Hallmark Date Letters: Date Your Silver and Gold

A British hallmark tells you where a piece was assayed and, through its date letter, roughly when. Type the letter you see to list the years it was used at each assay office, then compare the typeface and shield with the office's chart. Since 1975 every office uses the same letter, changing on 1 January.

Compiled October 2026 from the assay offices' own tables and standard references (sources below)

Find a date letter

Letter

Case

Town mark (assay office)

Year	Office	Letter	Style	Basis

Type a letter to see the years.

Before 1975 a letter ran across two calendar years (London from late May, Birmingham and Sheffield from July, Edinburgh from October), so 1773–74 means the letter in use from mid-1773 to mid-1774. office table letters come from an assay office's own list; reference table letters were checked year by year against published date-letter tables; derived letters follow the documented letter set of the cycle (for example a 25-letter cycle, A to Z without J), so check the typeface and shield against a chart before relying on them. Some cycles are not listed yet.

Reading a hallmark

A traditional British hallmark has four or five marks: the sponsor's (maker's) mark, the standard mark (lion passant for sterling silver in England, the thistle or lion rampant in Scotland, a crown and carat for gold), the town mark of the assay office and the date letter; from 1784 to 1890 there was also the sovereign's head duty mark.

From 1 January 1975 all UK assay offices (London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh) use the same date letter, changing on 1 January each year. A new alphabet with a new typeface, case and shield shape is issued every 25 years. Since 1999 the date letter is a voluntary mark, though all four offices recommend it. In 1999 the UK moved to European-style hallmarking. The compulsory marks became the sponsor's (maker's) mark, the millesimal fineness mark and the assay office (town) mark; the date letter and traditional fineness symbols became voluntary.

Town marks and other marks

London: Leopard's head (crowned until 1821/1822, uncrowned after). Array
Birmingham: Anchor. Array
Sheffield: Crown (silver, 1773-1974); York rose (gold from 1904, all wares from 1975). Array
Edinburgh: Three-towered castle. Array
Chester: Sword upright between three wheatsheaves. Array
Glasgow: Tree, fish (with ring) and bell, with a bird on the tree. Array
Sovereign's head (duty mark) (1784–1890): Showed that duty on silver (and gold) had been paid. Introduced 1 December 1784 (24 Geo. III c.53); the head turned from left to right in 1786. Struck twice from 15 July 1797 for about nine months when the duty doubled. Watch cases exempt from 1798. Duty repealed in 1890 (53 & 54 Vict. c.8); Glasgow used it from 1819. A separate 'drawback' mark was used 1 December 1784 to 24 July 1785 on exports.
Lion passant (sterling, 925) (1544): English sterling mark from 1544. Guardant (facing the viewer) until about 1821, then in profile. Replaced by Britannia from 1697 to 1720; used by all English offices after 1720. Optional mark beside the 925 millesimal mark since 1999.
Britannia and lion's head erased (Britannia standard, 958) (1697–1720): Compulsory for silver from 27 March 1697 to 1 June 1720; optional since. Today shown by the 958 mark, with the Britannia figure optional.
Thistle (Edinburgh standard mark) (1759–1974): Replaced the assay master's initials in 1759; replaced by the lion rampant in 1975.
Lion rampant (Scottish standard mark) (1819): Glasgow standard mark from 1819 until closure in 1964, with a thistle added beside it from 1914. Edinburgh's standard mark from 1975.
Millesimal fineness marks (e.g. 925, 958) (1999): Since 1999 the compulsory marks are the sponsor's mark, the millesimal fineness mark and the assay office mark. Traditional symbols (lion passant for 925, Britannia for 958, crown for gold, orb for 950 platinum) and the date letter are voluntary.
Gold standard marks (pre-1975): London: crown and 18 from 1798; crown and 22 from 1844; 15 (.625), 12 (.5) and 9 (.375) carat from 1854 with no crown. Sheffield gold carried the rose rather than the crown.

