Chester hallmark date letter “A”: which year?
Short answer
The letter A on a Chester hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1839–1840 (uppercase gothic); 1864–1865 (lowercase gothic); 1884–1885 (uppercase roman); 1901–1902 (uppercase cursive); 1926–1927 (uppercase gothic); 1951–1952 (uppercase sans-serif).
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 A at Chester
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1839–1840 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1864–1865 | lowercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1884–1885 | uppercase roman | Chester cycle | |
| 1901–1902 | uppercase cursive | Chester cycle | The letter often appears lying on its side. |
| 1926–1927 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1951–1952 | uppercase sans-serif | Chester cycle | The office closed on 24-8-1962. |
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 A at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter A on a Chester hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1839–1840 (uppercase gothic); 1864–1865 (lowercase gothic); 1884–1885 (uppercase roman); 1901–1902 (uppercase cursive); 1926–1927 (uppercase gothic); 1951–1952 (uppercase sans-serif).
Sources
- Silver Makers' Marks, date-letter tables by assay office
- The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office, History of hallmarking
- Assay Office Birmingham, timeline
- Sheffield Assay Office, history
All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.