The work apparently originates from the 12th and 13th centuries, coming from the Old English "stiere", meaning "strong, firm, immovable".
I hope this helps
Rgds
Silver began being marked to indicate purity and authenticity around the 13th century. The practice became more formalized in the 14th century with the establishment of hallmarking systems in various countries, notably in England with the introduction of the Goldsmiths' Company and its assay office. These marks served as a guarantee of quality and were essential for trade and commerce involving silverware and coins.
Silver and gold were the materials of the first coins produced - they have been used as such for several thousand years.
Before the British pound, various forms of money were used, including barter systems and commodity money such as cattle, grain, and precious metals like gold and silver. In early medieval England, coins made from silver, known as "sterling," were also common, with the first official currency being the Anglo-Saxon penny. The development of the pound as a unit of account emerged later, particularly in the 8th century with the establishment of the currency system under King Offa of Mercia.
Silver is believed to have originated in Anatolia, present-day Turkey, around 3000 BCE. It was among the first metals to be used by humans, often found in its native form or as part of silver ores. Archaeological evidence suggests that silver was utilized by ancient civilizations in the Near East, particularly by the Sumerians and Egyptians. Over time, its use spread across various cultures, becoming a valuable medium for trade and jewelry.
There Was No Value To Silver In 10ADSilver ore was first discovered in west-central Arizona in 1583 by Spanish explorer Antonio de Espejo.
Sterling silver is marked .925; fine silver is marked .999. It appears 3645 may be a pattern or product number.
Gold marked 925 indicates that it is actually sterling silver, not gold. Sterling silver is a metal alloy consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals such as copper. The 925 marking is a common standard for sterling silver jewelry.
"966 sterling" does not have a standard meaning in relation to silver or sterling silver. Typically, sterling silver is marked with "925" to indicate its purity level of 92.5% silver. If you have a piece marked as "966 sterling," it may be a manufacturer's unique stamp or a mis-marking.
Not necessarily.Firstly, it doesn't say "sterling", it says "silver," if they meant "sterling", they presumably would have stamped it "sterling."Secondly, there's no absolute guarantee that what it says is necessarily true.
No. In the US, it must say "sterling". Some sterling silver also says "925" in Mexico. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure. That's where the 925 comes from. Some older items are marked "Coin" or 900. Coin silver is 90% pure. British sterling silver is always hallmarked with a lion and several other marks.
A spoon marked "International Deep Silver" is typically silver plate rather than sterling silver. International Silver Company produced silver-plated items under this brand, indicating that the spoon has a base metal with a thin layer of silver applied to it. In contrast, sterling silver is made of 92.5% pure silver and is usually marked with "sterling" or "925."
Gold is not marked 925, sterling silver is. What you have is probably gold PLATED sterling.
They did both genuine sterling and sterling plate, the genuine flatware and dishes will be marked Sterling.
No, unless it is marked 925 or sterling. It is another metal with a sterling overlay.
Flatware marked with "Alaska 96" is typically silver-plated rather than warranted sterling silver. The "96" often indicates a year or a specific design related to Alaska, but it does not guarantee the piece is made of sterling silver, which must be marked with "925" or "sterling." While silver-plated items can have value, their worth is generally less than that of sterling silver, depending on the brand, age, and condition.
Sterling silver is sometimes marked 925. It is often marked 925 because it contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% of other metals. Pure silver is too soft to make anything useful with.
There is no such thing at silver 926. Silver marked .925 is a mark to indicate that the item is sterling silver.