assay office

noun

1. a local testing station for assaying ore, as gold or silver, especially a government station maintained in connection with the registration of mineral claims, purchases of gold, or the like.

Word History and Origins

Origin of assay office¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Elsewhere in the Jewellery Quarter, judges stopped at the Birmingham Assay Office, Cooksongold, and the historic Coffin Works.

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He sent the pebbles to an assay office.

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The Goldsmiths still has a large role in London's jewellery trade, where its Assay Office hallmarks precious metals, and it supports apprentices.

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All outer packaging, as well as eye palettes, are affixed with four gold seals — a hallmark for the brand inspired by the London Assay office — that include a “PM” for Pat McGrath, an “L” for labs, a crown and a lip, eye or eye with a lash line graphic corresponding to the category.

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Not one to surrender easily, McHugh decided on his own motivational tactic: He flew to Delaware, walked into a U.S. government assay office, and asked for $25,000 worth of gold.

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