Duty Marks
The mark of the sovereign’s head does not appear in all hallmarks, but if it does, it will tell you that the item was marked during a year when duty was levied on gold and silver by the Crown.
Duty marks will appear on items marked at the Birmingham Assay Office from 1784
until 1890.
The outlines of these marks may vary, and often the old punches were used for some time after each sovereign’s death.
George III
1784 - 1820
1784 - 6 only |
1797 only when duty was doubled |
1787 - 1796
1798 - 1819
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George IV
1820 - 1830
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William IV
1830 - 1837
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Victoria
1837 - 1890
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The outlines of these marks may vary.
Import Marks
From 1867 until 1904, this symbol was used to indicate that an item was of foreign manufacture. It was used in addition to the appropriate British Hallmark.
From 1904 until 1998, the following symbols were used in addition to the appropriate British Hallmark to indicate that an item was of foreign manufacture.
Standard Marks
From 1773 to 1974, sterling silver was marked with this symbol.
The outline may vary
Prior to 1975 Britannia silver was marked with this symbol.
The outline may vary
From 1798 to 1974, the 18 carat standard of gold was indicated as follows
From 1844 to 1974, the 22 carat standard of gold was indicated as follows
From 1975 to 1998, pictorial standard marks were used either alone or in combination with the figure of parts per thousand (millesimal mark) as follows
Silver
Sterling Silver
The outline may vary
Britannia silver
The outline may vary
Gold
Platinum
Platinum
Optional Pictorial Marks
From 1999, the following pictorial marks have been optional and can be added to the figure of parts per thousand (millesimal mark) as follows
Sterling Silver
Britannia Silver
Gold
Platinum
From 2009 a Hallmark for Palladium was introduced.
Current Palladium Standards
2009
2010
Please note that older items may have hallmarks that do not fit any of these categories. If you cannot identify your mark, please contact Birmingham Assay Office at
history@theassayoffice.co.uk
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