When did leopard head replace lion head in Britannia silver standard?
After 1975 the ” leopard head ” was substituted for ” lion head erased ” and also for the ” Britannia silver standard “. After 1999, when the millesimal system was adopted in UK, an oval with the number 958 or 999 is stamped together with the maker’s mark and the Town mark, the ” Britannia ” and date letter being optional after this date.
What’s the difference between a lion’s head and a Leopards head?
The ” leopard’s head ” mark of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths (identifying the London Assay Office, but used in many provincial offices together with their proper town mark) was replaced with a ” lion’s head erased ” (note 3)
Is the walking lion a symbol for sterling silver?
Answer: The walking lion is the British symbol for sterling silver. 925 is also a symbol for sterling. If the mark is: lion, symbol (town of Assay), R, Name or initials of maker, then it is British sterling silver. The letter “R” is a date indicator. You will have to go to the Encyclopedia of Silver Marks website to look up the mark.
After 1975 the ” leopard head ” was substituted for ” lion head erased ” and also for the ” Britannia silver standard “. After 1999, when the millesimal system was adopted in UK, an oval with the number 958 or 999 is stamped together with the maker’s mark and the Town mark, the ” Britannia ” and date letter being optional after this date.
When was the leopard’s head used as a fineness mark?
In reality the leopard’s head was a standard mark and its use applied to all goldsmiths throughout the land. It was not until 1856 that the leopard’s head mark could have been used for any purpose other than a fineness mark. Birmingham has the anchor, Chester the three wheat-sheaves and sword, Sheffield the crown and the Tudor rose (from 1975).
Who was the king with three leopards on his shield?
Eleanor who married Alfonso XIII, King of Castile and Leon, has depicted on her tomb in the Huelgas monastery of the Cistercian nuns at Burgos, a thirteenth-century shield depicting three crowned leopards (lions passant guardant) gold on red.
Where does the leopard’s head on sterling silver come from?
Identifies the Assay Office where the silver item was verified. London origin is identified by the use of the leopard’s head, crowned and uncrowned from 1821. In reality the leopard’s head was a standard mark and its use applied to all goldsmiths throughout the land.