Date letters by assay office

Year-by-year letters, cycle by cycle.

All UK assay offices from 1975 · 1975–2026

Letter changed: 1 January

1975–1999 · Capitals office table

A1975

B1976

C1977

D1978

E1979

F1980

G1981

H1982

J1983

K1984

L1985

M1986

N1987

O1988

P1989

Q1990

R1991

S1992

T1993

U1994

V1995

W1996

X1997

Y1998

Z1999

A to Z without I (1983 is J), per the Birmingham Assay Office table.

2000–2024 · Lower case office table

a2000

b2001

c2002

d2003

e2004

f2005

g2006

h2007

j2008

k2009

l2010

m2011

n2012

o2013

p2014

q2015

r2016

s2017

t2018

u2019

v2020

w2021

x2022

y2023

z2024

a to z without i (2008 is j), per the Birmingham Assay Office table, which lists 2000-2018 (a to t). 2019-2023 (u to y) follow the same sequence; the London Assay Office confirms 2024 is a lower-case z.

2025– office table

A2025

A new alphabet started on 1 January 2025 with A, described by Birmingham as 'a fresh serif alphabet cycle'. Shield shape for the new set not described in an opened text source.

London (Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office) · 1716–1974

Letter changed: May (29 May from 1660 to 1974; St Dunstan's Day, 19 May, before 1660); 1 January from 1975

1716–1735 · Roman capitals reference table

A1716–17

B1717–18

C1718–19

D1719–20

E1720–21

F1721–22

G1722–23

H1723–24

I1724–25

K1725–26

L1726–27

M1727–28

N1728–29

O1729–30

P1730–31

Q1731–32

R1732–33

S1733–34

T1734–35

V1735–36

20 letters, A to V without J and U. Britannia standard compulsory until 1720.

1736–1755 · Roman lower case reference table

a1736–37

b1737–38

c1738–39

d1739–40

e1740–41

f1741–42

g1742–43

h1743–44

i1744–45

k1745–46

l1746–47

m1747–48

n1748–49

o1749–50

p1750–51

q1751–52

r1752–53

s1753–54

t1754–55

u1755–56

1739 d appears in two shield shapes (the change of punches in 1739).

1756–1775 · Old English capitals reference table

A1756–57

B1757–58

C1758–59

D1759–60

E1760–61

F1761–62

G1762–63

H1763–64

I1764–65

K1765–66

L1766–67

M1767–68

N1768–69

O1769–70

P1770–71

Q1771–72

R1772–73

S1773–74

T1774–75

U1775–76

1776–1795 · Roman lower case reference table

a1776–77

b1777–78

c1778–79

d1779–80

e1780–81

f1781–82

g1782–83

h1783–84

i1784–85

k1785–86

l1786–87

m1787–88

n1788–89

o1789–90

p1790–91

q1791–92

r1792–93

s1793–94

t1794–95

u1795–96

The sovereign's head duty mark was added from December 1784.

1796–1815 · Roman capitals reference table

A1796–97

B1797–98

C1798–99

D1799–00

E1800–01

F1801–02

G1802–03

H1803–04

I1804–05

K1805–06

L1806–07

M1807–08

N1808–09

O1809–10

P1810–11

Q1811–12

R1812–13

S1813–14

T1814–15

U1815–16

1816–1835 · Roman lower case reference table

a1816–17

b1817–18

c1818–19

d1819–20

e1820–21

f1821–22

g1822–23

h1823–24

i1824–25

k1825–26

l1826–27

m1827–28

n1828–29

o1829–30

p1830–31

q1831–32

r1832–33

s1833–34

t1834–35

u1835–36

The leopard's head lost its crown in 1821-22.

