Hall marks on gold & silver plate

120 HALL MARKS ON PLATE.
The value per ounce of the different qualities of gold permitted
to be manufactured into plate jewellery, watches, etc., by the various
Acts of Parliament, and stamped accordingly, calculated at the
highest Mint price,*
24 karat or pure gold
is as follows :
s. d. ALLOY
4 4 11^ ... None.
22 karat (first standard and currency) . . 3 17 lOi ... 2 karat.
20 karat (Ireland only) . . . . . 3 10 9i ... 4 ,,
18 karat (second standard) . . . 3 3 8^ ... 6 ,,
15 karat) [2 13 1 ... 9
12 karat hince 1854 -{2 2 5J ... 12 ,,
9 karat) (1 11 10* ... 15
If these variations in the value of the different qualities of gold
were better known or attended to, the public would not so frequently
be duped by hishonest tradesmen. Mr. Watherston, in his pamphlet
"On the Art of Assaying," observes : "Advertisements are sometimes
thus ingeniously contrived :
'
Fine gold chains weighing five
sovereigns for ^ each,' by which it is meant to be inferred that the
gold in the chains is of the same fineness as the sovereigns, while it
IS no such thing; and an accurate knowledge of this subject would
enable the purchaser to detect the imposition by showing the vendor
that five sovereigns would weigh i oz. 5 dwts. \2\ grs., and that
sovereigns being standard or 22 karats, the weight of such gold at
the Mint price of 77s. io\d. per oz. would be worth whereas the
'^,
gold in the chain might be only half the fineness, say, 1 1 karats, or
T oz. 5 dwts. 12\ grs. at 38s. ii|d. per oz. = 2 los. Thus 2 los.
would be obtained for the workmanship of the chain, which charge
it was the object of the vendor wholly to conceal."
The Bank of England is bound to buy all gold at ^^"3 17s. lo^d.
per ounce.
The parliamentary price of gold is only an equivalent denomination;
'i 17s. lo^d. is not the price of an ounce of gold, but is ac-
i.s evidently an incorrect reading. \Ve\cihin(j a chain to its ^limost knrit is
impossible, and the charrjeftd fashion incomprehensible. By placing the commas
aright we arrive at the poet's meaning, and find that three separate items
are alluded to in the Goldsmith's note. 1st. How viuch yo\ir chain iceighs,
that is always expressed in troy ounces, pennyweights and grains. 2nd. To
the utmost karat the fineness of the (jold, the standard or fineness is always
computed by refiners in karats or imaginary weights. 3rd. The charrje for
fashion, that is the cost of making. Shakespeare's meaning is clearly expiessed
in another play, where the Prince saj's :
" Therefore, thou best of gold art Avorst of gold :
Other, less fine in carat, is more precious.
Preserving life in medicine potable."
Second Part of " King Henry IV " (Act iv, Sc. 5, 1. 161).
* A purcha.ser, in estimating the probable cost of a piece of plate or jewellery,
must add to the intrinsic value of the gold, tiie duty paid by the gold.smith
of seventeen shillings per ounce on all the standards, of 22 down to 9 karats,
if above 10 dwts. (the small articles, and those which cannot be stamped without
injuring them, and watch-cases being exempted), the Assay Office fees, and
the charge for fasliion or manufacture, Avhich, of course, varies according to the
artistic labour bestowed upon the material by the designer, the chaser, and
the engraver.