Help w/hallmarks please. Coin or English?

[aknamc]

Hello. I have a pair of silver tongs that have English looking markings but no city stamp. They feel like coin silver to me but are not marked as such. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[agphile]

I make that William Nixon, London, 1818.

[agphile]

Should have added that it is normal for the Leopard's Head (or other town mark) to be left out on small items at this time, perhaps to discourage the sort of fakery where the marks from a small object are transposed onto a larger one that has not been submitted for assay.

[aknamc]

I really appreciate your reply. That's great information, thank you!

Angela