Decoding Hallmarks – A Guide to Reading Hallmarks on British Silver

Posted on July 29, 2022March 17, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

Hallmarks are used by the Royal Mint to identify the date, mint mark, and other information about each coin that it produces. They’re also used to authenticate antiques that were produced before the introduction of modern technology in the early 20th century.

Learn how to decode them and what they mean.

The Royal Mint uses three different hallmarks to identify its products. The first two are the year and mintmark, while the third identifies the type of metal being used. The year is usually stamped at the top left corner of the coin, followed by the mintmark. The mintmark is usually stamped below the year.

The mintmark is made up of a number and an abbreviation. The number represents the year when the coin was struck, while the abbreviation indicates where the coin was minted. For example, “R” stands for the Royal Mint, “D” stands for the Devon Mint, and “S” stands for the South Wales Mint.

The last hallmark is the type of metal being produced. This is indicated by the letter “M.” If the coin is made from copper, then the letter will be “C.” If the coin is silver, then the letter will read “A.” And if the coin is gold, then the letter will say “G.”

If you’re thinking about purchasing silver made in the UK, you want to make certain that what you’re buying is pure silver. Otherwise, you may be paying a lot of money for something that isn’t worth much at all. In order to identify the pieces you’re buying as true silver items, you need to understand British silver hallmarks. Here’s a quick rundown of what these marks include.

A Standard mark

The first step to identifying silver hallmarks is to look for the standard mark. There were five different marks used on British silver, and they’re easy to recognize. They are the walking lion, the standing lion, the thistle, the crowned harp, and the symbol of Britannia. If you can’t find one of these marks on the item, it was likely silver plated or was made elsewhere.

The Town Mark

The next mark to check for is the town mark. This mark identifies where exactly the piece was manufacture red. There are a number of these silver hallmarks, so you may need a reference guide to determine what town the mark on your item represents.

The Duty Mark

The duty mark was only used between 1784 and 1890. It indicated that a duty was paid on the silver. Older items may have the King’s head, indicating that the item was made between 1784 and 1837. When Queen Victoria took the throne, the mark was changed to the Queen’s head. These antique silver hallmarks are useful in determining when a piece was made.

The Date Letter

This letter indicates when the silver piece was made. The letter changed periodically, and each town often used a different font or even a different letter. Again, this is something that you will need to use a guide for, and you’ll need to determine the town mark first.

The Maker’s Mark

Finally, there’s the marker’s mark. This mark is the symbol or initials of the maker or manufacturer. It’s the final piece needed to determine exactly where, when, and who made the silver piece.

Smart Ways to Sell Family Silver for Cash

Posted on July 8, 2022March 17, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

If you’re looking for an easy way to make money, selling your silver might be just the thing. Here are seven smart ways to sell silver that will help you earn extra cash.
When you decide it’s time to sell off your family’s antique silver, you want to be sure you get the best value for it.Selling silverware, teapots, and other similar things is a bit more complicated than just heading down to your local pawn shop—at least if you want to get top dollar.To sell silver and get the most out of it, you need to know a few things. Here are a few tips on finding antique silver buyers in Florida, and getting the money that your family silver is truly worth.

Finding Out Where to Sell Silver

Second, the people who work in pawn shops are kind of a jack of all trades when it comes to purchasing and selling goods. They don’t have the trained eye that is required to truly evaluate the worth of a piece. A pawn shop employee may believe that he or she is offering you a great price and unknowingly underbid you for your family silver.

Before you take your silver in, spend some time polishing it. A trained eye will see the silver’s value, regardless of whether you polished it or not. Still, silver buyers are people, too, and leaving a good impression will never hurt your position.
Never settle for the first offer you get. Remember, these people make a living by buying low and selling high. Get two or three offers, then consider which one you feel is best for your situation.
An alternative to this would be to take your family silver to a silver dealer for an evaluation as to its value. Be very clear beforehand that you are willing to pay him or her for his or her expertise in valuing the silver, but you will not be selling to him or her (that removes any incentive to provide a lower than usual valuation). Then, using that valuation as a baseline, shop around and see what kind of offers you can get.

