Edinburgh Silver Hallmarks

History

Edinburgh's Assay Office is the older of the two historically active Scottish offices (the other, Glasgow, closed in 1964). The three-towered castle town mark predates London's continuous date-letter system; record-keeping is patchy before 1681 but the mark itself is documented from 1457. The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh remains the governing body.

Reading the marks on a Edinburgh piece

Scottish silver does not use the Lion Passant. Historically Edinburgh's standard mark was the Thistle (1759–1974), then the Lion Rampant from 1975 onwards, alongside the three-towered castle town mark. Pre-1759 pieces use a deacon's mark — this is a cycle-specific mark that varies by year and requires expert reference for accurate dating. From 1975 the Lion Rampant signals sterling silver assayed in Scotland.

Identifying the date — using the date letter

Edinburgh ran an independent date-letter cycle until 1975, when it joined the unified UK sequence. Pre-1759 dating relies on the deacon's mark rather than a date letter. The Edinburgh Assay Office publishes its chart on its hallmarking pages.

Faster: the main UK Silver Hallmarks Identifier walks you through standard mark, town mark, cycle, and letter step-by-step and prints the year. Use the chart further down this page if you prefer to scan visually.

Edinburgh date letter — pick the letter on your piece

Click the letter stamped on your piece. The chart below shows every year Edinburgh used that letter, with the actual glyph image alongside — match the font and shield shape to narrow to one year.

