Thistle Symbol on Silver
A thistle on silver indicates Scottish assay. The thistle served as Edinburgh's standard mark for sterling silver from 1759 until 1975, when it was replaced by the lion rampant for silver; the thistle remains associated with Edinburgh gold marking.
Scottish provincial silver — from towns such as Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee — used its own local marks, so a thistle specifically points to Edinburgh assay during its period of use, usually alongside the castle town mark, a date letter, and a maker's mark.
Marks featuring a thistle
- UK Hallmark SystemJewelry hallmark
The UK hallmarking system is one of the oldest and most comprehensive consumer protection systems in the world. British hallmarks certify the type and purity of precious metals and are applied by one of four assay offices.
- Thistle Hallmark (Edinburgh)Jewelry hallmark
The thistle is the assay office mark of the Edinburgh Assay Office in Scotland. It has been used as a hallmark on Scottish precious metals since 1759 and is a symbol of Scottish national identity.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a thistle with a castle mark mean?
The castle is Edinburgh's town mark and the thistle its historic standard mark for sterling — together they identify Edinburgh-assayed sterling silver, dated by the accompanying date letter.