Regional mark reference
Persian & Iranian Silver Marks: Purity Numbers
Persian and Iranian silver is marked differently from British or French silver because there was no equivalent state assay office stamping every piece. What you usually find is a purity number, sometimes a workshop signature in Persian script, and occasionally a city name.
That makes the numbers a claim by the maker rather than an independently tested guarantee. This page shows what each mark type normally indicates, what it does and does not date, and why weight testing matters more here than in hallmarked traditions.
Visual reference
Mark shapes to compare first
These original code-drawn symbols help describe a mark shape. They do not authenticate a maker, workshop, date, or metal standard.
Marks you will find on Persian and Iranian silver
Read these as evidence to weigh, not as certificates. Several marks appear together on better pieces and singly on simpler ones.
| Mark | Usually indicates | Dating note | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | 87.5% silver, the old zolotnik standard expressed as 84 parts of 96 | A standard inherited from the Russian system and widely used across the region | Confirm by test. The number is a workshop claim, not an assay result. |
| 90 or 900 | 90% silver | Common across the wider Middle East | Weight and acid or XRF testing |
| 925 or STERLING | Sterling standard | More typical of later twentieth-century and export production | Whether the mark was applied for an export market |
| Signature in Persian script | The workshop or master silversmith's name | Not part of a dated cycle, so it does not give a year | Translation, then whether that name is documented in the literature |
| City name such as Isfahan | The production centre | Attribution rather than a date | Judge the quality of the work itself, not the presence of the word |
| Lion and sun emblem | The Iranian national emblem, in official use until 1979 | Suggestive of a pre-1979 piece, but the motif is also purely decorative on many objects | Treat as supporting evidence only, never as a date on its own |
| No mark at all | Common on handmade regional work | Absence of a mark is normal here and does not imply base metal | Testing is the only reliable route on unmarked pieces |
Marks vary by workshop, era, and region. Where a specific punch cannot be matched to documented literature, the honest answer is that the attribution needs specialist verification.
Object types you are most likely to encounter
| Form | Typical decoration | What drives desirability |
|---|---|---|
| Trays and chargers | Dense chased and repoussé work, often figural or floral | Depth and confidence of the chasing, plus weight |
| Bowls and goblets | Engraved bands, calligraphic panels | Crispness of the engraving and absence of dents |
| Tea and coffee services | Matched chasing across pieces | Completeness of the set |
| Cigarette and trinket boxes | Niello, enamel, or engraved panels | Intact hinges, enamel loss, and interior condition |
| Qalamdan pen cases and small objects | Fine engraving | Quality of hand-work over size |
How to identify it, step by step
- 1
Photograph the marks and the workmanship separately
Persian silver is judged heavily on hand-work, so a macro of the chasing matters as much as a macro of the stamp.
- 2
Read the number first
84, 90, or 925 gives you the claimed standard. Note it, then set it aside until testing confirms or contradicts it.
- 3
Get any script translated rather than guessed
Persian-script signatures carry the maker information. A partial or guessed transliteration produces attribution errors that are hard to undo.
- 4
Weigh the piece
Because much Persian silver trades with a strong metal component, an accurate weight in grams is a required data point before pricing.
- 5
Test before you commit
With no state assay backing the numbers, an acid or XRF test at a jeweller is the step that turns a claim into a fact.
- 6
Judge the hand-work last and hardest
Two trays with identical marks can differ several times over in price purely on the depth, control, and originality of the chasing.
Mistakes that cost money
- Reading 84 as 84% silver. It is 84 zolotnik out of 96, which is 87.5%.
- Treating an unmarked piece as base metal. Unmarked handmade silver is normal in this tradition.
- Dating a piece from the lion and sun emblem alone when the motif is also decorative.
- Buying on the strength of a city name stamped on a piece of otherwise ordinary workmanship.
- Assuming a Persian-script signature has been correctly transliterated by a seller's listing.
What this is generally worth
Persian silver prices combine a metal floor with a craftsmanship premium. General secondary-market direction only.
Plain or lightly decorated small items
Close to silver weight value
Simple bowls and cups trade largely on grams.
Well-chased trays, bowls, and boxes
A clear premium over weight
Depth and quality of the qalamzani chasing is the main driver.
Signed work from documented workshops
A substantial multiple of weight
Attribution to a recorded master changes the market the piece sits in.
Enamelled, niello, or historically significant pieces
Specialist territory
These belong with an auction specialist before any figure is attached.
Condition, weight, quality of hand-work, attribution, and current silver prices decide the actual value. Dents, splits, and enamel loss reduce it sharply. Nothing on this page is an appraisal. For anything you plan to insure, sell, or divide, use a qualified appraiser or auction specialist.
Frequently asked questions
What does 84 mean on Persian silver?
It refers to the old zolotnik system in which purity was expressed out of 96 parts. 84 zolotnik equals 87.5% silver, so an 84-marked piece claims a standard between 800 Continental silver and 925 sterling.
Is Persian silver real silver?
Most marked pieces are genuine silver at or near the claimed standard, but because there was no state assay system the numbers are workshop claims rather than tested guarantees. Test anything you plan to buy at a silver price.
How can I date Persian silver?
Precise dating is difficult and often not possible from marks alone. Style, technique, form, and the presence of emblems used only in certain periods provide brackets rather than years, and a firm date usually needs specialist review.
Does Isfahan on a piece mean it is valuable?
Not by itself. Isfahan is the best-known centre for chased silver, so the word appears on both excellent and ordinary work. Judge the quality and depth of the hand-chasing rather than the city name.
How is Persian silver usually priced?
It generally combines a metal floor based on weight with a premium for the quality of the chasing or engraving. Signed pieces from documented workshops move well above that floor; plain pieces sit close to it.
Where can I sell this?
Compare the likely value, packing risk, time available, and certainty of attribution before choosing a channel. Auction houses commonly suit specialist or higher-value objects; dealers offer speed but need a resale margin; marketplaces provide control but require photography, buyer communication, packing, and returns management. Use the AntiqScope selling-channel guide to compare the trade-offs before accepting an offer. Compare selling channels.
Before pricing or selling
Condition assessment
Check rims, handles, hinges, and feet for splits, solder, or replaced parts.
Look for thinning from heavy polishing, especially around shallow punches.
Record dents and distortion before judging the maker or metal value.
Inspect high points for plating wear or a different base-metal colour.
Confirm whether monograms, inscriptions, or removals have altered the surface.
Weigh the complete piece and note any filled or weighted components separately.
Editorial record
Published and reviewed
Published · Updated
Written by AntiqScope Editorial Desk · Edited by AntiqScope Research Review Desk
Photo-first research
Read the whole hallmark group
Photograph the standard mark, town mark, date letter, and maker punch together so the result can be checked against the tables.
First 3 scans are free. Not a formal appraisal.
Continue in this reference
Family hub
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Every hallmark, pottery mark, and value guide on the site in one list.