As my interest in vintage silver jewellery has grown, there are a number of times when I’ve tried to search for information in order to try and ascribe a date to the pieces I’ve bought. Hallmark date information is out there on the Internet but it’s widely scattered and sometimes there are gaps. So here’s my attempt to remedy the situation, at least where British and Scandinavian hallmarks are concerned. (Watch this space for more countries. Of course, not all countries actually have a consistent date lettering/numbering system, which is why a couple of countries – i.e. Denmark and Norway – are missing from this list.) If you find that any of the links aren’t working, get in touch and I’ll try and find the information elsewhere.
British date letters/hallmarks
Birmingham date letters 1773 – 2010:
https://theassayoffice.com/help-with-hallmarks/date-letters2
Birmingham date letters up to 2018
Chester date letters 1701 – 1925:
http://www.925-1000.com/dlc_chester.html
Chester assay office closed in 1962.
Edinburgh date letters 1705 – 1999:
http://www.argentinglesi.com/edimburgoing.php
This page shows Edinburgh date letters up to 2024:
https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Edinburgh.html
Glasgow date letters 1819 – 1896:
http://www.925-1000.com/dlGlasgow.html
Glasgow date letters up to 1963 (with gaps): https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Glasgow.html
Glasgow assay office closed in 1964.
London date letters 1558 – 2001:
http://www.silvercollection.eu/englishsilverhallmarks.html
Newcastle date letters 1702 – 1884:
http://www.925-1000.com/dlc_newcastle.html
Newcastle assay office closed in 1884.
Sheffield date letters 1773 – 1999:
http://www.argentinglesi.com/sheffielding.php
and 1773 – 2024:
https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/Sheffield.html
York date letters 1559 – 1858:
http://www.925-1000.com/dlc_york.html
York assay office closed in 1858.
British hallmarks on imported silver
If imported silver is stamped with a British hallmark, a different symbol is used to the one found on domestic silver items. Thus:
The Birmgham assay office uses a triangle instead of an anchor
The London assay office uses a sun (or the astrological symbol for Leo) instead of a leopard’s head
The Edinburgh assay office uses a St Andrew’s cross instead of a castle.
(See this Argenti Inglesi page for more details.)
Scandinavian date letters/hallmarks
Finnish date letters 1810 – 2001:
http://www.925-1000.com/Ffinland_Date_Code.html
Swedish date letters 1759 – 1974:
http://www.925-1000.com/Fsweden_Date_Code.html
Swedish date letters 1879 – 2022(!):
http://www.modernsilver.com/Swedishhallmarks.htm
Irish silver date letters 1797 – 2022