Online Encyclopedia of Silver Marks, Hallmarks & Makers' Marks
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Silver Marks ~ Germany ~ Before 1886
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Assay marks for silver purity found on German and Polish silver of the 18th & 19th centuries.
The Loth system divided silver into 16 parts.
16/16 for pure silver 15=.937 14=.875 13=.812 12=.750
German
Hallmarks

Post-1886
Individual City & Town marks were used until ca.1886

German City Marks
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A • E               F • L               M • Z

The Arms of a city often reflected the imagery used in its town mark, where this was the case, an image of the city's arms is included for comparison.
Flensburg Town Mark Flensburg City Mark
Depicts a castle tower with a partial lion passant extending to the left from center.

Frankfurt Town Mark

Frankfort am Main Arms
Frankfurt am Main City Mark
Early examples lacked the lothig number and sometimes showed an "F" on the eagle's breast. Beginning in the late 18th cent., the standard number was added.

Goerlitz Town Mark Goerlitz City Mark
Sometimes seen with a "12" included above the crown.

Greiffenberg Town Mark

Greiffenberg Town MarkGreiffenberg Arms
Greiffenberg City Mark
As well as Greiffenberg (Gryfów S'laski) in Silesia, a number towns in the Pomerania region of Germany, including Stargard and Greifswald, also used a griffin mark.

HamburgTown Mark

HamburgTown Mark

 Arms
Hamburg City Marks
19th Century

The three tower and gate mark was used from the 17th C. and was rendered within of a shield form until the late 18th cent. Beginning in the early 18th C., a letter was placed within the castle gate to indicate the assayer.

HanauTown MarkHanauTown Mark

 Arms
Hanau City Mark
Seen with or without the loth number above the chevrons. Beginning in the mid 19th Century, hallmarking rules were rescinded and many Hanau silversmiths used antique looking 'fantasy' marks.

Hanover Town Mark

hanover Arms
Hanover City Mark
17th cent. examples had two digit date numerals below flower. Later, without numerals until mid 18th century when, as in this example, loth standard number was added below the flower.

HeilbronnTown Mark

heilbronn Arms
Heilbronn City Mark
Earlier examples lacked a surrounding cartouche, later with a rectangular cartouche. Similar to Frankfurt's mark.

KarlsruheTown Markkarlsruhe Arms Karlsruhe City Mark
The diagonal emblazon is sometimes seen across a shield form, rather than the oval illustrated here.

Kassel Town Mark

Kassel Town MarkCassel Town Mark

kassel Arms
Kassel City Mark
The shield form evolved into a circle in the latter eighteenth century and a letter (indicating assayer) was added below. The bottom right example was used after c.1850.

Kiel Town Markkiel Arms Kiel City Mark
Stylized nettle leaf, the same mark is used by a number of other cities also located within the Schleswig-Holstein region.

KoenigsbergTown Markkonigsberg Arms Königsberg City Mark
Illustrated is a mid 19th cent. example, earlier versions lacked the standard (loth) number.

Leipzig Town Mark Leipzig City Mark
Variations on the crossed swords and L were used from the early 18th century through the late 19th century.

Liegnitz Town MarkLiegnitz Town Mark

liegnitz Arms
Liegnitz City Mark
Variations on the crossed keys were used 16th century through 18th century. Now Legnica in Poland

Lubeck Town Mark

lubeck Arms
Lubeck City Mark
Variations on the double headed eagle were used from ca.1500 through the 18th century.



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Related Pages at 925-1000.com:
German Hallmarks post-1886
World Hallmarks
British Hallmarks Explained
Dutch Hallmarks
French Hallmarks
Swedish Hallmarks
Finnish Hallmarks
Norwegian Makers
David-Andersen Marks
Georg Jensen Marks


Thanks to forum members "Bahner" & "blakstone" for providing additional information on a number of these marks.


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Looking to do further research? Have a mark you can't identify? Join the forum.





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