British "Foreign" Silver Mark

[kerangoumar]

Foreign silver items entering Britain in the 20thC could not be sold until stamped with the "U" mark. Sorry, don't have a photo at the moment.
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[admin]

Hi & Welcome,
The post-1906 "U mark" you describe is illustrated here -> London Makers' Marks. However, it is only used for London, not for all of Britain. Each city's assay office used a different symbol, most of which can be seen on our website, accessed from ->
925-1000.com - British Hallmarks

Regards, Tom
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[kerangoumar]

Hello Tom
I guess some of us think London is England - I didn't see it in the British section. Thanks for locating it for me.
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[admin]

Know what you mean, but having looked at thousands upon thousands of British hallmarks, I now know that Birmingham is England. ;)
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[Granmaa]

The mark is apparently the sign of the constellation Leo, initially put upside down. Why Leo and why upside down I'd very much like to know.

Miles

P.S. Most Londoners also think that London is England!
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[kerangoumar]

I thought maybe it was due to London "being ruled by Leo" but an exhausting search on Google finally tells me it ain't so ;-)
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[admin]

I think the London assay office just really likes cats! both the Lion passant and the Leopards's head had already been born there, Leo makes perfect sense as the third kitten in the litter.

As to the upside down orientation, generally it is struck this way, but I've seen it right side up in some reference books. Perhaps just poor astrological knowledge on the part of the punch stampers and this orientation became traditional.

For easier identification, I've gone and made a separate page of the Import Marks in one grouping. ->

British Import Marks

ps. If anyone has an image of the 1904/5 London Sun or Sheffield Arrows, the contribution would be appreciated.
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