Chester hallmark date letter “O”: which year?
Short answer
The letter O on a Chester hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1852–1853 (uppercase gothic); 1877–1878 (lowercase gothic); 1897–1898 (uppercase roman); 1914–1915 (uppercase cursive); 1939–1940 (uppercase gothic).
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 O at Chester
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1852–1853 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1877–1878 | lowercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1897–1898 | uppercase roman | Chester cycle | |
| 1914–1915 | uppercase cursive | Chester cycle | The letter often appears lying on its side. |
| 1939–1940 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle |
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 O at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter O on a Chester hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1852–1853 (uppercase gothic); 1877–1878 (lowercase gothic); 1897–1898 (uppercase roman); 1914–1915 (uppercase cursive); 1939–1940 (uppercase gothic).
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.