The four assay offices still open
| Assay office | Town mark | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| London | Leopard’s head | 1300 (Goldsmiths’ Company) |
| Edinburgh | Three-towered castle | 1681 |
| Birmingham | Anchor | 1773 |
| Sheffield | Rose (formerly a crown for silver) | 1773 |
These four still strike physical and laser hallmarks today. Their town marks are the most reliable confirmation that an item went through a UK assay office.
Closed offices you may still see on older pieces
| Office | Town mark | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Chester | Wheatsheaf with sword | 1962 |
| Glasgow | Tree, bird, bell and fish | 1964 |
| Newcastle | Three castles | 1884 |
| Exeter | Three towers | 1883 |
| York | Cross and lions | 1858 |
| Dublin (Eire, separate jurisdiction) | Harp crowned | still active for Irish silver |
A Chester anchor with date letter from before 1962, or a Glasgow tree-bird-bell-fish, are good clues to age and provenance. They do not on their own add value, but combined with a sponsor’s mark they can identify a maker worth more than scrap.
Why a town mark matters
The town mark confirms that an independent UK office tested the piece for purity at the time of manufacture. That is why UK silver and gold has an international reputation: the punch is not the maker’s claim, it is a third party’s test. The town mark is also the first clue an auction specialist uses to date and authenticate a piece, alongside the date letter and sponsor’s mark.
What it does not change
For everyday scrap pricing, the town mark does not change the offer. Birmingham 9ct is the same metal as London 9ct. Where the town mark earns its keep is on older pieces where the maker’s mark, town and date letter together identify a particular silversmith, and that can comfortably exceed scrap.
Common questions
How do I read a UK assay office mark?
Look for a small picture-punch alongside the other marks. Anchor = Birmingham, leopard = London, castle = Edinburgh, rose = Sheffield.
Are non-UK marks accepted as hallmarks?
A piece imported from outside the UK and tested by a UK office will carry that office’s town mark plus a numeric purity (e.g. .750, .925). A piece with only a foreign mark is not UK-hallmarked.
Does a closed-office mark mean the piece is fake?
No. Pieces hallmarked at Chester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Exeter or York are genuine, those offices simply no longer operate.