A uppercase · 11 years

1705

cycle 1696–1707

1730

cycle 1730–1739

1755

cycle 1744–1758

1780

cycle 1780–1783

1832

cycle 1832–1841

1857

cycle 1841–1889

1906

cycle 1890–1974

1931

cycle 1890–1974

1956

cycle 1890–1974

1975

cycle 1975–1999

2025

cycle 2025–present

B uppercase · 11 years

1706

cycle 1696–1707

1731

cycle 1730–1739

1756

cycle 1744–1758

1781

cycle 1780–1783

1833

cycle 1832–1841

1858

cycle 1841–1889

1907

cycle 1890–1974

1932

cycle 1890–1974

1957

cycle 1890–1974

1976

cycle 1975–1999

2026

cycle 2025–present

C uppercase · 11 years

1707

cycle 1696–1707

1732

cycle 1730–1739

1757

cycle 1744–1758

1782

cycle 1780–1783

1834

cycle 1832–1841

1859

cycle 1841–1889

1908

cycle 1890–1974

1933

cycle 1890–1974

1958

cycle 1890–1974

1977

cycle 1975–1999

2027

cycle 2025–present

D uppercase · 11 years

1708

cycle 1708–1729

1733

cycle 1730–1739

1758

cycle 1744–1758

1783

cycle 1780–1783

1835

cycle 1832–1841

1860

cycle 1841–1889

1909

cycle 1890–1974

1934

cycle 1890–1974

1959

cycle 1890–1974

1978

cycle 1975–1999

2028

cycle 2025–present

E uppercase · 11 years

1709

cycle 1708–1729

1734

cycle 1730–1739

1759

cycle 1759–1779

1784

cycle 1780–1783

1836

cycle 1832–1841

1861

cycle 1841–1889

1910

cycle 1890–1974

1935

cycle 1890–1974

1960

cycle 1890–1974

1979

cycle 1975–1999

2029

cycle 2025–present

F uppercase · 11 years

1710

cycle 1708–1729

1735

cycle 1730–1739

1760

cycle 1759–1779

1785

cycle 1784–1785

1837

cycle 1832–1841

1862

cycle 1841–1889

1911

cycle 1890–1974

1936

cycle 1890–1974

1961

cycle 1890–1974

1980

cycle 1975–1999

2030

cycle 2025–present

G uppercase · 10 years

1711

cycle 1708–1729

1736

cycle 1730–1739

1761

cycle 1759–1779

1786

cycle 1786–1796

1838

cycle 1832–1841

1863

cycle 1841–1889

1912

cycle 1890–1974

1937

cycle 1890–1974

1962

cycle 1890–1974

1981

cycle 1975–1999

H uppercase · 10 years

1712

cycle 1708–1729

1737

cycle 1730–1739

1762

cycle 1759–1779

1788

cycle 1786–1796

1839

cycle 1832–1841

1864

cycle 1841–1889

1913

cycle 1890–1974

1938

cycle 1890–1974

1963

cycle 1890–1974

1982

cycle 1975–1999

I uppercase · 8 years

1713

cycle 1708–1729

1738

cycle 1730–1739

1789

cycle 1786–1796

1865

cycle 1841–1889

1914

cycle 1890–1974

1939

cycle 1890–1974

1964

cycle 1890–1974

1983

cycle 1975–1999

J uppercase · 2 years

1789

cycle 1786–1796

1840

cycle 1832–1841

K uppercase · 10 years

1714

cycle 1708–1729

1739

cycle 1730–1739

1764

cycle 1759–1779

1790

cycle 1786–1796

1841

cycle 1832–1841

1866

cycle 1841–1889

1915

cycle 1890–1974

1940

cycle 1890–1974

1965

cycle 1890–1974

1984

cycle 1975–1999

L uppercase · 10 years

1715

cycle 1708–1729

1740

cycle 1740–1741

1765

cycle 1759–1779

1791

cycle 1786–1796

1842

cycle 1841–1889

1867

cycle 1841–1889

1916

cycle 1890–1974

1941

cycle 1890–1974

1966

cycle 1890–1974

1985

cycle 1975–1999

M uppercase · 10 years

1716

cycle 1708–1729

1741

cycle 1740–1741

1766

cycle 1759–1779

1792

cycle 1786–1796

1843

cycle 1841–1889

1868

cycle 1841–1889

1917

cycle 1890–1974

1942

cycle 1890–1974

1967

cycle 1890–1974

1986

cycle 1975–1999

N uppercase · 10 years

1717

cycle 1708–1729

1742

cycle 1742–1743

1767

cycle 1759–1779

1793

cycle 1786–1796

1844

cycle 1841–1889

1869

cycle 1841–1889

1918

cycle 1890–1974

1943

cycle 1890–1974

1968

cycle 1890–1974

1987

cycle 1975–1999

O uppercase · 10 years

1718

cycle 1718–1719

1743

cycle 1742–1743

1768

cycle 1759–1779

1794

cycle 1786–1796

1845

cycle 1841–1889

1870

cycle 1841–1889

1919

cycle 1890–1974

1944

cycle 1890–1974

1969

cycle 1890–1974

1988

cycle 1975–1999

P uppercase · 9 years

1744

cycle 1744–1758

1769

cycle 1759–1779

1795

cycle 1786–1796

1846

cycle 1841–1889

1871

cycle 1841–1889

1920

cycle 1890–1974

1945

cycle 1890–1974

1970

cycle 1890–1974

1989

cycle 1975–1999

Q uppercase · 10 years

1720

cycle 1708–1729

1745

cycle 1744–1758

1770

cycle 1759–1779

1796

cycle 1786–1796

1847

cycle 1841–1889

1872

cycle 1841–1889

1921

cycle 1890–1974

1946

cycle 1890–1974

1971

cycle 1890–1974

1990

cycle 1975–1999

R uppercase · 10 years

1721

cycle 1708–1729

1746

cycle 1744–1758

1771

cycle 1759–1779

1797

cycle 1797–1801

1848

cycle 1841–1889

1873

cycle 1841–1889

1922

cycle 1890–1974

1947

cycle 1890–1974

1972

cycle 1890–1974

1991

cycle 1975–1999

S uppercase · 10 years

1722

cycle 1708–1729

1747

cycle 1744–1758

1772

cycle 1759–1779

1798

cycle 1797–1801

1849

cycle 1841–1889

1874

cycle 1841–1889

1923

cycle 1890–1974

1948

cycle 1890–1974

1973

cycle 1890–1974

1992

cycle 1975–1999

T uppercase · 9 years

1723

cycle 1708–1729

1748

cycle 1744–1758

1773

cycle 1759–1779

1799

cycle 1797–1801

1850

cycle 1841–1889

1875