1836–1855 · Old English capitals reference table

A1836–37

B1837–38

C1838–39

D1839–40

E1840–41

F1841–42

G1842–43

H1843–44

I1844–45

K1845–46

L1846–47

M1847–48

N1848–49

O1849–50

P1850–51

Q1851–52

R1852–53

S1853–54

T1854–55

U1855–56

1856–1875 · Old English lower case reference table

a1856–57

b1857–58

c1858–59

d1859–60

e1860–61

f1861–62

g1862–63

h1863–64

i1864–65

k1865–66

l1866–67

m1867–68

n1868–69

o1869–70

p1870–71

q1871–72

r1872–73

s1873–74

t1874–75

u1875–76

1876–1895 · Roman capitals reference table

A1876–77

B1877–78

C1878–79

D1879–80

E1880–81

F1881–82

G1882–83

H1883–84

I1884–85

K1885–86

L1886–87

M1887–88

N1888–89

O1889–90

P1890–91

Q1891–92

R1892–93

S1893–94

T1894–95

U1895–96

1896–1915 · Roman lower case reference table

a1896–97

b1897–98

c1898–99

d1899–00

e1900–01

f1901–02

g1902–03

h1903–04

i1904–05

k1905–06

l1906–07

m1907–08

n1908–09

o1909–10

p1910–11

q1911–12

r1912–13

s1913–14

t1914–15

u1915–16

1916–1935 · Old English lower case reference table

a1916–17

b1917–18

c1918–19

d1919–20

e1920–21

f1921–22

g1922–23

h1923–24

i1924–25

k1925–26

l1926–27

m1927–28

n1928–29

o1929–30

p1930–31

q1931–32

r1932–33

s1933–34

t1934–35

u1935–36

1936–1955 · Roman capitals reference table

A1936–37

B1937–38

C1938–39

D1939–40

E1940–41

F1941–42

G1942–43

H1943–44

I1944–45

K1945–46

L1946–47

M1947–48

N1948–49

O1949–50

P1950–51

Q1951–52

R1952–53

S1953–54

T1954–55

U1955–56

A coronation mark was added in 1952-53.

1956–1974 · Italic lower case reference table

a1956–57

b1957–58

c1958–59

d1959–60

e1960–61

f1961–62

g1962–63

h1963–64

i1964–65

k1965–66

l1966–67

m1967–68

n1968–69

o1969–70

p1970–71

q1971–72

r1972–73

s1973–74

t1974–75

19 letters (a to t): the cycle was cut short when the shared letters began on 1 January 1975.

Birmingham Assay Office · 1773–1974

Letter changed: July (until 1974); 1 January from 1975

1773–1797 · Roman capitals office table

A1773–74

B1774–75

C1775–76

D1776–77

E1777–78

F1778–79

G1779–80

H1780–81

I1781–82

K1782–83

L1783–84

M1784–85

N1785–86

O1786–87

Q1788–89

R1789–90

S1790–91

T1791–92

U1792–93

V1793–94

W1794–95

X1795–96

Y1796–97

Z1797–98

A to Z without J (I is used). Birmingham's table shows three versions of A for 1773. The table on the official page has no entry for 1787 (presumably P), so 1787 is left out here.

1798–1823 · Roman lower case office table

a1798–99

b1799–00

c1800–01

d1801–02

e1802–03

f1803–04

g1804–05

h1805–06

i1806–07

j1807–08

k1808–09

l1809–10

m1810–11

n1811–12

o1812–13

p1813–14

q1814–15

r1815–16

s1816–17

t1817–18

u1818–19

v1819–20

w1820–21

x1821–22

y1822–23

z1823–24

All 26 letters a to z.

1824–1848 · Gothic (Old English) capitals office table

A1824–25

B1825–26

C1826–27

D1827–28

E1828–29

F1829–30

G1830–31

H1831–32

J1832–33

K1833–34

L1834–35

M1835–36

N1836–37

O1837–38

P1838–39

Q1839–40

R1840–41

S1841–42

T1842–43

U1843–44

V1844–45

W1845–46

X1846–47

Y1847–48

Z1848–49

A to Z without I (J is used).

