15 U.S.C. § 296 : US Code - Section 296: Standard of fineness of silver articles; deviation

Search 15 U.S.C. § 296 : US Code - Section 296: Standard of fineness of silver articles; deviation

In the case of articles of merchandise made in whole or in part
of silver or any of its alloys so imported into or exported from
the United States, or so deposited in the United States mails for
transmission, or so delivered for transportation to any common
carrier, or so transported or caused to be transported as specified
in section 294 of this title, the actual fineness of the silver or
alloy thereof of which such article is wholly or partly composed
shall not be less by more than four one-thousandth parts than the
actual fineness indicated by any mark (other than the word
"sterling" or the word "coin") stamped, branded, engraved, or
printed upon any part of such article, or upon any tag, card, or
label attached thereto, or upon any box, package, cover, or wrapper
in which such article is incased or inclosed; and that no such
article or tag, card, or label attached thereto, or box, package,
cover, or wrapper in which such article is incased or inclosed
shall be marked, stamped, branded, engraved, or printed with the
word "sterling" or "sterling silver" or any colorable imitation
thereof, unless such article or parts thereof purporting to be
silver contains nine hundred and twenty-five one-thousandth parts
pure silver; and that no such article, tag, card, label, box,
package, cover, or wrapper shall be marked, stamped, branded,
engraved, or printed with the words "coin" or "coin silver" or
colorable imitation thereof unless such article or parts thereof
purporting to be silver contains nine hundred one-thousandth parts
pure silver: Provided, That in the case of all such articles whose
fineness is indicated by the word "sterling" or the word "coin"
there shall be allowed a divergence in the fineness of four one-
thousandth parts from the foregoing standards: Provided, That in
any test for the ascertainment of the fineness of any such article
mentioned in this section according to the foregoing standards the
part of the article taken for the test, analysis, or assay shall be
such part or portion as does not contain or have attached thereto
any solder or alloy of inferior fineness used for brazing or
uniting the parts of such article: Provided further, That in the
case of any article mentioned in this section, in addition to the
foregoing tests and standards, the actual fineness of the entire
quantity of silver or of its alloys contained in such article,
including all solder and alloy of inferior fineness used for
brazing or uniting the parts of such article (all such silver,
alloys, and solder being assayed as one piece), shall not be less
by more than ten one-thousandth parts than the fineness indicated
by the mark stamped, branded, engraved, or imprinted upon such
article, or upon any tag, card, or label attached thereto, or upon
any box, package, cover, or wrapper in which such article is
incased or inclosed, it being intended that the standards of
fineness and the tests or methods for ascertaining the same
provided in this section for articles mentioned therein shall be
concurrent and not alternative.