German Silverware

German silver is a term used for solid silver items crafted in Germany. Items of German silver flatware and holloware typically vary between .800 to .935 standard of silver, utilising an array of copper, zinc and nickel, although further variations in composition is possible.

Prior to 1886, items of German silver were struck with a city mark, in addition to a silver purity mark using the Lot system; 12 lot = .750, 13 lot = .812, 14 lot = .875, 15 lot = .937 and 16 lot = pure silver. In 1884 there was a law placed enforcing that .800 was the minimum national standard for silver in Germany. With this change the use of individual city marks was abolished in 1886 and the national mark (reichsmark) of a crescent moon and crown (Halbmond und Krone) was initiated, representing the entire German state; this mark became compulsory by 1888. This national mark was used in addition to a maker’s mark and decimal silver standard mark.