All about 84 sterling silver: what kind of mark is it and how much does 1 gram cost today?

Composition and properties

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

• zinc;
• aluminum;
• nickel;
• cadmium.

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).

Antique value

Antique silver hallmarked 84 is more valuable than its modern 875 counterparts. If you look closely, next to the digital value you can see the profile of a woman in a kokoshnik, which until the beginning of the 20th century was turned to the left, and since 1908 - to the right. In addition, during the time of Tsarist Russia, next to the sample, the mark of the master (his initials) and the year of manufacture were placed. The marks were of different sizes: large ones for cutlery and dishes, and small ones for jewelry. Until the end of the 19th century, such samples had a convex shape. By the hallmark on 84-carat silver, it is easy to determine which jewelry workshop made this or that jewelry or product.

This silver alloy was often used not only by jewelers, but also by craftsmen who made cigarette cases, boxes, dishes and cutlery. The reason for this popularity was the cost and quality characteristics of the products. But in fact, such items were rarely used in everyday life; they were purchased to demonstrate the financial status and status of the owner. At that time, the price of such things mainly consisted of manufacturing costs.

Antiques of 84 standard are much more expensive than products from the same alloy, but made by modern craftsmen. It has value from both cultural and historical points of view.

Antique silver spoon 84 standard from Tsarist Russia

Advantages and disadvantages

In its pure form, silver is a very beautiful metal, but it is soft, so products quickly lose their shine and are easily damaged. Therefore, with the help of additives (ligatures), the strength and wear resistance of products is increased. The peculiarity of this metal is its yellow color, which misleads ordinary citizens.

The 84th or modern 875 standard is considered low, and jewelry is not made from it. Due to the copper content, 84-grade silver is cheaper in price, but the presence of an alloy makes the metal stronger. Dishes made from it can be used in everyday life, washed and cleaned. Silver does not scratch and retains the brightness of the surface.

General information

Sample 84, stamped on silver, served to determine the quality of white metal in Russia until 1927. The numbers indicated that the product contained 84 parts of pure silver and only 12 parts of other impurities.

In the past, almost a dozen samples were used to mark silver. Each product differed in the composition of the alloy, on which its cost depended. The lowest marking indicated that the metal consisted of only half of noble metal. Things were valued according to the principle that the purer the silver composition, the more you would have to pay for it. The stamp with the numbers 84 is now valued quite highly, but the final cost will depend on how old it was minted.

It is interesting that the pre-revolutionary “spool system” existed for another 10 years after the end of the monarchy era in 1917, because no better replacement has been invented to indicate the value of a product.

84 silver hallmark, used until 1908

How much does 1 gram of silver of this standard cost today?

The cost of valuable metals fluctuates depending on the situation on the world market. By tracking the daily reports of the Central Bank of Russia, you can find out the current cost. The price at a pawn shop or antique market may vary.

Below is a live graph and table with prices.

What do the silver marks on spoons mean?

Silver is an inexpensive, but still noble metal. This means that it is subject to mandatory branding. For silver in Russia, a stamp in the shape of a lying barrel is accepted. In addition to the number indicating the content of precious metal, there is a female profile wearing a traditional Russian kokoshnik.

In addition to the mandatory hallmark, other marks may be affixed to the metal. Usually these are logos of manufacturers, brands, brands.

It is extremely difficult to understand all this diversity, and even more so if we are talking about antiques. The best option in this case is to submit the product for professional examination. The expert will indicate not only the precious metal content, weight and origin of the product, but also its estimated value.

You can, of course, experiment with homemade methods of determining the precious metal (iodine, lapis pencil, sulfur ointment and others like them), but no one can guarantee an accurate result. And there is also the risk of spoiling a valuable item: what if you received a spoon made at the Savva Morozov manufactory especially for the royal family?

Silverware produced in other countries bears the mark accepted in the country of origin. And in the Soviet Union, products made from precious metals were, as expected, decorated with a five-pointed star with a coat of arms in the center.

Recommendations for care, cleaning and storage

Those who are lucky enough to become owners of antique cutlery should follow the rules for caring for them:

• wash with warm soapy water and air dry;
• store wrapped in soft cloth;
• Avoid rooms with high humidity.

If the product has darkened, you can clean it with a mixture of salt and soda. You should mix these two components, apply it to the item and wait until it takes on its original appearance.

Then rinse with water and wipe.