1849–1874 · Roman capitals office table

A1849–50

B1850–51

C1851–52

D1852–53

E1853–54

F1854–55

G1855–56

H1856–57

I1857–58

J1858–59

K1859–60

L1860–61

M1861–62

N1862–63

O1863–64

P1864–65

Q1865–66

R1866–67

S1867–68

T1868–69

U1869–70

V1870–71

W1871–72

X1872–73

Y1873–74

Z1874–75

All 26 letters A to Z.

1875–1899 · Gothic (Old English) lower case office table

a1875–76

b1876–77

c1877–78

d1878–79

e1879–80

f1880–81

g1881–82

h1882–83

i1883–84

k1884–85

l1885–86

m1886–87

n1887–88

o1888–89

p1889–90

q1890–91

r1891–92

s1892–93

t1893–94

u1894–95

v1895–96

w1896–97

x1897–98

y1898–99

z1899–00

a to z without j.

1900–1924 · Roman lower case office table

a1900–01

b1901–02

c1902–03

d1903–04

e1904–05

f1905–06

g1906–07

h1907–08

i1908–09

k1909–10

l1910–11

m1911–12

n1912–13

o1913–14

p1914–15

q1915–16

r1916–17

s1917–18

t1918–19

u1919–20

v1920–21

w1921–22

x1922–23

y1923–24

z1924–25

a to z without j.

1925–1949 office table

A1925–26

B1926–27

C1927–28

D1928–29

E1929–30

F1930–31

G1931–32

H1932–33

J1933–34

K1934–35

L1935–36

M1936–37

N1937–38

O1938–39

P1939–40

Q1940–41

R1941–42

S1942–43

T1943–44

U1944–45

V1945–46

W1946–47

X1947–48

Y1948–49

Z1949–50

Capitals A to Z without I (J is used). Style not stated in an opened text source.

1950–1974 office table

A1950–51

B1951–52

C1952–53

D1953–54

E1954–55

F1955–56

G1956–57

H1957–58

J1958–59

K1959–60

L1960–61

M1961–62

N1962–63

O1963–64

P1964–65

Q1965–66

R1966–67

S1967–68

T1968–69

U1969–70

V1970–71

W1971–72

X1972–73

Y1973–74

Z1974–75

Capitals A to Z without I (J is used). Z is the last Birmingham-only letter (1974). Style not stated in an opened text source.

Sheffield Assay Office · 1773–1917

Letter changed: First Monday in July (until 1974); 1 January from 1975

1773–1798 reference table

E1773–74

F1774–75

D1775–76

R1776–77

H1777–78

X1797–98

Letters were picked each year with no alphabetical order, so a chart must be matched directly. Only 1773-1777 are recorded here (E, F, D, R, H). E is said to honour the Earl of Effingham. Sheffield Assay Office confirms its first letter, in 1773, was E. X was used for both 1797-98 and 1817-18.

1799–1823 reference table

X1817–18

No fixed order; letters chosen each year. The crown was struck upside down from 1815 to 1819. From 1780 to 1853 the crown and date letter were sometimes combined in one punch on small items.

1824–1843 · Lower case derived

a1824–25

b1825–26

c1826–27

d1827–28

e1828–29

f1829–30

g1830–31

h1831–32

k1832–33

l1833–34

m1834–35

p1835–36

q1836–37

r1837–38

s1838–39

t1839–40

u1840–41

v1841–42

x1842–43

z1843–44

Alphabetical order began in 1824. 20 letters: a to z without i, j, n, o, w and y (year-by-year letters derived from the stated letter set).

1844–1867 · Capitals derived

A1844–45

B1845–46

C1846–47

D1847–48

E1848–49

F1849–50

G1850–51

H1851–52

I1852–53

K1853–54

L1854–55

M1855–56

N1856–57

O1857–58

P1858–59

R1859–60

S1860–61

T1861–62

U1862–63

V1863–64

W1864–65

X1865–66

Y1866–67

Z1867–68

24 letters: A to Z without J and Q (year-by-year letters derived from the stated letter set).

