silver mug hallmark date letters?

Date letters tell you exactly when the piece went through the assay office. They change every year, running through the alphabet in different font styles. You just need a reference book or website to match the shield shape and letter style. It makes dating these pieces straightforward.

cleaning tarnished antique silver mugs?

Wash them in warm soapy water first. That removes basic grease and dust. Use a gentle silver polish applied with a soft cloth for heavy tarnish. Don't rub too hard on the hallmarks.

My grandmother left me this heavy silver drinking cup with some initials on the front, can you tell me if the engraving ruins it?

Engravings are part of the object's history. They show who owned it and when. Many collectors prefer pieces with original family crests or monograms. Sometimes later owners rub out old initials to add their own. That thins the metal and leaves a wavy surface. An original engraving sitting proud on the metal is always better than a removed one.

I noticed the inside of my silver mug has a gold colour instead of silver, is this normal or has someone altered it recently?

That gold colour is called gilding. Silversmiths applied a thin wash of gold to the interior of many drinking vessels. It stops the silver reacting with acidic drinks like cider or wine. Gilding often wears thin over the centuries from cleaning and use. A faded gold wash is standard for a piece of some age.

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Victorian Silver Mugs

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A small, handle-equipped cylindrical or bell-shaped drinking vessel crafted from solid silver, designed for individual use in consuming ale or cider at the table.