MEXICAN SILVER MARKS

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Mexico's jewelry hallmarking system has undergone several changes over the course of history.

In 1946, an Eagle Hallmarking System was implemented.  It was used through 1979, when it was ultimately abandoned due to its inefficiency.

​In 1979, the Eagle system was replaced with a letter/number hallmarking system, which is still used to this day.

Below is a guideline used to date Mexican jewelry pieces.

MEXICAN SILVER MARKS

1900 - 1920s

Intaglio 900

1920s - 1940s

"Mexico Silver"
​"Silver Made In Mexico"

Mid 1930s - Mid 1940s

Intaglio 980
Intaglio 970
Intaglio 960
Intaglio 940
​Intaglio 925

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

1946 - 1955

Eagle (Not Numbered)

1950 - Present

"Sterling"
​Incuse 925

1955 - 1979

Numbered Eagles

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Eagle 1 - Mexico City (City Mark)
Eagle 3 - Taxco (City Mark)
Eagle 16 - Margot de Taxco (Maker's Mark)

1979 - Present

Letter / Number System

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Decoding Letter / Number Marks

Below is an example of a Mexican hallmark post-1979, that reads "TE-43".

The first letter, T, is the city letter.

The second letter, E, is the first letter of the smith's last name (or company name).

The number after the dash, 43, means this silversmith is the 43rd smith whose last name starts with the letter E, in the city of Taxco, Mexico.


There are literally thousands upon thousands of these marks, most of which are still unidentified.
​

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CM (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Commonly seen city letters:

T - Taxco
M - Mexico City
G - Guadalajara
​C - Cuernavaca