What does the Minerva hallmark mean?
Short answer
Minerva head: French guarantee for silver; with "1", 950 until 1973 and 925 after; with "2", 800.
A mark is a statement, not proof: it can be forged or struck on a plated piece. An assay confirms it (touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence).
The stamp in detail
| Item | What the tables say |
|---|---|
| Stamp | Minerva |
| Class | Hallmark symbol |
| Silver fineness | 950 parts per thousand (95 % silver) |
| Legal standard (silver 950) | France until 1973 |
| Note | French first standard (Minerva 1) until 1973; 925 today. |
| Source check | Checked against the sources listed below |
| Silver fineness | 925 parts per thousand (92.5 % silver) |
| Legal standard (silver 925) | United Kingdom, Vienna Convention states, France, United States |
| Note | Sterling silver. |
| Source check | Checked against the sources listed below |
| Silver fineness | 800 parts per thousand (80 % silver) |
| Legal standard (silver 800) | United Kingdom, Vienna Convention states, France |
| Source check | Checked against the sources listed below |
| Date clue | Not before 1838. The modern French marks came into use on 10 May 1838. |
What Minerva can be mistaken for
Pieces that look like silver and are not:
- silver plate (EPNS)
- alpaca, nickel silver
- white gold and platinum
What a stamp cannot settle: Silver, white gold or platinum without marks: white colour does not tell them apart.
What settles it:
- Jeweller: acids or X-ray fluorescence.
Related stamps
Other ways the same fineness is stamped: 800, 925, 950, STERLING.
Also in this group: lion passant, Britannia, leopard head, anchor, rose, castle, crown, orb.
Frequently asked
What does Minerva mean on jewelry?
Minerva head: French guarantee for silver; with "1", 950 until 1973 and 925 after; with "2", 800.
Is the Minerva mark proof of the metal?
A mark is a statement, not proof: it can be forged or struck on a plated piece. An assay confirms it (touchstone and acids, or X-ray fluorescence).
Sources
- Douane française, table of guarantee marks (2009)
- Poinçon (métal précieux, France), Wikipédia (secondary source)
- Hallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 2 (revised text)
- Vienna Convention on precious metals, Technical Decisions Rev. 13 (in force 1 Oct 2026)
- 15 U.S.C. § 296 (silver: sterling and coin)
All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.