In the United Kingdom, hallmarks serve as a guarantee of the purity and quality of precious metals, including silver bullion. These hallmarks are applied by an assay office after thorough testing to confirm that the metal meets legal standards. For silver, the hallmark typically includes several marks: the maker’s mark indicating the manufacturer, the assay office mark denoting the office that tested the silver, Edinburgh Castle representing the Edinburgh Assay Office, the date letter for the year of testing, and the millesimal fineness mark showing the purity of the silver.
However, not all silver items are required to carry a hallmark. There are exemptions in place that depend on the weight of the silver item. For example, as of my knowledge cutoff date in early 2023, silver articles weighing less than 7.78 grams do not need to be hallmarked. Bars, Rounds & Bullion (Silver sold by weight)
This rule is in place to alleviate the burden on crafters and manufacturers of small, low-value items where hallmarking might not be economically viable.
It’s important to note that the regulations and exemptions can change, so for the most current information, it’s best to consult the UK’s assay offices or relevant trade associations. Always ensure that you are dealing with reputable dealers when buying silver bullion to avoid any issues with authenticity or quality.