Philip & Kelvin LaVerne’s Rare Sculptural Bronze Cube

Posted on June 30, 2022March 17, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

The piece is made from bronze and has been described as “a unique work of art.” It was created by Philip Laverne and his son, Kelvin Laverne. The two artists were inspired by the shape of a cube when creating the sculpture. They used a 3D printer to make the sculpture.

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne sculptures are highly unique pieces, not only compared to others, but within themselves. The pair worked together to create artistic furniture, such as coffee tables, cocktail tables, chairs, and more. Philip was born in 1907 and Kelvin in 1937. The father-and-son duo worked together for many years. Each and every one of their pieces combines functionality with beautiful décor. These pieces have lasted years, and some of the best sculptures by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne can cost a prospective consumer tens of thousands of dollars.

The Family Artists Were Revolutionary

Artworks by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne changed the way people saw furniture. What was simply a tool before suddenly became an opportunity. However, they did not do so easily. The pair were far ahead of their time. Many of their works reflect contemporary designers far more than works created during the same time period those men were working. Philip and Kelvin LaVerne said art was not as highly appreciated at the time of construction as it is today. The goals that they strived for (and ultimately achieved) and their means of production were far different than those that others used at that time. This made them revolutionary, but also made them different. That was frequently frowned upon.

How Did They Create Their Masterpieces?

The basis of most of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne’s art was bronze casting. Though that practice itself was hundreds of years old, it was not as commonly used in furniture as it was in sculpture and statues. In furniture, though, it was tweaked just a tad. This gave the artists the ability to give each piece a distinct and different patina. They also utilized direct carving techniques. Taking a slab of bronze, the men would then slowly work with it over the course of six or more weeks. Using a special soil, they were able to control the oxidation process and get the exact color shades they sought. The process was truly remarkable and new. It also led to new ideas, such as a simple bronze cube. Their designs were generally conservative. This meant that each piece could be used in nearly any setting, no matter how traditional or modern. Each piece had the engraved signature of both men and was truly an investment that would last for years to come.

The Sculptural Bronze Cube

At the Tennessee Museum of Art, as a permanent collection item, there is a signed cube of bronze. This piece maintains the general integrity of the original slab of bronze, but carries some changes as well. Philip and Kelvin LaVerne used a torch to create various small cutouts across the surface of the piece. There are variations in color, texture, and edging. It has a very natural look, almost untouched by man, but not quite. The edges are not sharp and defined, but flow naturally as the slab may have come. This is a rare piece, as it is the only piece like it in their collection. Because it is a permanent item in Tennessee, it is not as well-known as some of the pair’s other works.

Regardless of whether it is a slab of bronze or an intricate cabinet that took many weeks or months to create, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne’s work is immortalized and lives in the hearts of those who appreciate it for many more years to come.
For more information visit our website

“Gold purity” actually means 9K, 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, 24K gold?

Posted on May 23, 2022September 8, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

Identify & Research: What exactly does “gold purity” mean when it is rated 9K, 10K, 14K, 18K, 22K, and 24K gold?

The fine glow and smooth metallic reflection of gold is both beautiful and valuable. Over the course of human history, it has been universally sought after and valued. It is used to make numerous objects of value, including jewelry, gold bars, coins, medals, flatware, and candlesticks, among others. Those objects have been treasured and handed down through the generations.

You may have found yourself in possession of some gold jewelry, medals, flatware or the like, bequeathed to you by a beloved family member. You may have come into some gold coins or gold bars. That being the case, you are probably wondering about the value of the gold. One of the most important factors in determining the value of 14K and 18K gold is its purity. In this article, we will discuss about gold purity by karat.

