Postby AG2012 » Wed Jan 22, 2020 6:44 pm
There is something else I noticed on Austria-Hungary chains of the same period, both on gold and silver.
Several links were marked, not randomly,but I could not figure out the system behind it.Must be something like French system of multiple marks on chains and clasps,depending on length,i.e.weight of the item supplied to the assay office.
The purpose of multiple marks was to prevent tax evasion.E.g.let`s suppose one makes a chain with 30 links and 60 grams,pays duty and returns to the workshop,adds 30 more links,the chain is now 120 grams, and duty has already been paid on much lighter chain.Well, he cannot do that because links added later are not marked !
As I said,noticed on Austria -Hungary chains but could not find any reference to it.
Regards