The SoldSnap Journal
Reading what an object tells you about itself. Fineness stamps and assay marks on gold and silver, backstamps on ceramics, movement plates in watches and clocks, and the surface evidence that separates an original picture from a reproduction. These guides cover the United States, Europe and the Gulf, because the marking rules differ by market and most references only document one of them.
Most old coins are worth their metal or a little more. A small number are worth far more, and four details on the coin itself tell you which kind you are holding.
SoldSnap Editorial Team5 min read
A worn Roman silver coin is more common than most people think and more interesting than its price suggests. The emperor, the reverse design and the surface decide what it is worth.
SoldSnap Editorial Team5 min read
Turn the plate over. The backstamp tells you who made it, roughly when, and often where it will sell. Three real questions show how much one mark can change the answer.
SoldSnap Editorial Team7 min read
Almost everyone checks the mark first. A competent reproduction copies the mark first too, which is why it is the weakest evidence on the object rather than the strongest.
SoldSnap7 min read
Almost every object worth valuing carries a mark that tells you what it is made of, who made it, or whether it is a reproduction. Four kinds of mark, and how to read each one.
SoldSnap8 min read