1868–1892 · Capitals derived

A1868–69

B1869–70

C1870–71

D1871–72

E1872–73

F1873–74

G1874–75

H1875–76

J1876–77

K1877–78

L1878–79

M1879–80

N1880–81

O1881–82

P1882–83

Q1883–84

R1884–85

S1885–86

T1886–87

U1887–88

V1888–89

W1889–90

X1890–91

Y1891–92

Z1892–93

25 letters: A to Z without I (year-by-year letters derived from the stated letter set).

1893–1917 · Blackletter (Old English) lower case derived

a1893–94

b1894–95

c1895–96

d1896–97

e1897–98

f1898–99

g1899–00

h1900–01

i1901–02

k1902–03

l1903–04

m1904–05

n1905–06

o1906–07

p1907–08

q1908–09

r1909–10

s1910–11

t1911–12

u1912–13

v1913–14

w1914–15

x1915–16

y1916–17

z1917–18

25 letters: a to z without j (year-by-year letters derived from the stated letter set).

Edinburgh Assay Office (Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh) · 1755–1906

Letter changed: October (wardens elected 29 September; new punches from the first hallmarking day in October) until 1974; 1 January from 1975

1755–1779 · Capitals derived

A1755–56

B1756–57

C1757–58

D1758–59

E1759–60

F1760–61

G1761–62

H1762–63

I1763–64

K1764–65

L1765–66

M1766–67

N1767–68

O1768–69

P1769–70

Q1770–71

R1771–72

S1772–73

T1773–74

U1774–75

V1775–76

W1776–77

X1777–78

Y1778–79

Z1779–80

25 letters: A to Z without J (derived from the stated letter set). Thistle mark replaced the assay master's initials in 1759.

1780–1805 · Capitals derived

A1780–81

B1781–82

C1782–83

D1783–84

E1784–85

F1785–86

G1786–87

G1787–88

H1788–89

I/J1789–90

K1790–91

L1791–92

M1792–93

N1793–94

O1794–95

P1795–96

Q1796–97

R1797–98

S1798–99

T1799–00

U1800–01

V1801–02

W1802–03

X1803–04

Y1804–05

Z1805–06

G was used for two years (1786 and 1787); I and J share one punch for 1789. Year-by-year letters derived from these stated exceptions.

1806–1831 · Lower case derived

a1806–07

b1807–08

c1808–09

d1809–10

e1810–11

f1811–12

g1812–13

h1813–14

i1814–15

j1815–16

k1816–17

l1817–18

m1818–19

n1819–20

o1820–21

p1821–22

q1822–23

r1823–24

s1824–25

t1825–26

u1826–27

v1827–28

w1828–29

x1829–30

y1830–31

z1831–32

Full alphabet a to z, both i and j used (derived from the stated letter set).

1832–1856 · Capitals derived

A1832–33

B1833–34

C1834–35

D1835–36

E1836–37

F1837–38

G1838–39

H1839–40

J1840–41

K1841–42

L1842–43

M1843–44

N1844–45

O1845–46

P1846–47

Q1847–48

R1848–49

S1849–50

T1850–51

U1851–52

V1852–53

W1853–54

X1854–55

Y1855–56

Z1856–57

25 letters: A to Z without I, J kept (derived from the stated letter set).

1857–1881 · Capitals derived

A1857–58

B1858–59

C1859–60

D1860–61

E1861–62

F1862–63

G1863–64

H1864–65

I1865–66

K1866–67

L1867–68

M1868–69

N1869–70

O1870–71

P1871–72

Q1872–73

R1873–74

S1874–75

T1875–76

U1876–77

V1877–78

W1878–79

X1879–80

Y1880–81

Z1881–82

25 letters: A to Z without J (derived from the stated letter set). Style differs from the 1832 cycle; check the chart.

