Germany or Poland 12 mark

[jackk]

Hi there, I have a sugar box with a 12 mark and a letter P. I am not sure if it can be attributed to Poland or Germany. Typical sugar box that were produced in both countries. I guess the key is in the letter P. Any clues?

Jackk

[Theoderich]

I'm not sure - but Poland have not a 12 for silver.
In Germany 12 means 12/16 =750.

[jackk]

Thanks, but Poland was using 12 mark until 1850s.
Jackk

[Theoderich]

Could be.
I have only polish silver from 1900 (Jugendstil). There ist a mark "PL" (L with a "\") .

[Juke]

There didn't exist a country called Poland in the 19th century, the country was diveded between Germany, Austria and Russia. The Polish 20th century marks looks very different.

The mark could well be from one of the small German states that existed during 19th century in todays Germany. It could also of coures be from some other country that used the 12 mark.

Regards,
Juhana

[admin]

Hi,
Click on the link for an interactive map of Germany, Prussia and Poland in 1840.
http://tinyurl.com/6xdxqx

Regards, Tom

[jackk]

That is all correct. Poland was partitioned at a time. Well, actually it was partitioned at three different occasions in the past (some "benefits" of being situated between two major powers Russia and Germany.) :).

[admin]

should have mentioned - the part of the map labeled "Poland" was under Russian domination at the time. Although from a hallmarking perspective, the Russian system of marking was not instituted in Poland until c.1860 (will check the dates when I get home).

[jackk]

I believe 1851.

[Juke]

History of Poland (1772—1918) from Wikipedia:

With the three partitions of Poland (1772, 1793, and 1795) which ended with Poland's being erased from the map and its territories being divided between Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Poles would resent their fate and would several times rebel against the partitioners, particularly in the nineteenth century. In 1807 Napoleon recreated a Polish state, the Duchy of Warsaw, but after the Napoleonic wars, Poland was again divided in 1815 by the victorious Allies at the Congress of Vienna. The eastern portion was ruled by the Russian Czar as a Congress Kingdom, and possessed a liberal constitution. However, the Czars soon reduced Polish freedoms and Russia eventually de facto annexed the country. During World War I, all the Allies agreed on the reconstitution of Poland in 1918.

So on the map we can see the parts of 'Poland' belonging to Russia, Prussia and Austria.

[Juke]

Correct that after 1851 the Russian assay office was functioning in Warsaw and the Russian marking system was in used.

Before 1851 in at least Warsaw the silver was marked commonly with “Warszawa” with either the maker’s mark, the fineness and sometimes the maker’s trademark.