posted 09-22-2009 01:47 AM            

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Latvian precious Control System History

In the very first Riga goldsmith guild šrāgā (articles of association) approved 1360th year, it was determined that "the goldsmith processed only good for gold and silver," and the first fixed minimum purity - the precious alloys only one "is the ninth power." Of marking as required was requested from 16th century. middle. Until the 1841st The quality control of the precious metal was gold-cunfšu Elterman proof - in the town council on behalf of the punched stamp a guarantee of the fineness of the precious metal.
Until World War I, Latvia became part of the Russian Empire precious quality control and sealing system. 1915th Hallmarks of the Riga Chamber was evacuated to St. Petersburg. All the war and the first postwar years, precious metals product quality was monitored. Precious quality control seems to be concerned with only the Riga goldsmith guild Elterman, which are periodically reported on the effects of lack of control - cases of fraud.

As precious metal products have always been not only luxury items, but also investment and store of precious metal, is essential to the quality of the subject. Quality control even more topical at the conclusion of the Latvian ruble period and the introduction of a stable monetary system - the newly developed lats, which was likened to gold.

New precious metal products quality control authority to be established already started in 1921. In the spring, when it was launched in the former "Russian probīrpalātas" action research, similar to "probīriestādi" create the Latvian state. It was first identified technical equipment necessary minimum - ie iron case, several scales, "oven muffles and several small tīģelīšiem made ​​from burnt bones of sheep, variety ambusi (Amboβ, der (German lang.) - Anvil) and hammers" and so on. and the "one probirakmens needles ....".

Terminology drawback - the name you choose - or proof test, led the discussion. As a result of the Latvian word assay refused it because nelabskanības - a new body called the fineness of the Board of fermented work. Preference was given the name gold, in particular, stressing that it is not borrowed from the Russian term used ļšīįą not in German Probe Probierung, but from the Latin probāre - check to prove. Thus, the new institution was named Hallmarks Board of provētājs the fineness of the precious metal.

In 1922. was preceded by the "Law of the precious metal content marking of gold and silver products" under the Ministry of Finance established Hallmarks of the Board. The law stipulates that the board is made ​​of precious metal-containing object verification and stamping. The legal proof was in fact analogous to the Russian Empire ever permissible provēm only expressed in the metric system, while the seal types and sealing system - analogous to Russia in 1908. were adopted in precious metals stamping rules.
Hallmarking Act came into force with the 1923rd On the 23rd February. Consequently, the first February businesses and individuals trading in precious metals, all products had to be submitted for examination and sealing of the board, but to 10. February - transfer of all 800th fineness of silver articles, which, by law, trade was banned. These items Hallmarks Board ordered either destroyed or exported to foreign countries.

First Latvian government guarantees precious characters drawing the author is unknown. The sign depicts a woman's head turn to the right. Human facial image allowing easier identification of the seal and it is harder to fake one's identity. The first stamps made ​​in Germany firm Voss & Stange, but used the 1923rd year. Digital stamps made ​​while Latvian, post and telegraph Central Board workshop. In 1925. in Paris in the French monetary and medal gravētavā ordered new stamps. The author is drawing prominent Latvian metal artist Stefan Bertschi (1893-1961). The result is amazing and estimated only the distance of time. Girls profile miniature stamp will bring all the latest Latvian symbol load from 1929th year will be 5 lats coin, minted by Richard Zarina (1869-1939) build a woman's picture, but Charles Hall (1888-1942) Mother Latvian freedom monument will create the image of the 1930s. year's competition. None of the images does not copy any particular model, but they are all popularly called in one word - Milda.

Latvian national precious metals and gem-quality monitoring systems and fineness of the Board created by the engineer Adolf Lielausis (1885 -?) - St. Petersburg Mountain Institute graduate, member of Latvian liberation struggle of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of fineness of the president until the liquidation of the 1940th year. The Management Board was in Riga K.Valdemara 1a.

After World War II, Latvia was incorporated into the USSR precious quality and inventory control system. In 1946. The work began in Riga Assay Supervision Inspectorate, the USSR Ministry of Finance. After the reorganization in 1958. was established in the Baltic State Assay Supervision Inspectorate in Riga were precious quality and inventory control of the former Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian Soviet Socialist Republics and the Kaliningrad region, zīmogoja precious objects of public proof seals.

In 1991. in the Baltic state inspection-based supervision of the Ministry of Finance was established in the Latvian State Assay Supervision Inspectorate. On the 1994th On the first July has been renewed Latvian State guarantees and precious metal fineness mark.

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