London (Goldsmiths' Hall) Silver Hallmark Date Letters

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

Office Information

Town Mark: Leopard's head. Crowned from 1478 until the early 1820s, uncrowned afterwards (sources differ on the exact year: Jackson 1821-2, Goldsmiths' Company 1822, Chaffers 1823). On Britannia-standard silver (1697-1720) a lion's head erased replaced the leopard's head.

Letter Changeover: Late May each year (St Dunstan's day period), so each letter spans two calendar years, e.g. 1760-1. From 1975, 1 January.

Coverage: This database includes 23 date letter cycles with 448 entries from 1478-present (dataset covers 1478-1924 plus the shared UK cycles from 1975).

Gap Notice: 1925-1974

This database does not currently cover 1925-1974. For hallmarks from this period, consult assay office records or modern guides, or use the Antique ID app.

Date Letter Cycles

1478-9 to 1497-8

Letter Style: Lombardic capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1478-9 CH, JK
B 1479-80 CH, JK
C 1480-1 CH, JK
D 1481-2 CH, JK
E 1482-3 CH, JK
F 1483-4 CH, JK
G 1484-5 CH, JK
H 1485-6 CH, JK
I 1486-7 CH, JK
K 1487-8 CH, JK
L 1488-9 CH, JK
M 1489-90 CH, JK
N 1490-1 CH, JK
O 1491-2 CH, JK
P 1492-3 CH, JK
Q 1493-4 CH, JK
R 1494-5 CH, JK
S 1495-6 CH, JK
T 1496-7 CH, JK
V 1497-8 CH, JK

1498-9 to 1517-8

Letter Style: black letter (Old English) small

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1498-9 CH, JK
b 1499-00 CH, JK
c 1500-1 CH, JK
d 1501-2 CH, JK
e 1502-3 CH, JK
f 1503-4 CH, JK
g 1504-5 CH, JK
h 1505-6 CH, JK
i 1506-7 CH, JK
k 1507-8 CH, JK
l 1508-9 CH, JK
m 1509-10 CH, JK
n 1510-1 CH, JK
o 1511-2 CH, JK
p 1512-3 CH, JK
q 1513-4 CH, JK
r 1514-5 CH, JK
s 1515-6 CH, JK
t 1516-7 CH, JK
v 1517-8 CH, JK

1518-9 to 1537-8

Letter Style: Lombardic capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1518-9 CH, JK
B 1519-20 CH, JK
C 1520-1 CH, JK
D 1521-2 CH, JK
E 1522-3 CH, JK
F 1523-4 CH, JK
G 1524-5 CH, JK
H 1525-6 CH, JK
I 1526-7 CH, JK
K 1527-8 CH, JK
L 1528-9 CH, JK
M 1529-30 CH, JK
N 1530-1 CH, JK
O 1531-2 CH, JK
P 1532-3 CH, JK
Q 1533-4 CH, JK
R 1534-5 CH, JK
S 1535-6 CH, JK
T 1536-7 CH, JK
V 1537-8 CH, JK

1538-9 to 1557-8

Letter Style: Roman capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1538-9 CH, JK
B 1539-40 CH, JK
C 1540-1 CH, JK
D 1541-2 CH, JK
E 1542-3 CH, JK
F 1543-4 CH, JK
G 1544-5 CH, JK
H 1545-6 CH, JK
I 1546-7 CH, JK
K 1547-8 CH, JK
L 1548-9 CH, JK
M 1549-50 CH, JK
N 1550-1 CH, JK
O 1551-2 CH, JK
P 1552-3 CH, JK
Q 1553-4 CH, JK
R 1554-5 CH, JK
S 1555-6 CH, JK
T 1556-7 CH, JK
V 1557-8 CH, JK

1558-9 to 1577-8

Letter Style: black letter small

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1558-9 CH, JK
b 1559-60 CH, JK
c 1560-1 CH, JK
d 1561-2 CH, JK
e 1562-3 CH, JK
f 1563-4 CH, JK
g 1564-5 CH, JK
h 1565-6 CH, JK
i 1566-7 CH, JK
k 1567-8 CH, JK
l 1568-9 CH, JK
m 1569-70 CH, JK
n 1570-1 CH, JK
o 1571-2 CH, JK
p 1572-3 CH, JK
q 1573-4 CH, JK
r 1574-5 CH, JK
s 1575-6 CH, JK
t 1576-7 CH, JK
v 1577-8 CH, JK

