London hallmark date letter “L”: which year?

The letter L on a London hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1786–1787 (lowercase roman); 1806–1807 (uppercase roman); 1826–1827 (lowercase roman); 1846–1847 (uppercase gothic); 1866–1867 (lowercase gothic); 1886–1887 (uppercase roman); 1906–1907 (lowercase roman); 1926–1927 (lowercase gothic); 1946–1947 (uppercase sans-serif); 1966–1967 (lowercase cursive); 1985 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2010 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Before 1975 the letter changes in May, so most letters span two calendar years. Compare the case and typeface with the table; the letter alone does not settle it.

Candidates for L at London

Years	Letter style	Cycle	Note
1786–1787	lowercase roman	London cycle
1806–1807	uppercase roman	London cycle
1826–1827	lowercase roman	London cycle
1846–1847	uppercase gothic	London cycle
1866–1867	lowercase gothic	London cycle
1886–1887	uppercase roman	London cycle
1906–1907	lowercase roman	London cycle
1926–1927	lowercase gothic	London cycle
1946–1947	uppercase sans-serif	London cycle
1966–1967	lowercase cursive	London cycle	Short cycle: the t of 1974 ends on 31-12-1974.
1985	uppercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975
2010	lowercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975

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 L at other offices: Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester, Glasgow.

All London cycles

Frequently asked

What year is the letter L on a London hallmark?

It depends on the shape of the letter: 1786–1787 (lowercase roman); 1806–1807 (uppercase roman); 1826–1827 (lowercase roman); 1846–1847 (uppercase gothic); 1866–1867 (lowercase gothic); 1886–1887 (uppercase roman); 1906–1907 (lowercase roman); 1926–1927 (lowercase gothic); 1946–1947 (uppercase sans-serif); 1966–1967 (lowercase cursive); 1985 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2010 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Sources

All sources are listed with the method on the sources page.