Glasgow hallmark date letter “Q”: which year?
Short answer
The letter Q on a Glasgow hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1835–1836 (uppercase roman); 1861–1862 (uppercase gothic); 1887–1888 (uppercase sans-serif); 1913–1914 (uppercase cursive); 1939–1940 (lowercase roman).
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 Q at Glasgow
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1835–1836 | uppercase roman | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1861–1862 | uppercase gothic | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1887–1888 | uppercase sans-serif | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1913–1914 | uppercase cursive | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1939–1940 | lowercase roman | Glasgow 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 Q at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter Q on a Glasgow hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1835–1836 (uppercase roman); 1861–1862 (uppercase gothic); 1887–1888 (uppercase sans-serif); 1913–1914 (uppercase cursive); 1939–1940 (lowercase roman).
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.