1578-9 to 1597-8

Letter Style: Roman capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1578-9 CH, JK
B 1579-80 CH, JK
C 1580-1 CH, JK
D 1581-2 CH, JK
E 1582-3 CH, JK
F 1583-4 CH, JK
G 1584-5 CH, JK
H 1585-6 CH, JK
I 1586-7 CH, JK
K 1587-8 CH, JK
L 1588-9 CH, JK
M 1589-90 CH, JK
N 1590-1 CH, JK
O 1591-2 CH, JK
P 1592-3 CH, JK
Q 1593-4 CH, JK
R 1594-5 CH, JK
S 1595-6 CH, JK
T 1596-7 CH, JK
V 1597-8 CH, JK

1598-9 to 1617-8

Letter Style: Lombardic capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1598-9 CH, JK
B 1599-00 CH, JK
C 1600-1 CH, JK
D 1601-2 CH, JK
E 1602-3 CH, JK
F 1603-4 CH, JK
G 1604-5 CH, JK
H 1605-6 CH, JK
I 1606-7 CH, JK
K 1607-8 CH, JK
L 1608-9 CH, JK
M 1609-10 CH, JK
N 1610-1 CH, JK
O 1611-2 CH, JK
P 1612-3 CH, JK
Q 1613-4 CH, JK
R 1614-5 CH, JK
S 1615-6 CH, JK
T 1616-7 CH, JK
V 1617-8 CH, JK

1618-9 to 1637-8

Letter Style: small italic letters

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1618-9 CH, JK
b 1619-20 CH, JK
c 1620-1 CH, JK
d 1621-2 CH, JK
e 1622-3 CH, JK
f 1623-4 CH, JK
g 1624-5 CH, JK
h 1625-6 CH, JK
i 1626-7 CH, JK
k 1627-8 CH, JK
l 1628-9 CH, JK
m 1629-30 CH, JK
n 1630-1 CH, JK
o 1631-2 CH, JK
p 1632-3 CH, JK
q 1633-4 CH, JK
r 1634-5 CH, JK
s 1635-6 CH, JK
t 1636-7 CH, JK
v 1637-8 CH, JK

1638-9 to 1657-8

Letter Style: court hand

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1638-9 CH, JK
b 1639-40 CH, JK
c 1640-1 CH, JK
d 1641-2 CH, JK
e 1642-3 CH, JK
f 1643-4 CH, JK
g 1644-5 CH, JK
h 1645-6 CH, JK
i 1646-7 CH, JK
k 1647-8 CH, JK
l 1648-9 CH, JK
m 1649-50 CH, JK
n 1650-1 CH, JK
o 1651-2 CH, JK
p 1652-3 CH, JK
q 1653-4 CH, JK
r 1654-5 CH, JK
s 1655-6 CH, JK
t 1656-7 CH, JK
v 1657-8 CH, JK

1658-9 to 1677-8

Letter Style: black letter capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1658-9 CH, JK
B 1659-60 CH, JK
C 1660-1 CH, JK
D 1661-2 CH, JK
E 1662-3 CH, JK
F 1663-4 CH, JK
G 1664-5 CH, JK
H 1665-6 CH, JK
I 1666-7 CH, JK
K 1667-8 CH, JK
L 1668-9 CH, JK
M 1669-70 CH, JK
N 1670-1 CH, JK
O 1671-2 CH, JK
P 1672-3 CH, JK
Q 1673-4 CH, JK
R 1674-5 CH, JK
S 1675-6 CH, JK
T 1676-7 CH, JK
V 1677-8 CH, JK

1678-9 to 1696-7 (30 May 1696 to Mar 1697)

Letter Style: black letter small

Omitted Letters: j; cycle stops at t

Notes: Short cycle of 19 letters. The letter t ran from 30 May 1696 to March 1697, when the Britannia standard came in.

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1678-9 CH, JK
b 1679-80 CH, JK
c 1680-1 CH, JK
d 1681-2 CH, JK
e 1682-3 CH, JK
f 1683-4 CH, JK
g 1684-5 CH, JK
h 1685-6 CH, JK
i 1686-7 CH, JK
k 1687-8 CH, JK
l 1688-9 CH, JK
m 1689-90 CH, JK
n 1690-1 CH, JK
o 1691-2 CH, JK
p 1692-3 CH, JK
q 1693-4 CH, JK
r 1694-5 CH, JK
s 1695-6 CH, JK
t 1696-7 (30 May 1696 to Mar 1697) CH, JK

1697 (27 Mar to 29 May) to 1715-6

Letter Style: court hand

Omitted Letters: j, u

Notes: New cycle begun with the Britannia standard. Letter a was used only from 27 March to 29 May 1697; b starts the normal May-to-May year 1697-8.

