Hallmark of 84 standard on silver objects from the times of Tsarist Russia

Silver items marked with the hallmark of 84 hallmarks of Tsarist Russia can now only be purchased in antique shops. These figures refer to the old spool system, which was used from 1711 until 1927, after which it was replaced by metric. 84-carat silver was usually used to make glass holders, cigarette cases, cutlery, and very rarely jewelry.

The value of the 84th sample of silver

In its pure form, silver is of little use for making any objects from it. It is too soft and easily deformed. To give it strength and the ability to be worn for a long time, impurities are added to silver to improve some of its properties. Most often, silver is produced in alloys with cheaper metals:

• copper;
• zinc;
• manganese;
• nickel

Silver samples in Tsarist Russia

Sample - an indication of the ratio of the weight of the precious metal to the total weight of the alloy from which jewelry or objects are made. The system of determining samples of precious metals and their hallmarking was introduced by Peter I in 1711 and lasted until 1927, that is, more than 200 years. Actually, this year the assay service itself has not changed, but a transition has been made to measurements in the metric system.

And in Tsarist Russia, sample values ​​were determined using a spool measurement system. The unit of weight was the Russian pound, consisting of 96 spools. The presence of valuable metal in the alloy was also measured in the spools. The number 84 in the stamp applied to the specimen being tested meant that it contained 84 parts of the precious metal itself, and the total weight of the alloy was 96 parts. In other words, the silver component is 84/96, and the remaining 12/96 is alloy, that is, cheaper impurities.

Composition and properties

The 84-karat alloy contains 87.5% silver, the rest is copper. The alloy may also contain:

Each additive affects the mechanical properties and color of the alloy.

Strength

Due to the copper content, products made from the alloy have high strength characteristics compared to pure silver. The products are not subject to mechanical wear, do not wear out, do not scratch or darken. Copper also gives the alloy a yellow tint.

What types of brands are there?

According to the rules of the assay system of Tsarist Russia, craftsmen had to apply marks to jewelry indicating the fineness of the jewelry metal. The first mark consisted of:

• precious metal sample numbers;
• female profile facing left;
• managers' initials.

To avoid counterfeits, the mark was changed in 1908: the female profile was turned in the opposite direction and letters were added to indicate the area of ​​manufacture. Also in antique products you can find the mark of the master and the year of manufacture.

See photos with various marks:

Conversion from spool to metric system

To find out which modern standard 84 corresponds to, you need to convert the value to the metric system. To convert 84 samples, you need to divide it by 96 and multiply by 1000.

Thus: 84 / 96 * 1000 = 875. In the metric system, 1 kg of 875 silver contains 875 g of pure metal and 125 g of impurities (copper).

Where was the alloy with purity 84 used?

Silver items with the hallmark 84 were popular before the revolution among wealthy Russians due to their good price-quality ratio. This alloy retained most of the qualities of pure silver, but was not too soft and was suitable for long-term use. And its price was affordable not to the rich, but simply to wealthy people. Silver with such a quantity of ligature was rarely used to create jewelry. Due to the impurities included in its composition, they oxidized over time and became covered with a dark coating.

The alloy of this sample was most widely used in the manufacture of prestigious items for personal and household use. Silverware, jewelry boxes and cigarette cases are just a partial list of such items. Although inexpensive, they were not accessible to everyone, they served as a kind of indicator of the status of the owner. Their darkening over time was easily eliminated by short cleaning. The resistance of the alloy to influences made it possible to clean objects made of this metal without causing damage to them.

Investments in Antiques and Collectibles.

Investments in Antiques and Collectibles.

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So, let's look at why Antiques are so good and learn some simple tips for properly investing our money wisely.

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How much silver is in the 84th standard?

Establishing the ratio of the metal itself and cheap additives in 84-carat silver will not pose any problems. The number 84 means that this alloy contains 84 spools of silver per pound. In total, the Russian pound contains 96 spools. Then, dividing 84 by 96 and multiplying by 100, we obtain a silver content of 87.5%. Switching to a modern assay system, we find that 84 hallmark silver is an exact analogue of the current 875 hallmark of this metal.

Products with 875 silver purity still exist today and are no less popular than they were 100–200 years ago.

