London Silver Hallmarks

History

London is the oldest continuously operating Assay Office in the UK. The leopard's head town mark predates the formal date-letter system by nearly two centuries, first appearing on silver in 1300. The Assay Office at Goldsmiths' Hall was established in 1478, the same year the date-letter cycle began. The leopard's head was crowned from 1478 to 1821 and uncrowned from 1822 onwards — a single visual cue that splits London silver into two large eras.

Reading the marks on a London piece

London Lion Passant + Leopard's Head is the most common combination on UK sterling silver. From 1697 to 1720 the Lion Passant was replaced by the Britannia figure as part of the compulsory higher-purity standard; pieces from those years carry the Britannia mark and a Lion's Head Erased instead of the leopard's head. Sterling and the leopard's head returned in 1720, with Britannia silver remaining as an optional higher standard.

Identifying the date — using the date letter

Date-letter cycles have run continuously in London since 1478, with each cycle lasting roughly 20–25 years and the font, case (uppercase or lowercase), and shield shape changing each cycle. The combination of letter, font, case, and shield together identifies the year — there is no shortcut around using the official chart. From 1975 all four UK Assay Offices adopted a shared sequence; before then London's cycle was independent.

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.

London date letter — pick the letter on your piece

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

A uppercase · 10 years

1578

cycle 1578–1617

1598

cycle 1578–1617

1658

cycle 1647–1667

1716

cycle 1716–1719

1756

cycle 1756–1780

1796

cycle 1786–1821

1836

cycle 1834–1837

1936

cycle 1936–1955

1975

cycle 1975–1999

2025

cycle 2025–present

B uppercase · 11 years

1579

cycle 1578–1617

1599

cycle 1578–1617

1659

cycle 1647–1667

1717

cycle 1716–1719

1757

cycle 1756–1780

1797

cycle 1786–1821

1837

cycle 1834–1837

1877

cycle 1838–1890

1937

cycle 1936–1955

1976

cycle 1975–1999

2026

cycle 2025–present

C uppercase · 11 years

1580

cycle 1578–1617

1600

cycle 1578–1617

1660

cycle 1647–1667

1718

cycle 1716–1719

1758

cycle 1756–1780

1798

cycle 1786–1821

1838

cycle 1838–1890

1878

cycle 1838–1890

1938

cycle 1936–1955

1977

cycle 1975–1999

2027

cycle 2025–present

D uppercase · 11 years

1581

cycle 1578–1617

1601

cycle 1578–1617

1661

cycle 1647–1667

1719

cycle 1716–1719

1759

cycle 1756–1780

1799

cycle 1786–1821

1839

cycle 1838–1890

1879

cycle 1838–1890

1939

cycle 1936–1955

1978

cycle 1975–1999

2028

cycle 2025–present

E uppercase · 11 years

1582

cycle 1578–1617

1602

cycle 1578–1617

1662

cycle 1647–1667

1720

cycle 1716–1719

1760

cycle 1756–1780

1800

cycle 1786–1821

1840

cycle 1838–1890

1880

cycle 1838–1890

1940

cycle 1936–1955

1979

cycle 1975–1999

2029

cycle 2025–present

F uppercase · 11 years

1583

cycle 1578–1617

1603

cycle 1578–1617

1663

cycle 1647–1667

1721

cycle 1721–1728

1761

cycle 1756–1780

1801

cycle 1786–1821

1841

cycle 1838–1890

1881

cycle 1838–1890

1941

cycle 1936–1955

1980

cycle 1975–1999

2030

cycle 2025–present

G uppercase · 11 years

1544

cycle 1544

1584

cycle 1578–1617

1604

cycle 1578–1617

1664

cycle 1647–1667

1722

cycle 1721–1728

1762

cycle 1756–1780

1802

cycle 1786–1821

1842

cycle 1838–1890

1882

cycle 1838–1890

1942

cycle 1936–1955

1981

cycle 1975–1999

H uppercase · 11 years

