2912: Hallmark Dec 11, 2024

The term ‘hallmark’ might evoke thoughts of greeting cards and cheesy movies, but it originates from the medieval practice of marking precious metals with a stamp. The ‘mark’ element is clear, but the ‘hall’ in question derives from a guildhall. These hallmarks were not maker’s marks as such, but a symbol of the guild as a sign of the quality and authenticity.

In England, the hallmarking system dates back to the 14th century, with official assay offices ensuring the metal's purity and the maker’s guild membership. In early America, however, the practice diverged and resembled maker’s marks, from an individual, and eventually in the 19th century this was all replaced with marks like 925 for sterling silver (i.e. exactly 925‰ silver, usually alloyed with copper or nickel) still used to denote authenticity and quality.