When did they start marking jewelery, etc. with "Sterling"

[creskol]

When did they start marking jewelery, etc. with "Sterling"

Thanks!

 

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[steelheadwill]

Re: When did they start marking jewelery, etc. with "Sterling"

Hi Creskol,
Long ago...
Here's an 'Indigosilver' exerpt:
The term "Sterling Silver", in reference to the 925 grade of silver, emerged in England by the 13th century (the 1200s).

The terms "sterling" and "pound sterling", seem to have acquired their meaning over a period of time, and from several convergent sources. The first mention is that of "sterilensis" in 1078, and by the 13th century the term sterling had appeared. "Sterling" is believed to come from the Old Norman French esterlin (meaning little star) and Old English stiere (strong, firm, immovable).

An alternative explanation is that Sterling Silver may have been known first as "Easterling Silver". The term "Easterling Silver" was used to refer to the grade of silver that had originally been used as the local currency in an area of Germany, known as "The Easterling".

This "Easterling" consisted of five towns in the eastern part of Germany which banded together in the 12th century under the name of the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League proceeded to engage in considerable commerce with England. In payment for English cattle and grain, the League used their local currency. This currency was in the form of 92.5% silver coins. England soon learned that these coins, which they referred to as "the coins of the Easterlings", were of a reliably high quality and hardness