Chester hallmark date letter “F”: which year?
Short answer
The letter F on a Chester hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1844–1845 (uppercase gothic); 1869–1870 (lowercase gothic); 1889–1890 (uppercase roman); 1906–1907 (uppercase cursive); 1931–1932 (uppercase gothic); 1956–1957 (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 F at Chester
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1844–1845 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1869–1870 | lowercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1889–1890 | uppercase roman | Chester cycle | |
| 1906–1907 | uppercase cursive | Chester cycle | The letter often appears lying on its side. |
| 1931–1932 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1956–1957 | 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 F at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter F on a Chester hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1844–1845 (uppercase gothic); 1869–1870 (lowercase gothic); 1889–1890 (uppercase roman); 1906–1907 (uppercase cursive); 1931–1932 (uppercase gothic); 1956–1957 (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.