When people refer to the "anchor sterling silver mark," they are almost always describing the combination of Birmingham's anchor town mark with the lion passant sterling standard mark. Together, these two symbols confirm that a piece is sterling silver (92.5% pure) that was tested and approved at the Birmingham Assay Office in England.
Understanding the Two Marks Together
The anchor and lion passant serve different but complementary functions:
| Mark | What It Tells You | Appears Since |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor | Piece was assayed at Birmingham | 1773 |
| Lion Passant | Metal is sterling standard (925/1000) | 1544 |
You should never see one without the other on a genuinely hallmarked piece of English sterling silver from Birmingham. If an anchor appears without a lion passant, the piece is either not sterling, not British, or the mark has a different meaning entirely.
Where to Find the Mark on Different Objects
Hallmarks are struck in consistent locations depending on the type of object:
- Rings — Inside the band
- Bracelets and bangles — Inside surface or on the clasp
- Necklaces and chains — On the clasp or a small tag attached near the clasp
- Flatware (spoons, forks) — On the back of the handle, near the bowl or tines
- Hollowware (bowls, teapots, cups) — On the base or underside
- Boxes and cases — On the inner rim of the lid or inside the base
- Candlesticks — On the base, or on the rim if loaded
Use a 10x jeweler's loupe for examination. Hallmarks on small jewelry items can be as small as 0.5mm and impossible to read with the naked eye.
The Purity Behind the Mark
Sterling silver (confirmed by the lion passant) is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. This specific ratio has been the legal English standard since 1300, with only a brief interruption from 1697–1720 when the higher Britannia standard (95.8%) was mandatory.
The 7.5% copper content is not a deficiency — it is essential. Pure silver (999) is too soft for most practical applications. The copper adds the hardness needed for jewelry, flatware, and decorative objects to withstand daily use while maintaining silver's distinctive luster and workability.
How the Anchor Differs from Other Assay Marks
Each English assay office uses its own unique town mark alongside the lion passant:
| Town Mark | Assay Office | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor | Birmingham | Active |
| Leopard's Head | London | Active |
| Rose (formerly Crown) | Sheffield | Active |
| Three Wheat Sheaves & Sword | Chester | Closed 1962 |
| Three Castles | Newcastle | Closed 1884 |
| Castle & Lion | Exeter | Closed 1883 |
Knowing which town mark accompanies the lion passant is essential because each office maintained its own independent date letter cycle. The same date letter can mean different years at different offices.
Modern vs. Antique Anchor Sterling Marks
Since 1999, the International Convention on Hallmarks has introduced the Common Control Mark (CCM) — a set of scales in a shield — which can appear alongside or instead of traditional marks on exported goods. Modern Birmingham silver may carry:
- The traditional anchor + lion passant + date letter
- The CCM mark for international recognition
- A laser-engraved hallmark (introduced for items too small for traditional punching)
Despite these modern additions, the fundamental system remains unchanged. An anchor with a lion passant on a piece of silver in 2026 means exactly the same thing it meant in 1773: sterling silver, verified at Birmingham.