Peterson Hallmarks, sourced from Peterson.

As well as the Peterson name and words 'sterling silver', all Peterson silver mounted pipes carry three distinguishing marks:

1. The symbol of 'Hibernia' (Ireland), the country of manufacture.
2. The Crowned Harp is the fineness mark denoting the high quality (purity) of the silver used
3. The Date Letter Code for the year in which the silver was hallmarked and the pipe made.

Hallmarks - A Legal Requirement in Ireland

Hallmarking is not a legal requirement in many countries but it is in Ireland.

By Irish Law, the standard of most gold, silver and platinum articles must be tested (known as assaying) as the Assay Office of the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin in Dublin Castle. The legal standard of purity having been established, the articles are stamped with a series of marks, i.e. 'Hallmarks', by the Assay Office.

What Is A Hallmark ?

It is a series of marks collectively known as Hallmarks that are stamped on articles manufactured from gold, silver, or platinum, after the articles have been tested and found to be of the legal standard of purity.

History Of Irish Hallmarks

Although Ireland boasts an ancient tradition of craft metalwork in gold, silver, copper and bronze that dates back to circa 2,000 B.C., it was not until 1637 that the goldsmiths of Dublin formally petitioned Kind Charles 1 of England for a royal charter.

On 22nd December 1637, the King granted a charter thus establishing the Assay Office and the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin. Many of the provisions of that royal charter apply to present day and the reasons for its coming into being was to prevent abuses and deceits then widely practices due to the lack of a recognised mark of standard for gold and silver ware.

The Company of Goldsmiths, which was to be incorporate of itself and have perpetual succession, was given power to supervise the assaying of all gold and silver in the kingdom of Ireland and if any person was found selling goods with intent to deceive the public, these goods were to be 'broke' and the manufacturer, trader and workman punished.

The Hallmark

The mark chosen to guarantee the quality of gold or silver was the Harp Crowned, known as the King Majesty's stamp. Originally, hallmarks consisted of the goldsmith's or silversmith's own proper mark plus the fineness mark (the Harped Crowned). It applied to 22 carat gold and sterling silver which is silver of 0.925 purity i.e. 925 parts of fine silver in each 1,000.

In 1638 a date letter mark was added to denote the year in which a piece was made or hallmarked and is changed on 1st January every year. Another new mark in the form of Hibernia (Ireland) was introduced on 25th March 1730 to indicate that a duty has been paid.

If you look closely at the silver mount on the Peterson pipe, you'll see the same three hallmarks - Hibernia, the Harp Crowned and the date letter mark. They are your guarantee of pure sterling silver just as the Peterson name is your guarantee of true smoking pleasure.

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