Silver Hallmarks In Birmingham

The town mark for Birmingham is an anchor followed by a lion passant. Variations of the orientation of the Birmingham town mark can be seen since 1975 when it was placed on its side to note gold and platinum, and upright for silver. From 1999 all metals use the anchor oriented on its side to represent any precious metal from Birmingham.

Antique silver items from Birmingham may include buckles, snuff boxes, small articles, and all types of domestic plate.

Established by an act of parliament, the Birmingham assay office has been in operation since 1773. Prior to this period, silversmiths from Birmingham would have to travel as far as the Chester assay office for the hallmarking of buttons, buckles, spoons and other small articles produced in the city. In 1773, on behalf of the Birmingham and Sheffield silversmiths, Matthew Boulton lobbied parliament to establish an assay office in each of the towns. With the support from their loyal customer base of nobility and royals, the Assay Bill was given Royal Assent on 28th May 1773. While it is often disputed how the landlocked city of Birmingham ended up with an anchor as its symbol, some speculate that Boulton, who stayed at the Crown and Anchor tavern on the strand during this period, decided the hallmarks for both Birmingham and Sheffield with a coin toss, as the Sheffield town mark was a crown until 1975 when it was updated to a rose.