Glasgow hallmark date letter “S”: which year?
Short answer
The letter S on a Glasgow hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1837–1838 (uppercase roman); 1863–1864 (uppercase gothic); 1889–1890 (uppercase sans-serif); 1915–1916 (uppercase cursive); 1941–1942 (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 S at Glasgow
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1837–1838 | uppercase roman | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1863–1864 | uppercase gothic | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1889–1890 | uppercase sans-serif | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1915–1916 | uppercase cursive | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1941–1942 | 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 S at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter S on a Glasgow hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1837–1838 (uppercase roman); 1863–1864 (uppercase gothic); 1889–1890 (uppercase sans-serif); 1915–1916 (uppercase cursive); 1941–1942 (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.