UK hallmarks: symbols, offices and date letters
Symbols
- lion passantsterling silver (925) assayed in England.
- Britannia958 silver.
- leopard headLondon Assay Office.
- anchorBirmingham Assay Office (from 1773; gold from 1824).
- roseSheffield Assay Office (on gold from 1904; on all metals from 1975).
- castleEdinburgh Assay Office (a three-towered castle is also the mark of Exeter, closed 1883).
- crownon British gold it accompanies the carat figure (18 from 1798, 22 from 1844); on silver before 1975 it is the Sheffield town mark.
- orbplatinum hallmarked in the UK.
- sovereign headduty mark.
Date letters by assay office
One letter marks the year. Its case and typeface tell cycles apart, so a letter has several candidate years until you compare its shape.
UK fineness numbers
gold 375, gold 585, gold 750, gold 916, gold 990, gold 999, silver 800, silver 925, silver 958, silver 999, platinum 850, platinum 900, platinum 950, platinum 999, palladium 500, palladium 950, palladium 999.
Frequently asked
How do I read a UK hallmark?
Read the fineness number or symbol, the assay office mark and the date letter together; the sponsor's initials are the maker or importer. Use the date-letter tables for the year and the symbol pages for the office and metal.
Which UK assay offices have date letters?
London (1776–2026); Birmingham (1773–2026); Sheffield (1799–2026); Edinburgh (1806–2026); Chester (1839–1962); Glasgow (1819–1963).
Sources
- Hallmarking Act 1973, Schedule 2 (revised text)
- Hallmarking Guidance Notes, British Hallmarking Council and assay offices (Nov. 2022)
- Silver Makers' Marks, date-letter tables by assay office
- The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office, History of hallmarking
All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.