Symbol guide

Sheffield silver hallmarks date letters

Sheffield silver hallmarks date letters are recognised by its assay-office device: rose, or crown on earlier silver. A date letter records the assay year.

Reading the Sheffield group

The crown-to-rose change helps separate an older letter cycle from the modern shared UK sequence. The maker’s initials remain a separate punch. From 1975 London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh use the same sequence; 2025 restarts at A. The letter J is omitted from that modern 25-letter cycle.

What to check next

Compare the letter’s case, exact typeface and shield, not just its alphabetic name. A date letter records the assay year. Use the sponsor’s working dates and the other punches to distinguish repeated letters in older cycles.

Compare the maker’s other marks

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