Silver Appraisal - Successfully Selling Silver on eBay - record Two - Hallmarks, Maker's Marks, Standards, and More.
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How is Successfully Selling Silver on eBay - record Two - Hallmarks, Maker's Marks, Standards, and More
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Silver Appraisal.
In narrative One I discussed the opportunities for savvy eBay sellers in the growing investor shop for antique and collectible silver. The many types of marks on these goods can be confusing, however, often resulting in poorly described listings. One can be assured that at least 30% of the 12-15,000 weekly listings in the 'Antiques-Sterling' category will have inaccurate or misleading descriptions. The resulting buyer confusion and uncertainty causes poor selling prices, lost sales and distributor credibility issues.
In this narrative eBayers will learn how to identify and understand the many distinct marks and where to research them. With this background sellers can write professional descriptions in their eBay auctions, eBay market and other selling venues. Properly identifying and listing silver items gives sellers credibility and an edge over the hundreds of uninformed sellers in this competitive market.
Think of it this way - if one were going to get into the car selling company he or she should know as much as possible about makes, models, engines, performance, etc. Right? The same thing applies to selling silver goods. The marks tell the story behind the piece i.e., the maker, age, origin, history, quality, pattern, etc. insight marks will increase the sellers' Roi because they come to be good buyers as well as resellers.
Identifying and Deciphering Silver Marks - The list below provides the basics for learning the many marks and and metal types. For additional research and education there are many excellent reference books available for both beginners and experts. I've in case,granted a short list of recommend books at the end of the article. Understand that many reference books are narrow in their scope i.e., exact to safe bet time periods, countries, etc. For this infer one should buy only one or two books which cover a wide array of marks from many makers and countries. As sense is gained by listing and selling silver one can build a good reference library. For online research there are any excellent websites that are contributed to and used by collectors and dealers worldwide. I've connected one of the best sites at the bottom of the article. professional valuations and appraisals are also available for those who want a capability listing but don't want to research marks.
Those who are just beginning into silver sales need to be very faithful not to misinterpret marks. As stated above, one-third of the eBay sellers incorrectly list and communicate items because they've learned just enough information about marks to be dangerous. Often these erroneous sellers think because there is a lion, crown, or anchor mark on their item it is English sterling when, in fact, it is silverplate bearing a pseudo mark. Just today I saw a new seller's auction of a creamer and sugar bowl set that she listed as English sterling made in 1903. In reality it was American silverplate circa 1877-1880. She plan the pattern number, 1903, was the date it was made and that the lion in the trademark meant English sterling. This is just one example of many that make sellers look bad and limit their chances for a profitable sale.
Use Knowledge As A Selling Point - After properly researching the marks on the merchandise one can accurately title and communicate the listings. Items can be guaranteed to be as claimed because the distributor has enough trust to do so. This gives credibility to the distributor and the merchandise which will draw smart investors and collectors to the auction. The corollary will be strong bidding activity and higher sale prices.
Use Accurately Identified Marks for hunt Optimization - For example, a distributor identifies a piece as Danish and made by Georg Jensen circa 1909-1914. When used to keyword the auction title and narrative this information will be a magnet for high-end collectors . This translates into bigger profits. Which of these two titles works best? "Antique Silver Bowl with Hallmarks" or,"Beautiful Georg Jensen Art Nouveau Sterling Centerpiece c.1909-1914". The second one of course. This is simply using strategic keywords in the title which gives life to the listing.
Okay, so what's to learn? There's plenty. The following is just the short list, but with this foundation a distributor can build their road to success as an specialist silver dealer on eBay and other venues.
