | | | | & T etc. |
| marks ensure that the silver was tested to see if | | | | |