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A walking lion marking sterling silver in England.
Also known as: Sterling lion, Lion on silver, Walking lion stamp
A lion in profile with one paw raised. The traditional English mark for sterling silver, in continuous use since 1544 and now optional alongside the numeric fineness mark — but present on essentially every piece of older English silver.
A lion passant — walking in profile with one forepaw raised — struck as the traditional English mark for sterling silver of 925 fineness.
England · Contexts: Jewellery
In use since 1544 and among the most recognisable marks in the system; now an optional traditional mark struck alongside the compulsory numeric fineness mark rather than in place of it.
From 1544
Scotland used a thistle and later a lion rampant for the same purpose, and Ireland a crowned harp, so the sterling mark identifies the jurisdiction as well as the standard.
Scotland and Ireland
Distinct from the lion's head erased, which marked Britannia standard silver of the higher 958 fineness during the period when sterling was withdrawn from plate.
Britannia standard 1697–1720
A small lion shown walking in profile with one front paw raised, struck inside a rectangular or shaped outline.
The mark uses the heraldic attitude passant, which is where its form and name come from.