Things You Must Know:
Hallmarks - Just about every eBay distributor misunderstands this. exact to high-priced metals, a hallmark is defined as a mark or series of marks struck into the metal that officially authenticates the metal Syn. Clearness (fineness or content) and which is internationally recognized as a warrant of purity. Ebay sellers frequently confuse hallmarks with maker's marks, logos, company trademarks, and uncomplicated amount marks such as 925 or 835. While such amount marks are used to indicate Syn. Clearness or content they are never to be determined as hallmarks unless they are accompanied by the legal appropriate mark of the country of origin. Why? Because whatever can fraudulently charge these numbers into the metal without legal assay. Hallmarks are the legal marks of guaranteed metal Syn. Clearness in high-priced metal items. Trademarks and maker's marks are simply the mark of the builder of the item. Think of it like the karat marks on gold jewelry. If a ring says Cartier 18K, the hallmark is the 18K, not the maker's name, Cartier. It guarantees the ring has a gold Syn. Clearness of 75% and it is recognized worldwide. Silver hallmarks work the same way, there's just a lot more of them than there are for gold.
Country Marks - approximately every country requires legal nationalized marks or symbols to be used as the hallmarks for their high-priced metals standards. Probably the best known of all is the Lion Passant used by England to warrant sterling since the 14th century. There are far too many country marks to list here but you can research them in the online reference sites listed at the end of this article.
City Marks - A mark or fastener used in many countries to denote the city where the item was made. The leopard head representing London and the anchor representing Birmingham are two of the best known and most ordinarily seen on eBay. Again there's too many to list but they can be researched in the reference guides listed below.
Maker's Marks - These are the registered names, initials, trademarks, logos, brands, symbols, or other marks used over any centuries by silversmiths and manufacturing associates to identify their wares. There are verily hundreds of these worldwide. You will usually find these struck or imprinted onto an inconspicuous place on the item along with the hallmark and other marks.
Date Marks - Also called Date Codes, these are unique symbols, characters, letters, or numbers used by some well known manufacturers as a means of dating the production year of their merchandise. These are cataloged and are very useful in accurately dating many items. Unfortunately many associates didn't use date marks which makes correct dating of their work impossible.
Pseudo Marks - These marks were created by silversmiths to mimic the well known and long established British sterling hallmarks. These smiths typically made silverplate items and silver items of lesser Syn. Clearness than sterling. The marks were intentionally designed to give a perception of sterling capability about their work in order to behalf on the prestige and renown of British sterling. This does not necessarily mean they were all practicing fakery, though some verily were. In fact, many pseudo marks are verily registered trademarks of reputable firms which construct in sterling, coin and silverplate. For example Gorham, a highly respected American sterling and silverplate maker, incorporated the Birmingham anchor mark into their maker's mark. Much of the 19th century Chinese export silver also bears pseudo marks on some very high capability 800 and 835 appropriate marked goods. Pseudo marks are often mistaken for British sterling hallmarks so buyers and sellers alike must be able to identify them. This is one of the main reasons why research is so needful to flourishing selling.
Pattern Numbers - These are ownership numbers which are often found along with the hallmarks and maker's marks. These are used by the builder for patent registration, pattern identification and list control.
Sterling - Sterling is defined by the U.K., the U.S. (refer below*) and most other nations as an alloy containing at least 92.5% pure silver. The other metal in the alloy is copper which strengthens the metal for fabrication into usable and decorative wares. The word sterling comes from 14th century England. The sterling appropriate in Great Britain and elsewhere has been 92.5% (925) fineness since that time.
925, 0.925 or 925/1000 - This amount is often found stamped into silver items. It represents sterling when accompanied by the legal appropriate hallmark of the country of origin. The proximity of this amount on an item does not warrant it to be sterling unless the legal country hallmark is also present.
"Solid Silver" - This is defined by the U.S. Government (refer below*) as an alloy containing at least 92.5% pure silver which means it has to be sterling. It is illegal in the U.S. To report any goods by this name that is not sterling silver.