1882–1906 · Lower case derived

a1882–83

b1883–84

c1884–85

d1885–86

e1886–87

f1887–88

g1888–89

h1889–90

i1890–91

k1891–92

l1892–93

m1893–94

n1894–95

o1895–96

p1896–97

q1897–98

r1898–99

s1899–00

t1900–01

u1901–02

v1902–03

w1903–04

x1904–05

y1905–06

z1906–07

25 letters: a to z without j (derived from the stated letter set).

Chester Assay Office (closed 1962) · 1701–1962

Letter changed: July (1701-1838); 5 August (1839-1889); 1 July (from 1889 or 1890)

1701–1725 · Roman capitals derived

A1701–02

B1702–03

C1703–04

D1704–05

E1705–06

F1706–07

G1707–08

H1708–09

I1709–10

K1710–11

L1711–12

M1712–13

N1713–14

O1714–15

P1715–16

Q1716–17

R1717–18

S1718–19

T1719–20

U1720–21

V1721–22

W1722–23

X1723–24

Y1724–25

Z1725–26

25 letters: A to Z without J (derived from the stated letter set). Britannia standard marks until 1719. Before 1701 Chester marked plate under the guild (regular town mark and date letter from 1686-87); Jackson has only conjectured letters for 1695-1697.

1726–1750 · Script (cursive) capitals derived

A1726–27

B1727–28

C1728–29

D1729–30

E1730–31

F1731–32

G1732–33

H1733–34

J1734–35

K1735–36

L1736–37

M1737–38

N1738–39

O1739–40

P1740–41

Q1741–42

R1742–43

S1743–44

T1744–45

U1745–46

V1746–47

W1747–48

X1748–49

Y1749–50

Z1750–51

25 letters: A to Z without I, J used (derived from the stated letter set). 1745 and 1746 are conjectured in Jackson. Almost the same letters were used again in 1901-1925; the later pieces have no crowned leopard's head.

1776–1796 · Lower case derived

a1776–77

b1777–78

c1778–79

d1779–80

e1780–81

f1781–82

g1782–83

h1783–84

i1784–85

k1785–86

l1786–87

m1787–88

n1788–89

o1789–90

p1790–91

q1791–92

r1792–93

s1793–94

t1794–95

u1795–96

v1796–97

21 letters: a to v without j (derived from the stated letter set). The King's head duty mark appears during 1784-85.

1797–1817 · Roman capitals derived

A1797–98

B1798–99

C1799–00

D1800–01

E1801–02

F1802–03

G1803–04

H1804–05

I1805–06

K1806–07

L1807–08

M1808–09

N1809–10

O1810–11

P1811–12

Q1812–13

R1813–14

S1814–15

T1815–16

U1816–17

V1817–18

21 letters: A to V without J (derived from the stated letter set).

1839–1863 · Gothic (Old English) capitals derived

A1839–40

B1840–41

C1841–42

D1842–43

E1843–44

F1844–45

G1845–46

H1846–47

I1847–48

K1848–49

L1849–50

M1850–51

N1851–52

O1852–53

P1853–54

Q1854–55

R1855–56

S1856–57

T1857–58

U1858–59

V1859–60

W1860–61

X1861–62

Y1862–63

Z1863–64

25 letters: A to Z without J (derived from the stated letter set).

1926–1962 reference table

N1938–39

Only one example found: N in court hand for 1938-39. Office closed 24 August 1962.

Glasgow Assay Office (closed 1964) · 1819–1921

1819–1844 · Roman capitals derived

A1819–20

B1820–21

C1821–22

D1822–23

E1823–24

F1824–25

G1825–26

H1826–27

I1827–28

J1828–29

K1829–30

L1830–31

M1831–32

N1832–33

O1833–34

P1834–35

Q1835–36

R1836–37

S1837–38

T1838–39

U1839–40

V1840–41

W1841–42

X1842–43

Y1843–44

Z1844–45

Full alphabet A to Z, I and J both used (derived from the stated letter set).

