London hallmark date letter “N”: which year?

The letter N on a London hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1788–1789 (lowercase roman); 1808–1809 (uppercase roman); 1828–1829 (lowercase roman); 1848–1849 (uppercase gothic); 1868–1869 (lowercase gothic); 1888–1889 (uppercase roman); 1908–1909 (lowercase roman); 1928–1929 (lowercase gothic); 1948–1949 (uppercase sans-serif); 1968–1969 (lowercase cursive); 1987 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2012 (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 N at London

Years	Letter style	Cycle	Note
1788–1789	lowercase roman	London cycle
1808–1809	uppercase roman	London cycle
1828–1829	lowercase roman	London cycle
1848–1849	uppercase gothic	London cycle
1868–1869	lowercase gothic	London cycle
1888–1889	uppercase roman	London cycle
1908–1909	lowercase roman	London cycle
1928–1929	lowercase gothic	London cycle
1948–1949	uppercase sans-serif	London cycle
1968–1969	lowercase cursive	London cycle	Short cycle: the t of 1974 ends on 31-12-1974.
1987	uppercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975
2012	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 N at other offices: Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester, Glasgow.

All London cycles

Frequently asked

What year is the letter N on a London hallmark?

It depends on the shape of the letter: 1788–1789 (lowercase roman); 1808–1809 (uppercase roman); 1828–1829 (lowercase roman); 1848–1849 (uppercase gothic); 1868–1869 (lowercase gothic); 1888–1889 (uppercase roman); 1908–1909 (lowercase roman); 1928–1929 (lowercase gothic); 1948–1949 (uppercase sans-serif); 1968–1969 (lowercase cursive); 1987 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2012 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Sources

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