"Coin Silver" - This alloy gets its name from 18th and 19th century American silversmiths who melted down silver coins in order to construct items to sell. Typical items were silverware and other table aid wares. The U.S. Government defines this to be an alloy of 90% (900) Syn. Clearness (refer below*). Many items with less than 90% Syn. Clearness are frequently and illegally sold as "coin silver" in the U.S. On eBay and in other venues.
Continental Sterling - This is a misleading term used by some who sell European made items which have Syn. Clearness standards less than 92.5%. Similar terms used are Russian Sterling, German Sterling, French Sterling, etc. All of which are marked with legal national standards that are less than 925. Continental Silver is the correct way to communicate European goods in case,granted the legal hallmark and assay mark are present to authenticate the actual purity.
Silver Standards - In the U.S. The standards are pure (.9999%), sterling and coin (refer below*). In the U.K. The standards are britannia (95.8 % purity) and sterling. Britannia was used exclusively in Britain from 1697 to 1720 and has been elective since. Other countries have their own sets of legal standards. Typically, but not without exception, these are 950, 935, 925, 900, 875, 850, 835, 812, 800, 750, and 675 purities as determined by legal assay. These numbers report the decimal fraction (percentage) of silver content in the artificial item. For example, an item marked '800' is 80% pure. 950 and 935 can be legally referred to in the U.S. As sterling, regardless of the country of origin, but the lesser standards cannot. 950 is sometimes referred to as Martelé Silver. Note: In the U.S. It is a federal crime to import, sell, label, advertise, or otherwise report any item as "sterling" or "solid silver" which does not have a Syn. Clearness of 92.5% or greater (refer below*).
Loth Numbers - This was a numerical system used in Austria-Hungary and Germany-Prussia in the 18th and 19th centuries for authenticating legal assays. It is based on a Syn. Clearness of 16/16. So that 15/16 is 15 Loth equaling .937 purity, 14/16 is 14 Loth equaling .875 purity, 13/16 is 13 Loth equaling .812 purity, and so on. Most of the antique silver from these countries found listed on eBay is 13 Loth and, as noted above, it is often misrepresented as German Sterling. Austria-Hungary used this system until 1866 and Germany-Prussia until 1886.
Zolotnik Numbers - These numbers are found on Russian silver items going back any centuries. The root of this system began in the 11th century with the Russian gold trade. A lot of antique Russian items are auctioned on eBay and other venues so it is leading to know some basics. The numbers are based on 96/96 being pure. What is sold mostly on eBay is the more coarse 84 Zolotnik, or 84/96 which equals 875 (87.5%) purity. 88 Zolotnik is 88/96 or 916 Syn. Clearness and so on. A coarse question with the 84 mark is mistaking safe bet types of French silverplate for Russian 84 Zolotnik. One way to tell the variation is the French silverplate mark will have either a 'Gr' or 'G' after the 84 which represents grams of silver used in the plating process. Also the Russian 84 Zolotnik will always be accompanied with one or more legal marks and a maker's mark in Russian Cyrillic letters. If an item is claimed to be Russian and it bears on the amount 84, then consider it to be fake or plate.
Silverplate - This is a very thin layering or coating of pure silver over a base metal. The most coarse base metals used are copper, brass, nickel-silver, white metal, and Britannia metal (see below). The two types of silverplate are Sheffield plate and electroplate. Sheffield derives its name from Sheffield, England where it originated. The technique used was a 'sandwiching' of a layer of base metal in the middle of a top and bottom layer of pure silver. The metals were wrought or rolled until the two metals were bonded. Thus the base metal was 'plated' and could then be used for manufacturing. Electroplating was invented in 1805 but didn't come into favorite use until 1840. This is an electrolytic process whereby molecules of silver are deposited onto the surfaces of a sheet of base metal until the desired coating or thickness is achieved. Because electroplating is quick and not labor intense approximately all plating was done this way by 1860 which doomed the Sheffield plate method. Today Sheffield plate is prized by collectors due to its classic hand-wrought capability and antique value. There are any distinct capability grades of electroplate/silverplate. These are based on the thickness of the plating resulting from the amount of silver used. The two coarse types of Victorian Era silverplate are triple plate and quadruple plate. You will see a lot of these types auctioned on eBay. The key thing to know about silverplate is that it has no needful silver weight, thus there is no high-priced metal value connected with it. The shop for silverplated items is based on rarity, uniqueness, antique qualities, craftsmanship, and construct qualities only.
