Hallmark symbols and what they mean

• lion passantsterling silver (925) assayed in England.
• Britannia958 silver.
• leopard headLondon Assay Office.
• anchorBirmingham Assay Office (from 1773; gold from 1824).
• roseSheffield Assay Office (on gold from 1904; on all metals from 1975).
• castleEdinburgh Assay Office (a three-towered castle is also the mark of Exeter, closed 1883).
• crownon British gold it accompanies the carat figure (18 from 1798, 22 from 1844); on silver before 1975 it is the Sheffield town mark.
• orbplatinum hallmarked in the UK.
• sovereign headduty mark.
• eagle headFrench guarantee for gold, at least 750 (18 karat).
• MinervaFrench guarantee for silver; with "1", 950 until 1973 and 925 after; with "2", 800.
• dog headFrench guarantee for platinum (850 to 950).
• owlgold of at least 750, of foreign or uncertain origin, marked in France.
• swansilver of at least 800, of foreign or uncertain origin, marked in France.
• scales 750Common Control Mark of the Vienna Convention; the figure inside is the fineness.

Symbols are read together with the fineness number and, in the UK, the date letter. See UK hallmarks and the stamp search.