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1697 (27 Mar to 29 May) CH, JK
b 1697-8 CH, JK
c 1698-9 CH, JK
d 1699-00 CH, JK
e 1700-1 CH, JK
f 1701-2 CH, JK
g 1702-3 CH, JK
h 1703-4 CH, JK
i 1704-5 CH, JK
k 1705-6 CH, JK
l 1706-7 CH, JK
m 1707-8 CH, JK
n 1708-9 CH, JK
o 1709-10 CH, JK
p 1710-1 CH, JK
q 1711-2 CH, JK
r 1712-3 CH, JK
s 1713-4 CH, JK
t 1714-5 CH, JK
v 1715-6 CH, JK

1716-7 to 1735-6

Letter Style: Roman capitals

Omitted Letters: J, U (V used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1716-7 CH, JK
B 1717-8 CH, JK
C 1718-9 CH, JK
D 1719-20 CH, JK
E 1720-1 CH, JK
F 1721-2 CH, JK
G 1722-3 CH, JK
H 1723-4 CH, JK
I 1724-5 CH, JK
K 1725-6 CH, JK
L 1726-7 CH, JK
M 1727-8 CH, JK
N 1728-9 CH, JK
O 1729-30 CH, JK
P 1730-1 CH, JK
Q 1731-2 CH, JK
R 1732-3 CH, JK
S 1733-4 CH, JK
T 1734-5 CH, JK
V 1735-6 CH, JK

1736-7 to 1755-6

Letter Style: Roman small

Omitted Letters: j, v (u used)

Notes: Chaffers notes a change of shield outline in 1739. Last letter is u (not v) in both sources.

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1736-7 CH, JK
b 1737-8 CH, JK
c 1738-9 CH, JK
d 1739-40 CH, JK
e 1740-1 CH, JK
f 1741-2 CH, JK
g 1742-3 CH, JK
h 1743-4 CH, JK
i 1744-5 CH, JK
k 1745-6 CH, JK
l 1746-7 CH, JK
m 1747-8 CH, JK
n 1748-9 CH, JK
o 1749-50 CH, JK
p 1750-1 CH, JK
q 1751-2 CH, JK
r 1752-3 CH, JK
s 1753-4 CH, JK
t 1754-5 CH, JK
u 1755-6 CH, JK

1756-7 to 1775-6

Letter Style: black letter capitals

Omitted Letters: J, V (U used)

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1756-7 CH, JK
B 1757-8 CH, JK
C 1758-9 CH, JK
D 1759-60 CH, JK
E 1760-1 CH, JK
F 1761-2 CH, JK
G 1762-3 CH, JK
H 1763-4 CH, JK
I 1764-5 CH, JK
K 1765-6 CH, JK
L 1766-7 CH, JK
M 1767-8 CH, JK
N 1768-9 CH, JK
O 1769-70 CH, JK
P 1770-1 CH, JK
Q 1771-2 CH, JK
R 1772-3 CH, JK
S 1773-4 CH, JK
T 1774-5 CH, JK
U 1775-6 CH, JK

1776-7 to 1795-6

Letter Style: Roman small

Omitted Letters: j, v

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1776-7 CH, JK
b 1777-8 CH, JK
c 1778-9 CH, JK
d 1779-80 CH, JK
e 1780-1 CH, JK
f 1781-2 CH, JK
g 1782-3 CH, JK
h 1783-4 CH, JK
i 1784-5 CH, JK
k 1785-6 CH, JK
l 1786-7 CH, JK
m 1787-8 CH, JK
n 1788-9 CH, JK
o 1789-90 CH, JK
p 1790-1 CH, JK
q 1791-2 CH, JK
r 1792-3 CH, JK
s 1793-4 CH, JK
t 1794-5 CH, JK
u 1795-6 CH, JK

1796-7 to 1815-6

Letter Style: Roman capitals

Omitted Letters: J, V

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1796-7 CH, JK
B 1797-8 CH, JK
C 1798-9 CH, JK
D 1799-00 CH, JK
E 1800-1 CH, JK
F 1801-2 CH, JK
G 1802-3 CH, JK
H 1803-4 CH, JK
I 1804-5 CH, JK
K 1805-6 CH, JK
L 1806-7 CH, JK
M 1807-8 CH, JK
N 1808-9 CH, JK
O 1809-10 CH, JK
P 1810-1 CH, JK
Q 1811-2 CH, JK
R 1812-3 CH, JK
S 1813-4 CH, JK
T 1814-5 CH, JK
U 1815-6 CH, JK

1816-7 to 1835-6

Letter Style: Roman small

Omitted Letters: j, v

Notes: Leopard's head loses its crown during this cycle: Jackson shows it uncrowned from 1821-2, the Goldsmiths' Company says 1822, Chaffers says after 1823.