Sterling Silverplate - There is no such thing! This narrative is often used by eBay sellers who don't know whatever about silver or who are keyword spamming to increase clicks on their listing. Because sterling is an alloy it is unsuitable to use as a silver source for plating.
E.P.N.S. - You will see these letters marking the bottoms of many older American and British silverplated items. This stands for Electro Plated Nickel-Silver. Many novice eBay sellers and those who don't bother to do any research mistakenly list E.P.N.S. Items as sterling. coarse variations on this are E.P., E.P.C. (Electro Plate on Copper), E.P.W.M. (Electro Plate on White Metal), E.P.B. Or E.P.B.M. (Electro Plate on Britannia Metal). Just know that any item marked with E.P. Is silverplate and as such has no high-priced metal value.
Nickel-Silver - This is a coarse base metal alloy consisting of nickel, copper and zinc. There is no silver in it whatsoever. The name was coined because the metal is silvery in color and polishes to a shine. Other names used for the same metal are: Alpacca or Alpacca Silver; Brazil Silver; German Silver; Peru Silver; New York Silver; New Silver; Nevada Silver; Norwegian Silver; Silverite; Venetian Silver; Potosi Silver; and Sonora Silver to name just a few. Many habitancy have been stung buying things like old German Silver ladies purses thinking they had something of real value. Nickel-silver is strong and durable but it doesn't have any metal value.
White Metal - This is a silvery colored alloy usually containing a aggregate of antimony, tin, lead, zinc, and cadmium. In the U.K. The British fine arts trade uses the term 'white metal' to communicate all foreign items which do not have legal British Assay Office marks struck on them.
Britannia Metal - an additional one non-silver base metal similar to pewter which is favorite because it is durable and polishes to a silver-like luster. This is an alloy of 93% tin, 5% antimony and 2% copper. Not to be confused with 958 Britannia from Great Britain.
The hundreds of known marks and their meanings are complicated and often confusing. The information you've received in this narrative should increase your insight of what many of the marks represent. You can now build upon these basics to come to be an informed buyer and reseller with a astronomical edge over your competition. Thanks for following this narrative series and please watch for narrative Three: A Focus on British Sterling.
Suggested Reference Books:
Kovels' American Silver Marks by Ralph and Terry Kovel; Random House Reference, 1st Ed., 1989. Isbn-13: 978-0517568828
Dealer's Guides: English Silver Hall-Marks by Judith Banister; Foulsham Publishing, 2004. Isbn-13: 978-0572029999
Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers by Dorothy T. Rainwater, Martin Fuller and Colette Fuller; Schiffer Publishing, 2003. Isbn-13: 978-0764318870
American Silversmiths and Their Marks: The Definitive (1948) Edition by Stephen G. C. Ensko; Dover Publications, 1983. Isbn-13: 978-0486244280
All About antique Silver with International Hallmarks by Diana Sanders Cinamon; Aaa Publishing; 1St edition, 2006. Isbn-13: 978-0978516802
Discovering Hallmarks on English Silver by John Bly; Shire Publishing, 9th Ed., 2008. Isbn-13: 978-0747804505
English, Irish, & Scottish Silver: at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art construct by Beth Carver Wees; Hudson Hills Press, 1st Ed.,1997. Isbn-13: 978-1555951177
(These and other excellent reference books on this branch are available at Amazon.com and other fine booksellers.)
* U.S. Guide to high-priced Metals & Jewels: Laws & Standards (See paragraph 23.6)
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