Birmingham hallmark date letter “Q”: which year?

The letter Q on a Birmingham hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1788–1789 (uppercase roman); 1814–1815 (lowercase roman); 1839–1840 (uppercase gothic); 1865–1866 (uppercase roman); 1890–1891 (lowercase gothic); 1915–1916 (lowercase roman); 1940–1941 (uppercase roman); 1965–1966 (uppercase cursive); 1990 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2015 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Before 1975 the letter changes in July, so most letters span two calendar years. Compare the case and typeface with the table; the letter alone does not settle it.

Candidates for Q at Birmingham

Years	Letter style	Cycle
1788–1789	uppercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1814–1815	lowercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1839–1840	uppercase gothic	Birmingham cycle
1865–1866	uppercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1890–1891	lowercase gothic	Birmingham cycle
1915–1916	lowercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1940–1941	uppercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1965–1966	uppercase cursive	Birmingham cycle
1990	uppercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975
2015	lowercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975

Narrowing it down

Other marks and features on the piece can rule candidates out: see dating jewelry by construction features and the other UK hallmarks.

The letter Q at other offices: London, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester, Glasgow.

All Birmingham cycles

Frequently asked

What year is the letter Q on a Birmingham hallmark?

It depends on the shape of the letter: 1788–1789 (uppercase roman); 1814–1815 (lowercase roman); 1839–1840 (uppercase gothic); 1865–1866 (uppercase roman); 1890–1891 (lowercase gothic); 1915–1916 (lowercase roman); 1940–1941 (uppercase roman); 1965–1966 (uppercase cursive); 1990 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2015 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Sources

All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.