Birmingham hallmark date letter “Y”: which year?

The letter Y on a Birmingham hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1796–1797 (uppercase roman); 1822–1823 (lowercase roman); 1847–1848 (uppercase gothic); 1873–1874 (uppercase roman); 1898–1899 (lowercase gothic); 1923–1924 (lowercase roman); 1948–1949 (uppercase roman); 1973–1974 (uppercase cursive); 1998 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2023 (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 Y at Birmingham

Years	Letter style	Cycle
1796–1797	uppercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1822–1823	lowercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1847–1848	uppercase gothic	Birmingham cycle
1873–1874	uppercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1898–1899	lowercase gothic	Birmingham cycle
1923–1924	lowercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1948–1949	uppercase roman	Birmingham cycle
1973–1974	uppercase cursive	Birmingham cycle
1998	uppercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975
2023	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 Y at other offices: London, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester, Glasgow.

All Birmingham cycles

Frequently asked

What year is the letter Y on a Birmingham hallmark?

It depends on the shape of the letter: 1796–1797 (uppercase roman); 1822–1823 (lowercase roman); 1847–1848 (uppercase gothic); 1873–1874 (uppercase roman); 1898–1899 (lowercase gothic); 1923–1924 (lowercase roman); 1948–1949 (uppercase roman); 1973–1974 (uppercase cursive); 1998 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2023 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Sources

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