The Paragon of Metal Detecting -Reference-British Hallmarks-Intro-1

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British Hallmarks

http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/index.htm

Duty Marks

Source: 925-1000

In 1784 the duty mark was created to indicate a tax on the item had been paid to the crown. The mark used was a profile portrait of the reigning monarch's head. The use of this mark was abolished in 1890.

1, 1785 (from 12/01/1784) King George III
2. 1786 - 1821 King George III
3. 1822 - 1833 King George IV
4. 1834 - 1837 King William IV
5. 1838 - 1890 Queen Victoria

Date Letter

Import Marks

Beginning in 1904 and new system was instituted in which each essay office stamped it's own symbol as the import mark, this replaced the town mark. The lion passant mark was replaced by a numerical standard mark. Unchanged were the required date letter and sponsor's mark. Items bearing British Import marks will sometimes have additional marks from the country of origin, sometimes not.

Maker's Mark

The required use of import marks to be stamped on foreign made silver was instituted in 1867. A letter 'F' in an ovalcartouche was stamped alongside the regular hallmarks, the maker's mark being that of the British importing firm (sponsor's mark).

The enforced use of the maker's was instituted in London in 1363. It's purpose was to prevent the forgery of leopard's head marks upon silver of debased content by providing an indication of the party responsible for the piece. Originally, makers' marks were pictograms, but by the beginning of the 17th Century it has become common practice to use the maker's initials.

The date letter system was introduced in London in 1478 (elsewhere as the hall marking system evolved). It's purpose was to establish when a piece was presented for assay or testing of the silver content. The mark letter changed annually in May, the cycles of date letters were usually in strings of 20 and each cycle was differentiated by a changing of the font, letter case and shield shape.

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