Silver spoons 84 samples

Advantages and disadvantages

Silver is a rather beautiful and shiny metal; you can “sculpt” various products from it, giving them any shape you like and creating unique patterns on the surface. Silverware can withstand repeated cleaning and washing without losing its appearance. With proper care, cutlery will not be scratched or tarnished.

The disadvantage of 84-carat royal silver is that it is not suitable for making jewelry due to its low quality for this area. Their cost will not recoup the costs invested in production. In addition, the presence of alloys in the alloy, in particular copper, gives the metal a yellowish tint, which is not always appropriate for jewelry.

Thimble made of 84 sterling silver

Hallmarks on 84-carat silver

From the beginning of the 18th century, assay marks began to be placed on products made of precious metals. The presence of such a mark meant verification of the authenticity of the metal and its compliance with the specified standard. Over the course of two centuries, the content and form of these marks have changed several times. In addition to the hallmark of the assay office, additional marks were also placed.

And the 84th standard of silver on the hallmarks of Tsarist Russia changed during this time. The main stamp, next to the hallmark number, included the mark of the assay certificate. Since the middle of the 19th century, the image of a girl’s head in a kokoshnik has become such a sign. This drawing is familiar to everyone who is interested in antique items made of precious metals. But the invariability of including this profile in the main stigma did not prevent it from changing over time.

Only in 1899 was the brand standardized, in which the profile of a girl in a kokoshnik faces to the left. In addition to the profile and numbers indicating the hallmark of the metal, the stamp included the initials of the manager of the given assay office.

But counterfeits of state stamps that appeared in large numbers led to the fact that already in 1908, new branding standards were introduced throughout Russia. Only the numbers of the sample itself remained unchanged. The profile of the woman's head in the kokoshnik began to look to the right. The initials of district leaders were replaced with letters of the Greek alphabet: each district has its own letter.

Expert opinion

Sidorenko Alexander

Antiques appraiser, numismatist

The forms of the mark also changed. Until the very end of the 19th century, the badge was raised, and then became concave. The size of the mark was not the same. Large items were marked with large marks, while for small ones miniature ones were used.

But it was not only the assay authorities that hallmarked products made from precious metals. Additional signs were also placed on silver in Tsarist Russia. Most often it was a stamp with a fixed year of manufacture of the item. Silversmiths also sought to mark their involvement by placing their own marks. Sometimes it was a mark with the full name of the master, but usually only his initials were put. Instead of a craftsman, there could be a letter designation of the jewelry company that performed the work.

USSR

As I wrote above, the spool system was also used in the young Soviet state. In 1927 it was replaced with a more convenient one - metric. It is based on the amount of noble metal in milligrams per 1 gram of alloy. It can also be represented as parts of silver per 1000 parts of the alloy being tested, just like in school math problems. The young lady in a kokoshnik next to the sample was replaced with the head of a worker with a hammer. Here, as under the king, a symbol from the Greek alphabet was affixed. And since June 1958, instead of a worker, they began to use the image of a five-pointed star with a hammer and sickle inside. It was also decided to replace Greek letters with Russian ones. Thus, the jewelry industry of the Soviet Union used six samples of silver:

• 750;
• 800;
• 875;
• 916;
• 925;
• 960.

The manufacturer's mark was also placed next to the indication of the amount of pure silver in the alloy and the star. The most common alloy in products is 875 alloy. This is confirmed by various finds of instrument search enthusiasts: earrings, rings, bracelets, and jewelry sold in antique shops. In addition, in the fall, on the farm, I was lucky enough to dig up a silver bracelet. So it also had 875 standard on it.

Products made of sterling silver 84

The insufficiently high content of the precious metal itself in the 84th sample of silver was the reason that jewelers rarely used it as a material for jewelry. But its resistance to external influences and the ability to restore the natural silver color made it possible to make household items of great artistic significance from it:

• caskets;
• cigarette cases;
• cup holders;
• serving trays;
• cutlery.

When a dark coating formed on such products over time, it could be easily cleaned off without fear of scratching the product itself. A simple cleaning completely restored the color of real silver.