An explanation of gold purity

To begin with, we should clarify what gold purity means. It starts with pure gold. What is pure gold? Pure gold, not surprisingly, is 99.9% gold and it is not mixed with any other metals, which comes in the category of 24 karat gold.

Gold 24 karat means the highest level of purity. It is rare and very valuable. It is also rather soft. That means it is beautiful but note particularly durable enough to make jewelry with. That is why gold is usually mixed with other metals such as silver, zinc and copper when making jewelry.

Gold purity by karat

We have establish that gold 24 karat means the highest level purity but what are the other karat levels and what do they mean? Basically, the higher the karat level, the greater the percentage of gold. Karat is the unit used to measure how much gold there is relative to the amount of other metals that have been mixed in. We know that 24 karat (24k gold) means 99.9% gold.

The next karat level down is 22 karat, which is 91.6% gold & rest 9% other metals consistency. 22 karat (22k gold) is still too soft to be ideal for stone set jewelry, it is often used for plain gold jewelry, like wedding bands.

The next karat level down is 18 karat. 18 karat (18k gold) is 75% gold & 25% alloy metal. The gold is blended with other metal alloys for strength and color. Copper is used to make rose gold. White metals are used to make white gold.

The next karat level down is 14 karat gold. 14k gold purity only has 58.5% of gold & 41.7% of other alloy, it is more affordable.

Furthermore, 10K gold purity means 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy and, this content can be used to make any type of jewelry.

Finally, there is 9K means just 37.5 % gold. This means it has a high percentage of other metals. It is stronger and much cheaper to buy & also not considered as gold.

Apart from these, excluding 24K cannot be used to make jewelry and rest other karats can be used for designing jewelry of any shape and sizes.

Moreover, if comparing 9k gold vs 14k in terms of gold consistency and maximum price, then you’ll find 14k competing with 9k. Because 14k contains more pure gold quantity than 9k.

Related Blog – What Do the 750, 585, and 417 Markings on Gold Jewelry Mean?

Testing for gold purity

How can you test your gold and determine what the karat level is? You can use a scratch test. This first thing that you need when you want to use a scratch test on your gold jewelry is a kit for a scratch test. The kit should contain a black slate stone similar to a knife sharpening stone, various bottles of acid solution, and instructions.

Meanwhile, there should be one bottle of solution to test platinum, one bottle of solution to test for silver, and several bottles of solutions to test for 22 karat gold, 18 karat gold, purity of 14 k gold and 10 karat gold purity too. Because you are working with acid, you will want to wear latex gloves.

Following the instructions, you will scratch the stone with your gold and use the acid solution to determine if your gold jewelry is 22k, 18k, 14k, or 9k. Now that you know about the purity of your gold, you will be in a much better position to know how valuable it is!

Is Antique Silver A Good Acquisition? Know from the Antique Silver Experts

Posted on March 7, 2022January 30, 2023 by AntiqueSilver

There are people who love decorating their homes with antique items, and also there are few people who are looking for selling them. Do you like to deck up your home with antique silver items or want to sell them? You want to sell silver tea set, but you do not know the right place to sale.

Put a halt to your search for a while and have a quick glance of our site. We can help you with your items. We are one of the trusted antique silver buyers in Florida & also we offer worthy price of your vintage pieces.

We have been into dealing items of various antique, vintage & estate silver items since last many years. Like all other valuable metals, silver has always been one of the pricey metals whose value never seems to get decreased.

Sellers can expect to get best price when they sell silver items to us. Selling sterling silver flatware & finding silver buyers near me is not hard. When you search for the same, then your eyes will catch of our online site at first.

How to Choose Silver Buyers Near Me In Florida?

People hesitate to sell their precious items from stores or online. The reason of hesitation is that they think they will not get the worthy price for their item & will be fooled by getting less price. We are the trusted collector of silver items in Florida.

