London hallmark date letter “O”: which year?

The letter O on a London hallmark can be any of these years, depending on its case and typeface: 1789–1790 (lowercase roman); 1809–1810 (uppercase roman); 1829–1830 (lowercase roman); 1849–1850 (uppercase gothic); 1869–1870 (lowercase gothic); 1889–1890 (uppercase roman); 1909–1910 (lowercase roman); 1929–1930 (lowercase gothic); 1949–1950 (uppercase sans-serif); 1969–1970 (lowercase cursive); 1988 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2013 (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 O at London

Years	Letter style	Cycle	Note
1789–1790	lowercase roman	London cycle
1809–1810	uppercase roman	London cycle
1829–1830	lowercase roman	London cycle
1849–1850	uppercase gothic	London cycle
1869–1870	lowercase gothic	London cycle
1889–1890	uppercase roman	London cycle
1909–1910	lowercase roman	London cycle
1929–1930	lowercase gothic	London cycle
1949–1950	uppercase sans-serif	London cycle
1969–1970	lowercase cursive	London cycle	Short cycle: the t of 1974 ends on 31-12-1974.
1988	uppercase roman	All UK offices, from 1975
2013	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 O at other offices: Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Chester, Glasgow.

All London cycles

Frequently asked

What year is the letter O on a London hallmark?

It depends on the shape of the letter: 1789–1790 (lowercase roman); 1809–1810 (uppercase roman); 1829–1830 (lowercase roman); 1849–1850 (uppercase gothic); 1869–1870 (lowercase gothic); 1889–1890 (uppercase roman); 1909–1910 (lowercase roman); 1929–1930 (lowercase gothic); 1949–1950 (uppercase sans-serif); 1969–1970 (lowercase cursive); 1988 (uppercase roman, unified cycle); 2013 (lowercase roman, unified cycle).

Sources

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