cycle 1841–1889

1924

cycle 1890–1974

1949

cycle 1890–1974

1993

cycle 1975–1999

U uppercase · 9 years

1724

cycle 1708–1729

1749

cycle 1744–1758

1774

cycle 1759–1779

1800

cycle 1797–1801

1851

cycle 1841–1889

1876

cycle 1841–1889

1925

cycle 1890–1974

1950

cycle 1890–1974

1994

cycle 1975–1999

V uppercase · 9 years

1750

cycle 1744–1758

1775

cycle 1759–1779

1779

cycle 1759–1779

1801

cycle 1797–1801

1852

cycle 1841–1889

1877

cycle 1841–1889

1926

cycle 1890–1974

1951

cycle 1890–1974

1995

cycle 1975–1999

W uppercase · 8 years

1726

cycle 1708–1729

1751

cycle 1744–1758

1802

cycle 1802–1807

1853

cycle 1841–1889

1878

cycle 1841–1889

1927

cycle 1890–1974

1952

cycle 1890–1974

1996

cycle 1975–1999

X uppercase · 9 years

1727

cycle 1708–1729

1752

cycle 1744–1758

1776

cycle 1759–1779

1803

cycle 1802–1807

1854

cycle 1841–1889

1879

cycle 1841–1889

1928

cycle 1890–1974

1953

cycle 1890–1974

1997

cycle 1975–1999

Y uppercase · 9 years

1728

cycle 1708–1729

1753

cycle 1744–1758

1777

cycle 1759–1779

1804

cycle 1802–1807

1855

cycle 1841–1889

1880

cycle 1841–1889

1929

cycle 1890–1974

1954

cycle 1890–1974

1998

cycle 1975–1999

Z uppercase · 9 years

1729

cycle 1708–1729

1754

cycle 1744–1758

1778

cycle 1759–1779

1805

cycle 1802–1807

1856

cycle 1841–1889

1881

cycle 1841–1889

1930

cycle 1890–1974

1955

cycle 1890–1974

1999

cycle 1975–1999

a lowercase · 4 years

1681

cycle 1681

1806

cycle 1802–1807

1882

cycle 1841–1889

2000

cycle 2000–2024

b lowercase · 4 years

1682

cycle 1682–1695

1807

cycle 1802–1807

1883

cycle 1841–1889

2001

cycle 2000–2024

c lowercase · 4 years

1683

cycle 1682–1695

1808

cycle 1808–1822

1884

cycle 1841–1889

2002

cycle 2000–2024

d lowercase · 4 years

1684

cycle 1682–1695

1809

cycle 1808–1822

1885

cycle 1841–1889

2003

cycle 2000–2024

e lowercase · 4 years

1685

cycle 1682–1695

1810

cycle 1808–1822

1886

cycle 1841–1889

2004

cycle 2000–2024

f lowercase · 4 years

1686

cycle 1682–1695

1811

cycle 1808–1822

1887

cycle 1841–1889

2005

cycle 2000–2024

g lowercase · 4 years

1687

cycle 1682–1695

1812

cycle 1808–1822

1888

cycle 1841–1889

2006

cycle 2000–2024

h lowercase · 4 years

1688

cycle 1682–1695

1813

cycle 1808–1822

1889

cycle 1841–1889

2007

cycle 2000–2024

i lowercase · 3 years

1689

cycle 1682–1695

1814

cycle 1808–1822

1890

cycle 1890–1974

j lowercase · 2 years

1815

cycle 1808–1822

2008

cycle 2000–2024

k lowercase · 4 years

1690

cycle 1682–1695

1816

cycle 1808–1822

1891

cycle 1890–1974

2009

cycle 2000–2024

l lowercase · 4 years

1691

cycle 1682–1695

1817

cycle 1808–1822

1892

cycle 1890–1974

2010

cycle 2000–2024

m lowercase · 4 years

1692

cycle 1682–1695

1818

cycle 1808–1822

1893

cycle 1890–1974

2011

cycle 2000–2024

n lowercase · 4 years

1693

cycle 1682–1695

1819

cycle 1808–1822

1894

cycle 1890–1974

2012

cycle 2000–2024

o lowercase · 4 years

1694

cycle 1682–1695

1820

cycle 1808–1822

1895

cycle 1890–1974

2013

cycle 2000–2024

p lowercase · 4 years

1695

cycle 1682–1695

1821

cycle 1808–1822

1896

cycle 1890–1974

2014

cycle 2000–2024

q lowercase · 4 years

1696

cycle 1696–1707

1822

cycle 1808–1822

1897

cycle 1890–1974

2015

cycle 2000–2024

r lowercase · 4 years

1697

cycle 1696–1707

1823

cycle 1823–1831

1898

cycle 1890–1974

2016

cycle 2000–2024

s lowercase · 4 years

1698

cycle 1696–1707

1824

cycle 1823–1831

1899

cycle 1890–1974

2017

cycle 2000–2024

t lowercase · 4 years

1699

cycle 1696–1707

1825

cycle 1823–1831

1900

cycle 1890–1974

2018

cycle 2000–2024

u lowercase · 2 years

1826

cycle 1823–1831

2019

cycle 2000–2024

v lowercase · 4 years

1700

cycle 1696–1707

1827

cycle 1823–1831

1901

cycle 1890–1974

2020

cycle 2000–2024

w lowercase · 4 years

1701

cycle 1696–1707

1828

cycle 1823–1831

1902

cycle 1890–1974

2021

cycle 2000–2024

x lowercase · 4 years

1702

cycle 1696–1707

1829

cycle 1823–1831

1903

cycle 1890–1974

2022

cycle 2000–2024

y lowercase · 4 years

1703

cycle 1696–1707

1830

cycle 1823–1831

1904

cycle 1890–1974

2023

cycle 2000–2024

z lowercase · 4 years

1704

cycle 1696–1707

1831

cycle 1823–1831

1905

cycle 1890–1974

2024

cycle 2000–2024

The other UK Assay Offices

If your piece’s town mark doesn’t match the Three-towered castle, try one of the other active offices:

For closed historical offices — Chester, Newcastle, Exeter, York, Glasgow — and Dublin, see the main identifier; full per-office cycle data is wired into the wizard for those too.

Related

• Main UK Silver Hallmarks Identifier (multi-office wizard)
• Official site: Edinburgh Assay Office
• Goldsmiths’ Company — the compulsory hallmarking authority for England and Wales

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