We are not only known as one of the reliable antique silver buyers, but also, we are one of the largest sterling silver buyers in Florida.

In the age of internet, selling silverware online is not a tough task. Many trusted dealers are present in online world and are looking for you to sell your precious items.

One of The Eminent Sterling Silver Buyers

If you wish to know your silver flatware value, then you have come to the right place. Get a look into our website and know about our service & much more. A large number of people sell sterling silver pieces to us and are happy with the cashback we have offered them for their ancient precious item.

Buying the finest antique silver items and sterling silver items from one of the well-known sterling silver buyers will turn out to be profitable for you.

We are reckoned as one of the acclaimed sterling silver buyers. Hence, you can be assured of dealing genuine quality silver flatware set from our online store. Also, the collection of each sterling silver item you will find in our store- The Silver Queen will mesmerize you. Here, you can see the collection and choose your favorite and decorate your home or yourself.

Get Fair Price for Your Antique Silver Items

We offer fair price for the exquisite Tiffany silver flatware such as silver tea sets, trays, bowls, other silverware you want sell to us. We offer good price for the marvelous old silvery pieces as compared to other antique silver buyers.

We offer appropriate value for the items, looking on the craftsmanship, age and the quality of the pieces through appraisal session. Get your money’s worth by selling the fascinating antique silver materials to us.

Substitute the premier antique silver items of your home with our one-of-a-kind silver items. Get in touch with one of the professional antique silver buyers in Florida now.

5 Facts Everyone Should Know about Antique Silver Collections

Posted on January 3, 2022February 18, 2022 by AntiqueSilver

Are you interested in collecting antique silver pieces? Antiquing is an exciting hobby, and it is one that can pay off financially in the long run. If you have an antique silver collection – or if you are thinking about starting one – keep these facts in mind.

Antique Silver Collections Can Consist of 50-100 Pieces or More

An antique silver collection doesn’t mean that you need to have hundreds or thousands of pieces. Even 50 pieces can be a pretty substantial collection, especially when you consider the value of the silver. If you have less than 50 pieces, go ahead and sell them- you can make huge earnings by selling few pieces of silver (being a precious metal).

You Can Collect One Thing or Make All Antique Silver Fair Game

If you are an antique silver enthusiast, you have several options when it comes to your collection. You can focus on obtaining the same type of item – such as silverware, silver flasks, vases, or any other item that interests you – or you can simply focus on finding unique items that are made out of silver. Just don’t be afraid to mix and match different types of patterns, especially if you’ll be using or displaying your silver pieces throughout your home. Different patterns can create a unique and interesting aesthetic within your collection.

Silver Collections Are Easier to Sell than Other Antiques

When it comes to selling antiques, silver collections are one of the easiest items to sell. Silver is a valuable, precious metal, as silver products are typically made from a pure silver alloy with a small proportion of a base metal. Antique dealers are usually excited to get involved in the sale of an antique silver collection, as there is often significant value for everyone involved.

Use the 80/20 Value When Selling Your Collection

The 80/20 rule comes from the Pareto principle of business, and it means that 80% of sales tend to come from 20% of the products. When it comes to antiques, the same can be assumed – about 80% of the monetary value of your collection will be concentrated in 20% of your silver pieces. Not all of your items will have a significant dollar value, so when selling your items, you should try and put most of your effort in the most valuable pieces. An antique dealer can help to identify the most important pieces in your collection.

Auction Houses Love Collections

If you have an antique silver collection and are ready to sell, a local auction house or dealer will likely be excited to get involved. Collections are easier to sell than individual pieces, especially when you consider the value of silver. If you need assistance in selling your collection, you should have no trouble finding assistance just make sure to seek out a couple of estimates to ensure you are getting a good deal.

Collecting antique silver can be a rewarding and valuable pastime, and at Antique Buyers, we can provide you with a market analysis to find out just how much your collection might sell for at an auction. By taking proper steps when caring for and selling your silver items, all of your hard work and years of dedication to your collection will pay off.

