Irish silver hallmarks
1,966 marks in our databaseIrish silver assayed in Dublin carries a crowned harp for the standard, the seated figure of Hibernia and a yearly date letter, with the maker's mark. Silversmiths in Cork and Limerick often struck the word Sterling instead.
Irish silver is marked by the Dublin Assay Office. A full Irish hallmark pairs the crowned harp, which shows the sterling standard, with the figure of Hibernia and a date letter, so it can look like a British hallmark at first glance while following its own rules.
How to read Irish marks
- Standard mark
- The crowned harp marks sterling silver assayed in Dublin.
- Town mark
- The seated figure of Hibernia, struck in Dublin since 1731, is read as the Dublin town mark.
- Date letters
- A letter changed every year in Dublin, in cycles of different typefaces and shields.
- Duty mark
- The sovereign's head was struck in Ireland from 1807 to 1890.
- Provincial silver
- Silversmiths in Cork, Limerick and other towns often struck the word Sterling with their own mark instead of sending pieces to Dublin.
- Maker's mark
- The maker's initials in a shaped punch.
A note from our specialists
The common mistake on Irish silver is to read Hibernia as Britannia. Both are seated female figures, but Hibernia rests on a harp and is Ireland's own mark, while Britannia marks the higher 958 standard in Britain. Look for the crowned harp beside her: together they say Irish sterling. Provincial pieces from Cork and Limerick may carry only a maker's mark and the word STERLING.
Faustas Svencionis, Mozeris Fine Antiques
We hold 1,966 Irish marks for photo matching
Our identifier compares your photo with every Irish mark we hold, then reads the town, the standard, the date and the maker. Free, with the result on screen and by email.
Records you can browse
Questions
What does the crowned harp mean?
It is the Irish standard mark for sterling silver, struck in Dublin.
Why does my Irish silver say Sterling?
Silversmiths in Cork, Limerick and other provincial towns often struck the word Sterling with their own mark instead of sending pieces to Dublin.
What is the difference between Hibernia and Britannia?
Hibernia is the figure on Irish silver struck by the Dublin Assay Office, shown with a harp. Britannia is the British mark for 958 silver. They are different marks from different systems.
What does the crowned harp mean on silver?
The crowned harp is the Irish standard mark for sterling silver, struck in Dublin.
Thinking of selling?
Send a few photos of the piece and its marks, and a specialist will value it, free and with no obligation.