A c. 1900 Austro-Hungarian silver Hanukkah Menorah

From 1816 till 1867

The Austrian empire was founded in 1804 and lasted until 1867. It was the 2nd largest empire after Russia during that time and the third largest population in Europe behind Russia & France. Please see the photo below for a typical Austrian silver hallmark during this period (Bottom: 13 loth, year: 1846, Assay City "H" = Graz)

(Bottom: 13 loth, year: 1846, Assay City "H" = Graz)

Silver fineness were measured in "loth". Similar to German Silver hallmarking system, the purity was indicated in "Löth" / "Löthig" with 16 löthig being pure silver.

12 loth = 750/1000 (75% silver)

13 loth = 812/1000 (81.2% silver)

14 loth = 875/1000 (87.5% silver)

15 loth = 937/1000 (93.7% silver)

Assay City / Town Letter Mark:

• A - Vienna
  
• B - Prague
  
• C - Salzburg
  
• D - Lwow
  
• E - Cracovia (1807-1809)
  
• E - Hall (1824-1866)
  
• F - Brno 
• G - Linz (Lienz)
  
• H - Graz
  
• I  - Klagenfurt
  
• K - Lubiana
  
• L - Trieste
  

1867 - 1921

Austria-Hungary empire succeeded Austrian empire in the year 1867. Royal House of Austria merged with Hungary to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was the result of the defeat of the Austrian Empire against the Kingdom of Prussia in 1866. The Austro-Hungarian empire lasted from 1867 to 1918.

Silver fineness was indicated by a number beside "Diana head": 1=950/1000 - 2=900/1000 - 3=800/1000 -4=750/1000. In 1872, a letter was added to indicate the assay city / town.    This mark is often confused and mistaken for French “head of Minerva" hallmark

1 = 950/1000 ; silver fineness .950	2 = 900/1000 ;   silver fineness .900
3 = 800/1000 ;  silver fineness .800	4 = 750/1000 ;           silver fineness .750

Assay City / Town Letter Mark:

A - Vienna (Present Day Country: Austria)

B - Linz (Lienz) (Present Day Country: Austria)

C - Prague (Present Day Country: Czech Republic)

D - Brno (Present Day Country: Czech Republic

E - Krakow (Present Day Country: Poland)

F - Lwow (Present Day Country: Ukraine)

G - Graz (Present Day Country: Austria)

H - Hall (Until 1872)

H - Bregenz (from 1872)

K - Klagenfurt

L=Lubiana

M - Trieste (Present Day Country: Italy)

N - Zadar (1866 - 1867)

P - Pest

R - Kosice

T - Timisoara (Present Day Country: Romania)

U - Alba Iulia

V - Zagreb (Present Day Country: Croatia)

After 1921

After world war 1, the Austro - Hungarian empire ended with monarchy abolished. The split of Austro-Hungarian empire led to the independance of various countries in Europe (Example: Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia).

A new set of silver hallmarking were created and adopted in 1922.

Hoopoe head 1= (silver fineness .935 or 93.5% Silver Content) silver hallmark

Hoopoe head 2= (silver fineness .900 or 90% Silver Content) silver hallmark

Hoopoe head 3= (silver fineness .835 or 83.5% Silver Content) silver hallmark

Toucan head 4= (silver fineness .800 or 80% Silver Content) silver hallmark 

From 1975 till Present

In November 1972, Austria became one of the founding Member of the Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (the Hallmarking Convention). The Convention on the Control and Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (also known as "Precious Metals Convention", “Hallmarking Convention” or “Vienna Convention”) is an international treaty between Contracting States, which aims at facilitating the cross-border trade of precious metal articles.

New sets of silver hallmarks were adopted and used since June 1975.

Silver Fineness- .999, .925, .830, .800

Austria Assay office hallmark

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