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1816-7 CH, JK
b 1817-8 CH, JK
c 1818-9 CH, JK
d 1819-20 CH, JK
e 1820-1 CH, JK
f 1821-2 CH, JK
g 1822-3 CH, JK
h 1823-4 CH, JK
i 1824-5 CH, JK
k 1825-6 CH, JK
l 1826-7 CH, JK
m 1827-8 CH, JK
n 1828-9 CH, JK
o 1829-30 CH, JK
p 1830-1 CH, JK
q 1831-2 CH, JK
r 1832-3 CH, JK
s 1833-4 CH, JK
t 1834-5 CH, JK
u 1835-6 CH, JK

1836-7 to 1855-6

Letter Style: black letter capitals

Omitted Letters: J, V

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1836-7 CH, JK
B 1837-8 CH, JK
C 1838-9 CH, JK
D 1839-40 CH, JK
E 1840-1 CH, JK
F 1841-2 CH, JK
G 1842-3 CH, JK
H 1843-4 CH, JK
I 1844-5 CH, JK
K 1845-6 CH, JK
L 1846-7 CH, JK
M 1847-8 CH, JK
N 1848-9 CH, JK
O 1849-50 CH, JK
P 1850-1 CH, JK
Q 1851-2 CH, JK
R 1852-3 CH, JK
S 1853-4 CH, JK
T 1854-5 CH, JK
U 1855-6 CH, JK

1856-7 to 1875-6

Letter Style: black letter small

Omitted Letters: j, v

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1856-7 CH, JK
b 1857-8 CH, JK
c 1858-9 CH, JK
d 1859-60 CH, JK
e 1860-1 CH, JK
f 1861-2 CH, JK
g 1862-3 CH, JK
h 1863-4 CH, JK
i 1864-5 CH, JK
k 1865-6 CH, JK
l 1866-7 CH, JK
m 1867-8 CH, JK
n 1868-9 CH, JK
o 1869-70 CH, JK
p 1870-1 CH, JK
q 1871-2 CH, JK
r 1872-3 CH, JK
s 1873-4 CH, JK
t 1874-5 CH, JK
u 1875-6 CH, JK

1876-7 to 1895-6

Letter Style: Roman capitals

Omitted Letters: J, V

Letter Year Confidence Sources
A 1876-7 CH, JK
B 1877-8 CH, JK
C 1878-9 CH, JK
D 1879-80 CH, JK
E 1880-1 CH, JK
F 1881-2 CH, JK
G 1882-3 CH, JK
H 1883-4 CH, JK
I 1884-5 CH, JK
K 1885-6 CH, JK
L 1886-7 CH, JK
M 1887-8 CH, JK
N 1888-9 CH, JK
O 1889-90 CH, JK
P 1890-1 CH, JK
Q 1891-2 CH, JK
R 1892-3 CH, JK
S 1893-4 CH, JK
T 1894-5 CH, JK
U 1895-6 CH, JK

1896-7 to 1915-6

Letter Style: Roman small

Omitted Letters: j, v

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1896-7 CH, JK
b 1897-8 CH, JK
c 1898-9 CH, JK
d 1899-00 CH, JK
e 1900-1 CH, JK
f 1901-2 CH, JK
g 1902-3 CH, JK
h 1903-4 CH, JK
i 1904-5 CH, JK
k 1905-6 CH, JK
l 1906-7 CH, JK
m 1907-8 CH, JK
n 1908-9 CH, JK
o 1909-10 CH, JK
p 1910-1 CH, JK
q 1911-2 CH, JK
r 1912-3 CH, JK
s 1913-4 CH, JK
t 1914-5 CH, JK
u 1915-6 CH, JK

1916-7 to 1924-5

Letter Style: black letter small

Omitted Letters: j (expected)

Notes: Cycle continues after 1924-5; later letters are not in our public-domain sources and are deliberately not filled in. Jackson (1921) stops at d 1919-20.

Letter Year Confidence Sources
a 1916-7 CH, JK
b 1917-8 CH, JK
c 1918-9 CH, JK
d 1919-20 CH, JK
e 1920-1 medium CH
f 1921-2 medium CH
g 1922-3 medium CH
h 1923-4 medium CH
i 1924-5 medium CH