Hallmarking of silver began in Britain in 1300AD, though less formal identification of silver can be traced to 1238AD. In 1300AD, after silver was identified it would be marked with a leopard's head. Silver was to be 92.5% pure and the standard to be called sterling.

British
The lion passant has been used to mark silver in Britain beginning in 1544. This mark is often called the sterling mark.