1545

cycle 1545–1547

1585

cycle 1578–1617

1605

cycle 1578–1617

1665

cycle 1647–1667

1723

cycle 1721–1728

1763

cycle 1756–1780

1803

cycle 1786–1821

1843

cycle 1838–1890

1883

cycle 1838–1890

1943

cycle 1936–1955

1982

cycle 1975–1999

I uppercase · 11 years

1546

cycle 1545–1547

1586

cycle 1578–1617

1606

cycle 1578–1617

1666

cycle 1647–1667

1724

cycle 1721–1728

1764

cycle 1756–1780

1804

cycle 1786–1821

1844

cycle 1838–1890

1884

cycle 1838–1890

1944

cycle 1936–1955

1983

cycle 1975–1999

K uppercase · 11 years

1547

cycle 1545–1547

1587

cycle 1578–1617

1607

cycle 1578–1617

1667

cycle 1647–1667

1725

cycle 1721–1728

1765

cycle 1756–1780

1805

cycle 1786–1821

1845

cycle 1838–1890

1885

cycle 1838–1890

1945

cycle 1936–1955

1984

cycle 1975–1999

L uppercase · 11 years

1548

cycle 1548–1549

1588

cycle 1578–1617

1608

cycle 1578–1617

1668

cycle 1668–1679

1726

cycle 1721–1728

1766

cycle 1756–1780

1806

cycle 1786–1821

1846

cycle 1838–1890

1886

cycle 1838–1890

1946

cycle 1936–1955

1985

cycle 1975–1999

M uppercase · 11 years

1549

cycle 1548–1549

1589

cycle 1578–1617

1609

cycle 1578–1617

1669

cycle 1668–1679

1727

cycle 1721–1728

1767

cycle 1756–1780

1807

cycle 1786–1821

1847

cycle 1838–1890

1887

cycle 1838–1890

1947

cycle 1936–1955

1986

cycle 1975–1999

N uppercase · 11 years

1550

cycle 1550

1590

cycle 1578–1617

1610

cycle 1578–1617

1670

cycle 1668–1679

1728

cycle 1721–1728

1768

cycle 1756–1780

1808

cycle 1786–1821

1848

cycle 1838–1890

1888

cycle 1838–1890

1948

cycle 1936–1955

1987

cycle 1975–1999

O uppercase · 11 years

1551

cycle 1551–1556

1591

cycle 1578–1617

1611

cycle 1578–1617

1671

cycle 1668–1679

1729

cycle 1729–1739

1769

cycle 1756–1780

1809

cycle 1786–1821

1849

cycle 1838–1890

1889

cycle 1838–1890

1949

cycle 1936–1955

1988

cycle 1975–1999

P uppercase · 11 years

1552

cycle 1551–1556

1592

cycle 1578–1617

1612

cycle 1578–1617

1672

cycle 1668–1679

1730

cycle 1729–1739

1770

cycle 1756–1780

1810

cycle 1786–1821

1850

cycle 1838–1890

1890

cycle 1891–1895

1950

cycle 1936–1955

1989

cycle 1975–1999

Q uppercase · 11 years

1553

cycle 1551–1556

1593

cycle 1578–1617

1613

cycle 1578–1617

1673

cycle 1668–1679

1731

cycle 1729–1739

1771

cycle 1756–1780

1811

cycle 1786–1821

1851

cycle 1838–1890

1891

cycle 1891–1895

1951

cycle 1936–1955

1990

cycle 1975–1999

R uppercase · 11 years

1554

cycle 1551–1556

1594

cycle 1578–1617

1614

cycle 1578–1617

1674

cycle 1668–1679

1732

cycle 1729–1739

1772

cycle 1756–1780

1812

cycle 1786–1821

1852

cycle 1838–1890

1892

cycle 1891–1895

1952

cycle 1936–1955

1991

cycle 1975–1999

S uppercase · 11 years

1555

cycle 1551–1556

1595

cycle 1578–1617

1615

cycle 1578–1617

1675

cycle 1668–1679

1733

cycle 1729–1739

1773

cycle 1756–1780

1813

cycle 1786–1821

1853

cycle 1838–1890

1893

cycle 1891–1895

1953

cycle 1936–1955

1992

cycle 1975–1999

T uppercase · 10 years

1556

cycle 1551–1556

1596

cycle 1578–1617

1616

cycle 1578–1617

1676

cycle 1668–1679

1734

cycle 1729–1739

1814

cycle 1786–1821

1854

cycle 1838–1890

1894

cycle 1891–1895

1954

cycle 1936–1955

1993

cycle 1975–1999

U uppercase · 11 years

1557

cycle 1557

1597

cycle 1578–1617

1617

cycle 1578–1617

1677

cycle 1668–1679

1735

cycle 1729–1739

1775

cycle 1756–1780

1815

cycle 1786–1821

1855

cycle 1838–1890

1895

cycle 1891–1895

1955

cycle 1936–1955

1994

