Rhodesian silver date letters

[rat-tail]

Hi All
I stumbled across this spoon and thought it might be interesting simply to show Rhodesian silver hallmarking conventions. Which I did not know existed. including a date letter <Q> for 1978. Now I am not sure whether they had a 20 or 25 letter cycle and included I and J but it may be of interest.
The spoon has the Rhodesian crest on it and was one of a limited edition of 1000 made by Scottish Jewellers of Salisbury. It's not a particularly attractive or well made item, but it does come with a tag explaining the hallmarks.

Regards Frank

[dognose]

Hi Frank,

Many thanks for this information. I've been sitting on the below images for years, but without ever gleaning any details about the maker, or the date letter system.







Can you add an image of the other side of the tie-on label?

Your information has now enabled us to extend the topic of South African and Rhodesian Silversmiths

Trev.

[rat-tail]

Hi Trev - looks like the same spoon - except your marks are better - will get you a pic probably on the weekend.
regards Frank

[silverly]

Just in case it is not generally known and I haven't missed mention of it somewhere, I believe that the graphic inside the inverted triangle Rhodesian Standards Association mark is an antelope.

[dognose]

Hi Silverly,

It's a sable antelope.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sable_antelope

and: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_ar ... _Nyasaland

Trev.

[rat-tail]

Hi Trev
I promised you many moon ago a picture of the front of this tag on the spoon - sorry completely slipped my mind - here it is
thanks Frank

[dognose]

Hi Frank,

Many thanks for the image, it's appreciated.

Trev.

[dognose]

If 'Q' is the year letter for 1978, then in would appear that a new sequence may have been started at some point, perhaps to tie in with the UK system:


PM - Zimbabwean national mark - 'a' - Millennium mark

Trev.

[dognose]

Letter 'b' also noted with the 2000 Millennium mark:


PM - Zimbabwean national mark - 'b' - Millennium mark

Trev.

[dognose]

PM - Zimbabwean national mark - 'a' - Millennium mark

Trev.