Britannia Silver (958)
Also: 958 Silver, Britannia Standard, 958 Fine Silver
Britannia Silver denotes a silver alloy with a fineness of 958 ‰ (95.8%), introduced in England in 1697 as a higher standard alongside sterling silver (925 ‰).
Britannia Silver is a silver alloy with a legally defined minimum fineness of 958 ‰ (95.8% pure silver). The remaining proportion of up to 42 ‰ typically consists of copper, which improves mechanical strength. At this level, Britannia Silver sits significantly above the widely used sterling silver (925 ‰) and is regarded as one of the purest silver standards for coins and silverware.
Historical Background
The standard was introduced by the British state in 1697 to curb the widespread abuse of the time: silver coins were being extensively clipped, with their metal used to manufacture silverware. By raising the alloy standard for silverware to 958 ‰ — higher than the coin standard of 925 ‰ — the aim was to make melting down coins economically unattractive. The standard is named after the allegorical figure Britannia, who personifies the United Kingdom.
From 1697 to 1720, Britannia Silver was the mandatory British standard for silverware; since then, sterling silver has again been the principal British standard for silverware, though Britannia Silver has remained as a permitted, higher-quality alternative.
Britannia Silver Today: Coins and Bars
Since 1997 the Royal Mint has annually struck the well-known Britannia silver coin — however, this has a fineness of 999 ‰, not 958 ‰. The Britannia Silver standard (958 ‰) applies to silverware and cutlery, not to modern bullion coins. The 1 oz variant of the silver coin is the most familiar denomination; it is also available in 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz.
| Fineness | Standard | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 999 ‰ | Fine Silver | Bars, Britannia Coin (Royal Mint) |
| 958 ‰ | Britannia Silver | Silverware, cutlery (UK hallmark) |
| 925 ‰ | Sterling Silver | Jewellery, cutlery, coins |
| 835 ‰ | 835 Silver | Older German cutlery |
| 800 ‰ | 800 Silver | Older Central European silver |
The current silver price and the resulting material value of your Britannia pieces can be calculated with the melt value calculator or the silver calculator.
Calculating Fine Weight
The fineness of 958 ‰ feeds directly into the melt value calculation:
Fine Weight (g) = Gross Weight (g) × 0.958
Material Value = Fine Weight (g) × Silver Price (€/g)
A 100 g piece of silver cutlery in Britannia quality therefore contains 95.8 g of fine silver. (Note: the modern 1 oz Britannia coin from the Royal Mint has a fineness of 999 ‰, not 958 ‰.)
Tax Notes
In Germany, the purchase of silver coins and bars — unlike investment gold (§ 25c UStG) — is generally subject to the standard VAT rate of 19%. Under certain conditions, dealers may apply the margin scheme under § 25a UStG, which can lower the effective tax rate for the buyer. Gains from private sales of silver are income-tax-free after a holding period of more than one year (§ 23 EStG, speculative holding period). Not tax or investment advice.
In Brief
Britannia Silver (958 ‰) is a recognised British silver standard established in 1697 with a higher fineness than sterling silver (925 ‰). It primarily identifies silverware and cutlery of British manufacture. Note: the modern Britannia silver coin from the Royal Mint (since 1997) has a fineness of 999 ‰ — it bears the Britannia name but does not conform to the 958 alloy standard.