Although many items with an 84-carat silver hallmark could be used for household needs, they more often served as a kind of advertisement for the wealth of their owners. According to its characteristics, this alloy occupied a convenient price niche. It was not so expensive that it was available only to a select few, but also not so cheap that it was purchased by ordinary citizens. Therefore, silver of 84 purity was a widespread indicator of wealth. To increase prestige, some products made of this metal were plated in places with gold. Silver boxes and snuff boxes with internal gilding looked especially impressive. It's silver on the outside, but when you open it, it's a glitter of gold.

Silver cup holder 84 samples

Rules of care

Those who are lucky enough to own antique silver should remember some rules for caring for it. After use, dishes and cutlery are washed in warm soapy water, rinsed thoroughly and left to dry. Only after the product has completely dried can it be wrapped in a soft cloth and removed. Such devices should not be stored in rooms with high humidity.

Jewelry made from this alloy darkens when it comes into contact with human skin. Several decades ago, such a reaction was considered a disease or damage. But everything is much simpler. Sample 84 contains copper, which reacts with sulfur oxide released by the human body through sweat. Therefore, to prevent jewelry from quickly fading during work or sports, it is better to remove it.

If the silver item does become dark, it can be cleaned with salt or soda. Each of the products can be used either separately or mixed. If the plaque is strong enough, then you need to mix soda, ammonia and toothpaste. Then, using a brush, apply the mixture to the product and wait a little. When the item takes on its original appearance, rinse it and wipe it dry with a paper towel or napkins.

Any 84 sterling silver item will be an excellent gift for both a friend and a loved one. After all, such an expensive and original gift will be remembered for a lifetime.

Price per gram of silver 84

To find out the current cost of silver with a pre-revolutionary purity of 84, you need to consider prices for silver of the 875 purity. In terms of the ratio of precious metal and alloy, these are complete analogues. And the cost of the 875th sample is easily determined from the precious metals exchange rate reports of the Central Bank of Russia.

Compared to gold, silver is a calmer metal in value and is not subject to sudden changes in value. Over a couple of years, changes in the price per gram of metal were within five rubles. And the price itself varied from 25 to 30.5 rubles per gram.

But all this relates to the price of the metal itself, without any additional factors. But in the cost of a silver product with the hallmark 84, not 875, a large component is antique value.

Reviews

Thanks for the information, it turns out that antique items should be sold not by the gram, but as a whole. And the better the condition of the item, the greater the amount you can get.

I have an antique silver spoon from tsarist times, inherited. At first I wanted to sell it, but decided to use it on the farm. I think the food tastes better from it.

In our pawnshop they accept silver so cheaply that it would be better worth it at home. I will donate it to museums as an antique, or pass it on to my grandchildren as an inheritance.

Antique value of 84-carat silver

For antique items made of precious metals, the cost of the metal itself is not always the main thing. Much more important is the authenticity of the thing itself and its age. Often, it is the year of appearance that determines the price of a particular specimen.

And the presence of a genuine hallmark of 84 hallmark means that the age of the hallmarked item actually exceeds 100 years, and, most likely, much more. After all, the last time an hallmark with the numbers 84 was placed on silver items was in 1926.

In addition, knowing the details of changes in the constituent elements of this mark, you can determine the time of manufacture of the branded item without contacting specialists. For example, by the presence or absence of a female profile in a kokoshnik or by the direction of this profile.

And additional marks located next to the main one will help to more accurately determine not only the age, but also the manufacturing workshop, and sometimes the name of the craftsman who made the antique item. And such knowledge will make it easier to search for the significance of an item in various catalogs. And, perhaps, it will turn out that this is not just an antique thing, but a genuine rarity of considerable price.

Russian Federation

Soviet standards were in effect until 1994. The young state experienced a change in stigma. The image of a woman in a kokoshnik, turned to the right, returned to him. The code of the assay inspection, as in the USSR, is marked with a Russian letter. Currently, the following six hallmarks can be seen on silver items:

• 800;
• 830;
• 875;
• 925;
• 960;
• 999.

The most common items I have seen are 925 sterling silver. As soon as I get my hands on something made of a precious metal, I immediately look for a hallmark with its hallmark. 999 silver is considered pure metal. Silver itself is very soft and easily deformed.