The Newcastle date letters are as follows:[8]—
| 1702 to 1720, |  | to |  . | In circular shields. Except , which is in a square shield. Letters used in no order. | ||
| 1721 to 1739, | a | to | T. | Old English capitals, except a and T. Circular shields, except R and T. | ||
| 1740 to 1758, | A | to | T. | Roman capitals | in shield | with pointed base. |
| 1759 to 1790, |  | to |  . | Italic capitals | ditto | ditto |
| 1791 to 1814, | A | to | Z. | Roman capitals. Shield hexagonal in shape. | ||
| 1815 to 1838, | A | to | Z. | Block capitals. Square-shaped shield with top corners cut off. | ||
| 1839 to 1863, | A | to | Z. | Roman capitals. Hexagonal shield. | ||
| 1864 to 1883, | a | to | u. | Small Roman type. Oval shield. Office closed in 1884. | ||
The complete Newcastle marks are the Lion passant, the Leopard’s Head, the Town or Hall Mark of Three Castles, the Date Letter, the Maker’s Mark, and the Duty Mark of the Sovereign’s Head (till 1890).
Birmingham and Sheffield were both granted the rights to assay silver in 1773 by 13 Geo. III, cap. 52.
The Birmingham marks are an Anchor, a Lion passant, a Date Letter, and the Maker’s Mark, and the Duty Mark till it was abolished in 1890.
The date alphabets for Birmingham[9] are:—
| 1773 to 1798, | A | to | Z. | Roman capitals. |
| 1798 to 1824, | a | to | z. | Small Roman. |
| 1824 to 1849, | to | . | Old English capitals. | |
| 1849 to 1875, | A | to | Z. | Roman capitals. |
| 1875 to 1900, | to | . | Old English small. | |
| 1900 to 1924, | a | to | z. | Small Roman. |
The Office Year begins 1st July and ends 30th June.
The Sheffield[9] marks are the Lion passant, a Crown, the Date Letter, the Maker’s Mark, and the Sovereign’s Head as the Duty Mark till abolished in 1890.