1845–1870 · Blackletter (Old English) capitals derived

A1845–46

B1846–47

C1847–48

D1848–49

E1849–50

F1850–51

G1851–52

H1852–53

I1853–54

J1854–55

K1855–56

L1856–57

M1857–58

N1858–59

O1859–60

P1860–61

Q1861–62

R1862–63

S1863–64

T1864–65

U1865–66

V1866–67

W1867–68

X1868–69

Y1869–70

Z1870–71

Full alphabet A to Z, I and J both used (derived from the stated letter set). Victoria's head duty mark throughout.

1871–1896 · Block capitals derived

A1871–72

B1872–73

C1873–74

D1874–75

E1875–76

F1876–77

G1877–78

H1878–79

I1879–80

J1880–81

K1881–82

L1882–83

M1883–84

N1884–85

O1885–86

P1886–87

Q1887–88

R1888–89

S1889–90

T1890–91

U1891–92

V1892–93

W1893–94

X1894–95

Y1895–96

Z1896–97

Full alphabet A to Z, I and J both used (derived from the stated letter set). Duty mark ends in 1890.

1897–1921 · Script capitals derived

A1897–98

B1898–99

C1899–00

D1900–01

E1901–02

F1902–03

G1903–04

H1904–05

I1905–06

J1906–07

K1907–08

L1908–09

M1909–10

N1910–11

O1911–12

P1912–13

Q1913–14

R1914–15

S1915–16

T1916–17

U1917–18

V1918–19

W1919–20

X1920–21

Y1921–22

25 letters A to Y, I and J both used (derived from the stated letter set). Thistle added beside the lion rampant from 1914.

FAQ

How do I date a British hallmark?

Find the date letter: a single letter in a shield, struck with the town mark (such as the leopard's head of London, the anchor of Birmingham or the castle of Edinburgh) and the standard mark. Note the letter, whether it is a capital or lower case, its typeface and the shape of the shield, then look it up for that assay office. Before 1975 each office had its own sequence, and the letter usually changed partway through the year; since 1975 all offices use the same letter, changing on 1 January.

Is the date letter compulsory?

Not since 1999. The compulsory UK hallmark is now the sponsor's (maker's) mark, the millesimal fineness mark (such as 925) and the assay office mark. The date letter is optional, though the assay offices recommend it.

What do the town marks mean?

They show which assay office tested the piece: a leopard's head for London, an anchor for Birmingham, a crown (silver until 1974) or a rose for Sheffield, a castle for Edinburgh, a sword between wheatsheaves for Chester (closed 1962) and a tree, fish and bell for Glasgow (closed 1964).

What is the sovereign's head mark?

The duty mark: the head of the reigning monarch, struck from 1784 to 1890 to show that duty on the silver or gold had been paid.

Sources: Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office (London): History of hallmarking · Antique-Pocket-Watch.com: London hallmarks and the leopard's head (citing Jackson) · Vintage Watch Straps: British hallmarks · Assay Office Birmingham: Date letters (Birmingham 1773-1974 and common letters from 1975) · Antique-Pocket-Watch.com: Birmingham hallmarks and the anchor mark (citing Jackson 1921) · Antique-Pocket-Watch.com: Sheffield hallmarks: the crown, the rose (citing Jackson) · Sheffield Assay Office: In with the new, presenting date letter A · Sheffield Assay Office: UK hallmarks · Antique-Pocket-Watch.com: Edinburgh hallmarks: castle and thistle (citing Jackson) · AC Silver: Scottish silver hallmarks · Antique-Pocket-Watch.com: Chester hallmarks on antique pocket watch cases (citing Jackson 1921) · The Silver Society: British hallmarks on silver · Antique-Pocket-Watch.com: Glasgow hallmarks: the office that stopped (citing Jackson) · Silver Sugar Tongs: Glasgow. For valuable pieces, confirm with the assay office or a specialist reference such as Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks. See also: silver coin values · how to check gold purity.