GOLDSMITHS' YEAR-MARKS.
(Vol. vi., p. 604.)
In answer to Mr. Livett's Query, as to the marks or letters employed by the Goldsmiths' Company to denote the year in which the plate was "hall-marked," I subjoin a list of such as I am acquainted with, and which might with a little trouble be traced to an earlier period: I have also added a few notes relating to the subject generally, which may interest many of your readers.
In the year 1596, the Roman capital A was used; in 1597, B; and so on alphabetically for twenty years, which would bring us to the letter U, denoting the year 1615: the alphabet finishing every twenty years with the letter U or V. The next year, 1616, commences with the Old English letter
, and is continued for another twenty years in the Old English capitals. In 1636 is introduced another alphabet, called Court alphabet.
| From | 1656 to 1675 | inclusive, | Old English capitals. |
| 1676 to 1695 | " | Small Roman letters. | |
| 1696 to 1715 | " | The Court alphabet. | |
| 1716 to 1735 | " | Roman capitals. | |
| 1736 to 1755 | " | Small Roman letters. | |
| 1756 to 1775 | " | Old English capitals. | |
| 1776 to 1795 | " | Small Roman letters. | |
| 1796 to 1815 | " | Roman capitals. | |
| 1816 to 1835 | " | Small Roman letters. | |
| 1836 to 1855 | " | Old English capitals. |
The letter for the present year, 1853, being
.
In this list it will appear difficult, at first sight, in looking at a piece of plate to ascertain its age, to determine whether it was manufactured between the years 1636 and 1655, or between 1696 and 1715, the Court hand being used in both these cycles: but (as will presently be mentioned) instead of the lion passant and leopard's head in the former, we shall find the lion's head erased, and Britannia, denoting the alteration of the standard during the latter period.
The standard of gold, when first introduced into the coinage, was of 24 carats fine; that is, pure gold. Subsequently, it was 23½ and half alloy; this, after an occasional debasement by Henry VIII., was fixed at 22 carats fine and 2 carats alloy by Charles I.; and still continues so, being
called the old standard. In 1798 an act was passed allowing gold articles to be made of a lower or worse standard, viz., of 18 carats of fine gold out of 24; such articles were to be stamped with a crown and the figures 18, instead of the lion passant.
The standard of silver has always (with the exception of about twenty years) been 11 oz. 2 dwts., and 18 dwts. alloy, in the pound: this was termed sterling, but very much debased from the latter end of Henry VIII. to the beginning of Elizabeth's reign. In the reign of William III., 1697, an act was passed to alter the standard of silver to 11 oz. 10 dwts., and 10 dwts. alloy: and instead of the usual marks of the lion and leopard's head, the stamps of this better quality of silver were the figure of a lion's head erased, and the figure of Britannia: and the variable letter denoting the date as before. This act continued in operation for twenty-two years, being repealed in 1719, when the standard was again restored.
A duty of sixpence per ounce was imposed upon plate in 1719, which was taken off again in 1757; in lieu of which, a licence or duty of forty shillings was paid by every vendor of gold or silver. In 1784, a duty of sixpence per ounce was again imposed, and the licence still continued: which in 1797 was increased to one shilling, and in 1815 to eighteenpence—at which it still remains. The payment of this duty is indicated by the stamp of the sovereign's head.
All gold plate, with the exception of watch-cases, pays a duty of seventeen shillings per ounce; and silver plate one shilling and sixpence; watch-cases, chains, and a few other articles being exempted.
The letters used as dates in the foregoing list (it must be remembered) are only those of the Goldsmiths' Hall in London, as denoted by the leopard's head crowned. Other Halls, at York, Newcastle, Lincoln, Norwich, Bristol, Salisbury, and Coventry, had also marks of their own to show the year; and have stamped gold and silver since the year 1423, perhaps earlier. Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin have had the same privilege from a very early period: and, more recently, Chester, Birmingham, and Sheffield. Thus it will be seen that four marks or punches are used on gold and silver plate, independent of the makers' initials or symbol, viz.:
The Standard Mark.—For gold of the old standard of 22 carats, and silver of 11 oz. 2 dwts.:
A lion passant for England.
A thistle for Edinburgh.
A lion rampant for Glasgow.
A harp crowned for Ireland.
For gold of 18 carats:
A crown, and the figures 18.
For silver of 11 oz. 10 dwts.:
A lion's head erased, and Britannia.
The Hall Mark.—
A leopard's head crowned for London.
A castle for Edinburgh.
Hibernia for Dublin.
Five lions and a cross for York.
A castle for Exeter.
Three wheatsheaves and a dagger for Chester.
Three castles for Newcastle.
An anchor for Birmingham.
A crown for Sheffield.
A tree and fish for Glasgow.
The Duty Mark.—The head of the sovereign, to indicate that the duty has been paid: this mark is not placed on watch-cases, &c.
The Date Mark, or variable letter, denoting the year as fixed by each Hall.
W. Chaffers, Jun.
Old Bond Street.
The table inquired for by Mr. Livett, with a most interesting historical paper on the subject, was published in the last Archæological Journal, October, 1852.
H. T. Ellacombe.