UK Silver Hallmark Date Letter Finder

Comprehensive database of UK and Irish silver hallmark date letters from 1478 to present

Interactive Date Letter Finder

About This Database

This free reference tool contains 1726 date letter entries across 9 UK and Irish assay offices, covering the period from 1478 to 1924, plus the shared UK date letters from 1975 to present.

Each office page includes complete date letter cycles with:

  • Year-by-year letter mappings
  • Letter styles and shield shapes
  • Town mark information
  • Confidence levels and source notes
  • Letter changeover dates

Looking for Modern Hallmarks?

Since 1975, all UK assay offices use shared date letters changing on 1 January each year.

View UK Shared Letters (1975-Present)

Gap Notice: 1925-1974

This database does not currently cover 1925-1974. No pre-1929 public-domain book includes these years. For hallmarks from this period, consult assay office records or modern guides.

Identify on the Go

The Antique ID app can photograph silver hallmarks and suggest identification with market value estimates.

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Sources

All data transcribed from public-domain sources and official assay office statements.

View full sources →

Assay Offices

London (Goldsmiths' Hall)

1478-present (dataset covers 1478-1924 plus the shared UK cycles from 1975)

448 entries across 23 cycles

View Letters

Birmingham

1773-present (dataset covers 1773-1924 plus shared UK cycles from 1975)

152 entries across 6 cycles

View Letters

Sheffield

1773-present (dataset covers 1773-1923 plus shared UK cycles from 1975)

151 entries across 7 cycles

View Letters

Chester

Dataset covers 1701-1750 and 1776-1924 (gap 1751-1775).

198 entries across 9 cycles

View Letters

Exeter

Dataset covers 1701-1883 (office closed 1883; earlier marks excluded).

181 entries across 9 cycles

View Letters

Newcastle upon Tyne

Dataset covers 1791-1883 (office closed 1884; 1702-1790 excluded).

93 entries across 4 cycles

View Letters

Edinburgh

1485-present for the castle mark (dataset covers 1681-1923 plus shared UK cycles from 1975)

243 entries across 10 cycles

View Letters

Glasgow

Dataset covers 1819-1923 (earlier irregular marks excluded; office later closed, 1964 per Edinburgh Assay Office archive, unverified in PD sources).

105 entries across 5 cycles

View Letters

Dublin (Ireland)

Dataset covers 1821-1923 only (1638-1820 excluded: the two sources disagree).

103 entries across 5 cycles

View Letters

Additional Resources

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