Glasgow hallmark date letter “U”: which year?
Short answer
The letter U on a Glasgow hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1839–1840 (uppercase roman); 1865–1866 (uppercase gothic); 1891–1892 (uppercase sans-serif); 1917–1918 (uppercase cursive); 1943–1944 (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 U at Glasgow
| Years | Letter style | Cycle | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1839–1840 | uppercase roman | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1865–1866 | uppercase gothic | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1891–1892 | uppercase sans-serif | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1917–1918 | uppercase cursive | Glasgow cycle | |
| 1943–1944 | 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 U at other offices: London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester.
Frequently asked
What year is the letter U on a Glasgow hallmark?
It depends on the shape of the letter: 1839–1840 (uppercase roman); 1865–1866 (uppercase gothic); 1891–1892 (uppercase sans-serif); 1917–1918 (uppercase cursive); 1943–1944 (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.