cycle 1975–1999

V uppercase · 1 year

1995

cycle 1975–1999

W uppercase · 1 year

1996

cycle 1975–1999

X uppercase · 1 year

1997

cycle 1975–1999

Y uppercase · 1 year

1998

cycle 1975–1999

Z uppercase · 1 year

1999

cycle 1975–1999

a lowercase · 13 years

1558

cycle 1558–1561

1618

cycle 1618–1646

1638

cycle 1618–1646

1678

cycle 1668–1679

1697

cycle 1697–1715

1736

cycle 1729–1739

1776

cycle 1756–1780

1816

cycle 1786–1821

1856

cycle 1838–1890

1896

cycle 1896–1915

1916

cycle 1916–1935

1956

cycle 1956–1974

2000

cycle 2000–2024

b lowercase · 13 years

1559

cycle 1558–1561

1619

cycle 1618–1646

1639

cycle 1618–1646

1679

cycle 1668–1679

1697

cycle 1697–1715

1737

cycle 1729–1739

1777

cycle 1756–1780

1817

cycle 1786–1821

1857

cycle 1838–1890

1897

cycle 1896–1915

1917

cycle 1916–1935

1957

cycle 1956–1974

2001

cycle 2000–2024

c lowercase · 12 years

1620

cycle 1618–1646

1640

cycle 1618–1646

1680

cycle 1680–1696

1698

cycle 1697–1715

1738

cycle 1729–1739

1778

cycle 1756–1780

1818

cycle 1786–1821

1858

cycle 1838–1890

1898

cycle 1896–1915

1918

cycle 1916–1935

1958

cycle 1956–1974

2002

cycle 2000–2024

d lowercase · 12 years

1561

cycle 1558–1561

1621

cycle 1618–1646

1641

cycle 1618–1646

1681

cycle 1680–1696

1699

cycle 1697–1715

1779

cycle 1756–1780

1819

cycle 1786–1821

1859

cycle 1838–1890

1899

cycle 1896–1915

1919

cycle 1916–1935

1959

cycle 1956–1974

2003

cycle 2000–2024

e lowercase · 13 years

1562

cycle 1562–1577

1622

cycle 1618–1646

1642

cycle 1618–1646

1682

cycle 1680–1696

1700

cycle 1697–1715

1740

cycle 1739–1755

1780

cycle 1756–1780

1820

cycle 1786–1821

1860

cycle 1838–1890

1900

cycle 1896–1915

1920

cycle 1916–1935

1960

cycle 1956–1974

2004

cycle 2000–2024

f lowercase · 13 years

1563

cycle 1562–1577

1623

cycle 1618–1646

1643

cycle 1618–1646

1683

cycle 1680–1696

1701

cycle 1697–1715

1741

cycle 1739–1755

1781

cycle 1781–1783

1821

cycle 1786–1821

1861

cycle 1838–1890

1901

cycle 1896–1915

1921

cycle 1916–1935

1961

cycle 1956–1974

2005

cycle 2000–2024

g lowercase · 12 years

1564

cycle 1562–1577

1624

cycle 1618–1646

1644

cycle 1618–1646

1684

cycle 1680–1696

1742

cycle 1739–1755

1782

cycle 1781–1783

1822

cycle 1822–1833

1862

cycle 1838–1890

1902

cycle 1896–1915

1922

cycle 1916–1935

1962

cycle 1956–1974

2006

cycle 2000–2024

h lowercase · 13 years

1565

cycle 1562–1577

1625

cycle 1618–1646

1645

cycle 1618–1646

1685

cycle 1680–1696

1703

cycle 1697–1715

1743

cycle 1739–1755

1783

cycle 1781–1783

1823

cycle 1822–1833

1863

cycle 1838–1890

1903

cycle 1896–1915

1923

cycle 1916–1935

1963

cycle 1956–1974

2007

cycle 2000–2024

i lowercase · 12 years

1566

cycle 1562–1577

1626

cycle 1618–1646

1646

cycle 1618–1646

1686

cycle 1680–1696

1704

cycle 1697–1715

1744

cycle 1739–1755

1784

cycle 1781–1783

1824

cycle 1822–1833

1864

cycle 1838–1890

1904

cycle 1896–1915

1924

cycle 1916–1935

1964

cycle 1956–1974

j lowercase · 1 year

2008

cycle 2000–2024

k lowercase · 12 years

1627

cycle 1618–1646

1647

cycle 1647–1667

1687

cycle 1680–1696

1705

cycle 1697–1715

1745

cycle 1739–1755

1785

cycle 1784–1785

1825

cycle 1822–1833

1865

cycle 1838–1890

1905

cycle 1896–1915

1925

cycle 1916–1935

1965

cycle 1956–1974

2009

cycle 2000–2024

l lowercase · 13 years

1568

cycle 1562–1577

1628

cycle 1618–1646

1648

cycle 1647–1667

1688

cycle 1680–1696

1706

cycle 1697–1715

1746

