Another Hallmarking Question

[BarryM]

On another forum someone has a photograph of their hallmark that they have had back from Birmingham Assay office as their first packet.
It has the sponsors mark, the 925 and the anchor but no year mark - is this correct? I thought that the year mark was mandatory??


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[ps_bond]

Traditional marks versus common control marks; date mark is optional.
http://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/media/3500492/dealers_notice_2015.pdf

(Which must be displayed prominently if selling precious metals...)

[Wallace]

from previous experience, with Birmingham, if you want it on there - you have to pay for it. London do it inclusive of the price.

[BarryM]

Seems a shame that it is not mandatory - in 200 years time how will anybody date the items?


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[Wallace]

If they look up your maker's mark, they will have a frame of reference from your registration. Probably another reason for it to be made renewable every ten years??

[Lucie]

The three marks shown on your friends piece are the 3 compulsory marks The sponsors mark, metal standard mark (925 / 375, etc) and the assay office mark.

The date letter, the traditional mark (crown, lion, britannia, orb, pallas athene), convention mark, spread mark, feature mark, etc are all optional marks.

Birmingham charge extra for all optional marks. It doesn't say how much on their website (or on any of my receipts), but it's pence rather than pounds.

[Tabby66]

Yeah, I often, but not always pay for the date letter at Birmingham. It is optional and only pence.