Features of product care

If there are silver objects in the house with an indication of 84 standard, you should be able to properly care for them. After use, dishes and cutlery are washed with warm soapy water, then rinsed thoroughly and dried. Store products in a dry place, wrapped in soft cloth.

With prolonged contact with human skin, silver tends to oxidize and darken. This applies mainly to cigarette cases and various boxes, because... Jewelry of this type is rare. A similar reaction occurs due to the interaction of the metal with sweat. Previously, it was believed that this was a sign of poor health of a person or damage sent to him, but the darkening is purely chemical in nature.

If the silver item has darkened, clean it with a mixture of soda and salt. If the plaque is strong enough, then make a paste of soda, ammonia and toothpaste. Apply the composition to the surface to be cleaned with a brush and wait a couple of minutes. When the coating is gone, rinse the item with running water and wipe dry. If the stains do not go away on their own, you need to rub them a little with a cotton pad.

Any 84 sterling silver item will be an excellent gift or investment, and will be passed down in the family from generation to generation.

Reviews

Valentine

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.

Igor Ivanovich

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.

Zoya

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.

The use of royal silver 84 samples

84-carat silver was quite in demand in Tsarist Russia among wealthy citizens. Most often, household items, dishes, interior decorations and personal items were made from this alloy. For example, cigarette cases and boxes, glasses and cup holders, salt shakers and sugar bowls looked very impressive.

The cost of silver items was not too high, but middle class people could not afford to purchase them. Such things testified to the status of their owner. To increase prestige, some silver items were gilded in places. Silver boxes and snuff boxes with internal gilding looked especially impressive. The outside was silver and the inside shimmered beautifully with yellow.

Cup holder made of 84 sterling silver

All hallmarks and hallmarks of silver. From the Russian Empire to modern Russia

Silver has firmly entered our lives. Due to its relative cheapness, jewelry made from this metal is in high demand. And silver cutlery, purchased back in Soviet times, is an important attribute of a family feast. In the recent past, silver coins were generally passed around. This noble metal was replaced by a copper-nickel alloy in the manufacture of money only in 1931.

Nowadays, treasure hunters take out various objects from the ground, some of which turn out to be made of the noble metal we are observing. And, depending on the time of manufacture, the sample designation system differed, as the stamps can tell. For ease of reading and finding the necessary information, I decided to divide the material into historical segments corresponding to the various states that replaced each other.

How to care for silver?

Antique 84 sterling silver requires some care. The main thing is that under no circumstances should these items be stored in areas with high moisture content. When exposed to humidity, light and frequent contact with human skin, they darken.

You can wash them with ordinary soapy water slightly warmer than room temperature. After washing, dry thoroughly. It is best to store antique silver wrapped in cloth to avoid exposure to light and other environmental factors.

If the silver has darkened, you can clean it in the same way as regular silver using several options:

1. A solution of salt and soda.
2. For severe darkening, use soda, toothpaste and ammonia. Apply the mixture to the item and leave for half an hour, then rinse off the solution and dry the item.

Fakes

Unfortunately, objects made of lunar alloy are counterfeited no less often than gold ones . Many buyers consider the presence of a purity mark on an item to be a sufficient basis for trust, which is what scammers take advantage of.

Fake samples

In the manufacture of fakes, especially antiques, fake stamps are often used. Of course, only a professional armed with special equipment can identify a fake.

However, before purchasing an antique item, you should take the trouble to study the specifics of the branding in order to suspect a fake even at the stage of examining the product.

Often, dishonest sellers use the method of removing the mark from a real, but small item and attaching it to a large fake. Sometimes, upon inspection, you can see the soldering points along the contour of the mark.

Attention! Another common method of deception is applying a non-existent sample, for example, 825.

Is it possible to independently determine the purity of an alloy?

The easiest way to check the authenticity of a metal is to try magnetizing it.

Silver is not magnetic, which, however, will not be a reliable way to identify a fake, since there are inexpensive alloys that do not interact with a magnet.

Another household method to determine the authenticity of a piece of jewelry is to put it in a glass of hot water for a few seconds. Silver has high thermal conductivity, so the item should heat up instantly. If this does not happen, then the product is made of a cheap alloy.

Types of additives

Typically, copper is used as the main alloying additive, but the more it is in the alloy, the faster the surface of the product darkens.

What is Argentum of various purities used for?