Uncovering the Real Value of Your Parents’ Antique Kitchenware

Posted on November 5, 2021November 17, 2021 by AntiqueSilver

Hold up just a second before you go ditching that antique silver spoon collection your Mom handed down to you, or scrapping the antique kitchenware, you might want to do a quick search for “silver buyers near me”.

There’s a world of difference between silver buyers of antique silver and scrapping, pawning, or selling silver in a yard sale. Doing some research on the subject of Antique Silverware Buying & Appraisal is worth its weight in gold.

Antique Silver and Silver Tea Set Buyers

A fortune could be hidden in your parent’s (and even grandparent’s) kitchenware. Antique silver potentially has much more value than if you sell it by weight alone. Antique silverware buying and selling is big bucks when there’s a history behind the piece or pieces. Even the decorative artwork on your antique silver can boost the value. It’s best to consult a silver tea set buyer or antique silver buyer when you are in the market to sell.

Finding a Trustworthy Buyer of Antique Silver

Unfortunately, especially with the boom of online silver tea set buyers and antique silver buyers cannot all be trusted. Even selling to a local buyer can be risky. You’ll want to check out any potential buyer you plan to do business with.

Find out if the business is local, or if it’s online, be sure there’s a longstanding internet presence that’s not flighty. Look for verifiable references that aren’t just on the company’s own website or social site. Check for credentials and length of time in business too.

Why Trust Antique Silver Buyers?

Antique Silver Buyers is a name you can trust as a silver tea set buyer, antique silverware buyer, and buyer and appraiser of antique silver of most any kind. We’ve been in business for 25 years and have a myriad of happy customers that sing our praises. Many are repeat customers we’ve had for years.

Based in Florida, Antique Silver Buyers is dedicated to doing business face to face. We believe that the appraisal, selling, and buying of antique silver should be a personal encounter that can only be conducted properly when it’s done eye to eye. We want to meet you and make your experience an ultimate one.

When it comes to selling your antique silver, turn to a trusted buyer you can trust. Turn to Antique Silver Buyers.

Silver Markings : Demystifying the Hallmarks

Posted on July 9, 2021September 24, 2021 by AntiqueSilver

Your silver is worth money. But there’s so much more to it than that. Over the nearly 30 years that I’ve spent discovering fascinating new pieces, I’ve taken it upon myself to try and share this deep appreciation of not only the value of some items but the rarity, craftsmanship, history, and stunningly brilliant beauty of the collections people bring to me.

And if that isn’t of interest to you, you’ll be interested in knowing that by being able to identify these traits can help assure you that you get exactly what your silver is worth.

Today we’re going to talk about Silver Hallmarks. Just a drop in the bucket, since this is an entire specialty of knowledge, but an excellent foundation.

Related Blog – Selling Gold and Silver: 4 Rules for Dealing with Antique Buyers

Silver Hallmarks, Silver Markings:

Sterling Silver

Essentially every new silverware set, tea set, etc. you will come across is marked with a stamp called a silver hallmark. The purpose of a silver mark is to tell the buyer (or in this case, you) what the purity of the silver is. The most common markings for sterling silver are fairly easy to decipher:

– Sterling

– 925 or .925

This indicates a 92.5% silver purity. Silver is often blended with other metals for increased strength. You may also see lower percentages of silver, such as 900 or 800. This indicates a lower percentage of silver and is no longer considered ‘Sterling’.

Fine Silver and Silver Plate

Fine Silver, quite simply, is composed of 100% pure silver. Pound for pound this is the most valuable silver you can find. We’ll learn next time what can give ‘pound for pound’ a run for its money. However, for today we’ll keep things simple. Fine Silver can just as easily be identified with the markings such as Fine Silver or Pure Silver. Rogers sterling (often marked Wm Rogers – and also indicated ‘Sterling’) is actually pure silver. Whereas Rogers plated silver is not.

