Hallmark guide · Silver
What does 958 / Britannia mean?
958 is the Britannia silver standard: 95.8% pure silver, higher than sterling. It was introduced in 1697 to stop silverware being made from melted coins and was the only legal standard for wrought silver until 1720; it remains a legal UK standard. Imported Britannia silver assayed in Britain from 1904/1906 used the decimal mark .9584 in an oval.
- Metal
- Silver
- Purity
- 958/1000
- Where
- UK
- When
- Introduced 1697; compulsory 1697-1720; still legal today
01
Often confused with
- Can be confused with 925 sterling when only the Britannia figure is present; Britannia figure = 958, lion passant = 925.
- 'Britannia silver' (958 fine) is unrelated to 'Britannia metal' (a tin-based base alloy, see EPBM).
02
What a piece marked 958 / Britannia is worth
Melt value $151.70. Likely cash offer $106.19 – $136.53.
95.8% fine silver4.2% copper & alloy
Broken or unmarked pieces usually sell for melt. Get two quotes and compare them with the offer range above.
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