cycle 1739–1755

1786

cycle 1786–1821

1826

cycle 1822–1833

1866

cycle 1838–1890

1906

cycle 1896–1915

1926

cycle 1916–1935

1966

cycle 1956–1974

2010

cycle 2000–2024

m lowercase · 13 years

1569

cycle 1562–1577

1629

cycle 1618–1646

1649

cycle 1647–1667

1689

cycle 1680–1696

1707

cycle 1697–1715

1747

cycle 1739–1755

1787

cycle 1786–1821

1827

cycle 1822–1833

1867

cycle 1838–1890

1907

cycle 1896–1915

1927

cycle 1916–1935

1967

cycle 1956–1974

2011

cycle 2000–2024

n lowercase · 13 years

1570

cycle 1562–1577

1630

cycle 1618–1646

1650

cycle 1647–1667

1690

cycle 1680–1696

1708

cycle 1697–1715

1748

cycle 1739–1755

1788

cycle 1786–1821

1828

cycle 1822–1833

1868

cycle 1838–1890

1908

cycle 1896–1915

1928

cycle 1916–1935

1968

cycle 1956–1974

2012

cycle 2000–2024

o lowercase · 13 years

1571

cycle 1562–1577

1631

cycle 1618–1646

1651

cycle 1647–1667

1691

cycle 1680–1696

1709

cycle 1697–1715

1749

cycle 1739–1755

1789

cycle 1786–1821

1829

cycle 1822–1833

1869

cycle 1838–1890

1909

cycle 1896–1915

1929

cycle 1916–1935

1969

cycle 1956–1974

2013

cycle 2000–2024

p lowercase · 13 years

1572

cycle 1562–1577

1632

cycle 1618–1646

1652

cycle 1647–1667

1692

cycle 1680–1696

1710

cycle 1697–1715

1750

cycle 1739–1755

1790

cycle 1786–1821

1830

cycle 1822–1833

1870

cycle 1838–1890

1910

cycle 1896–1915

1930

cycle 1916–1935

1970

cycle 1956–1974

2014

cycle 2000–2024

q lowercase · 13 years

1573

cycle 1562–1577

1633

cycle 1618–1646

1653

cycle 1647–1667

1693

cycle 1680–1696

1711

cycle 1697–1715

1751

cycle 1739–1755

1791

cycle 1786–1821

1831

cycle 1822–1833

1871

cycle 1838–1890

1911

cycle 1896–1915

1931

cycle 1916–1935

1971

cycle 1956–1974

2015

cycle 2000–2024

r lowercase · 13 years

1574

cycle 1562–1577

1634

cycle 1618–1646

1654

cycle 1647–1667

1694

cycle 1680–1696

1712

cycle 1697–1715

1752

cycle 1739–1755

1792

cycle 1786–1821

1832

cycle 1822–1833

1872

cycle 1838–1890

1912

cycle 1896–1915

1932

cycle 1916–1935

1972

cycle 1956–1974

2016

cycle 2000–2024

s lowercase · 12 years

1635

cycle 1618–1646

1655

cycle 1647–1667

1695

cycle 1680–1696

1713

cycle 1697–1715

1753

cycle 1739–1755

1793

cycle 1786–1821

1833

cycle 1822–1833

1873

cycle 1838–1890

1913

cycle 1896–1915

1933

cycle 1916–1935

1973

cycle 1956–1974

2017

cycle 2000–2024

t lowercase · 13 years

1576

cycle 1562–1577

1636

cycle 1618–1646

1656

cycle 1647–1667

1696

cycle 1680–1696

1714

cycle 1697–1715

1754

cycle 1739–1755

1794

cycle 1786–1821

1834

cycle 1834–1837

1874

cycle 1838–1890

1914

cycle 1896–1915

1934

cycle 1916–1935

1974

cycle 1956–1974

2018

cycle 2000–2024

u lowercase · 11 years

1577

cycle 1562–1577

1637

cycle 1618–1646

1657

cycle 1647–1667

1715

cycle 1697–1715

1755

cycle 1739–1755

1795

cycle 1786–1821

1835

cycle 1834–1837

1875

cycle 1838–1890

1915

cycle 1896–1915

1935

cycle 1916–1935

2019

cycle 2000–2024

v lowercase · 1 year

2020

cycle 2000–2024

w lowercase · 1 year

2021

cycle 2000–2024

x lowercase · 1 year

2022

cycle 2000–2024

y lowercase · 1 year

2023

cycle 2000–2024

z lowercase · 1 year

2024

cycle 2000–2024

The other UK Assay Offices

If your piece’s town mark doesn’t match the Leopard's Head, 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: The Assay Office London
• Goldsmiths’ Company — the compulsory hallmarking authority for England and Wales

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