Be wary of items marked as Stainless, Triple Plate, IS, Silver, EPNS, and the like. These indicate that your items are made from stainless steel, electroplated, or are simply silver plated. While these may be beautiful items they are not all that valuable. You may simply want to keep them in your home for your own enjoyment.

Unique Markings

Here’s where things get interesting. Remember what I said in the beginning? There is so much more to Silver than it’s weight in… silver. You will not always come across a marking that is as simple to read as what I’ve outlined above. Markings from around the world vary in more ways than just the country it comes from.

There are literally thousands of these unique markings offering insight into:

– The age of a particular item
– Place of origin
– Rarity
– Manufacturer
– Significance

And so much more.

For a quick example, the image below is a silver marking from the Kirk firm, founded in America in 1815. Samuel Kirk introduced a unique type of repousse decoration that has become known as the Baltimore Style and as since become highly imitated. This marking indicates both the year, location, manufacturer, and historical significance of the piece.

I hope you found this all very informative and exciting! I look forward to sharing more of my appreciation and knowledge about the wonderful works of silver soon. We’ll discuss markings from all over the world and the difference in significance between them.

If you’re eager to discover the true value of your silver right away, I always encourage people to consult a respected expert or two. You can also contact me directly and I’d be happy to answer any of your questions.

Best Way to Sell Antiques: 10 Tips for Making Money from Antiques

Posted on June 15, 2021September 6, 2021 by AntiqueSilver

Are you looking for a way to start making money from antiques & collectibles? While some people see the buying and selling of antiques as a hobby, others have turned it into a lucrative side-job or even their main career. There are a lot of different ways you can get into dealing in antiques, but if you really want to turn this into your main source of income, you’ve got to go about it the right way. By following these ten tips, you can get your new antique dealing job off to a great start.

1. Do Your Homework

Before you go out and purchase someone’s antique collection, you need to know what’s valuable and what’s not. You’ll find a lot of information in books on collectibles and online. Learn as much as you can about dealing in antiques and collectibles before you spend any money. That way, you’ll know what’s worth buying and what’s not.

2. Focus on One Area

The terms “antiques” and “collectibles” are very broad categories. It can be very difficult to learn everything there is about all the different types of antiques and collectibles out there. That’s why a lot of people focus on one area. For example, you could deal in antique furniture or Disney collectibles. By narrowing down your focus, you’ll be better able to know what’s valuable and be able to find specific buyers to sell your items to.

3. Only Buy from Dealers with a Good Reputation

This is especially true for those who are considering buying an antique collection online and can’t personally inspect the items. Always buy from someone with a good reputation to avoid getting ripped off.

4. Buy What You Like

5. Go for the Rare Items

Collectors want to own things that very few others will have, so always look for rare items. While you’ll probably have to spend more to buy these, you’ll be able to sell them for a lot more.

6. Watch for Fakes

You never know when someone is going to try to slip in a fake antique. There are a number of different ways these forgers can use to make items look older than they actually are. Learn about these techniques and how you can spot them. If you’re unsure of something’s authenticity, think twice before buying.

7. Understand the Restoration Process

You also need to know how the items are restored and what signs of restoration look like. Those who want to know how to make money from antiques might be surprised that people pass off restored pieces as originals, but they do.

8. Get Insurance

Be sure you insure your most valuable items or your collection as a whole. If you’re transporting these rare collectibles and they’re damaged, you’ll be glad you did.

9. Understand Auction Costs

If you’re buying items from an auction house, make sure you know what additional fees and costs are involved. Many auction houses charge a fee called a buyer’s premium in addition to the amount of your bid.

10. Look for Specialty Trade Shows

There are a number of trade shows out there that focus on one particular niche. For example, if you’re collecting rare comic books, make sure you attend a number of comic cons. You can find rare finds there to add to your collection, plus you may be able to become a vendor yourself.