Chester hallmark date letter “U”: which year?
Short answer
The letter U on a Chester hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1858–1859 (uppercase gothic); 1883–1884 (lowercase gothic); 1920–1921 (uppercase cursive); 1945–1946 (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 U at Chester
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1858–1859 | uppercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1883–1884 | lowercase gothic | Chester cycle | |
| 1920–1921 | uppercase cursive | Chester cycle | The letter often appears lying on its side. |
| 1945–1946 | 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 U at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter U on a Chester hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1858–1859 (uppercase gothic); 1883–1884 (lowercase gothic); 1920–1921 (uppercase cursive); 1945–1946 (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.