Published 2 June 2026
A short history of the mark
In 1300, Edward I granted the Goldsmiths' Company the right to mark silver and gold with the leopard's head, called the kings mark in early statutes. The earliest pieces show a striking, slightly snarling head facing forward. Through the 14th and 15th centuries the mark stayed forward-facing. It picked up a crown in 1478 when the date letter system was added, and held the crown until 1821 when Parliament removed it.
From 1821 to today the leopard is uncrowned. It is also no longer used on Britannia-standard silver after a 1697-1720 spell when Britannia replaced it.
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Goldsmiths' Company is one of the twelve great livery companies of the City of London. Its hall in Foster Lane has housed the assay office since the 14th century. Today the office is a working laboratory: pieces submitted for assay are tested by XRF, fire assay or cupellation, then punched by hand or by laser if specified, then returned to the sponsor.
A London-assayed piece tells you the metal passed through that lab.
Reading the modern London hallmark
- Find the cluster of punches on the inside of the ring shank, the clasp of the chain, or the back of the pendant.
- Identify the three-digit standard mark first. It anchors the rest.
- Look for the leopard. It is small, in profile or facing forward, inside a shield. On worn pieces, look for the distinctive ear and crown line.
- Read the date letter if present. London uses a Roman or italic letter inside a shield that changes shape every 25 years on the current cycle.
- Read the sponsor mark last, usually two or three letters in a rectangular punch.
Crowned versus uncrowned
The simplest dating cue: a leopard with a crown is pre-1821. Without the crown it is 1821 or later. Within those eras the head shape, the style of the cartouche, and the date letter narrow the year down further. A 15th-century forward-facing leopard is unmistakable next to a Victorian profile leopard, even on a tiny ring.
Where to look on common pieces
On rings, inside the shank at the bottom. On chains, on the bolt-ring or hidden tag. On pocket watches, inside the case-back, usually grouped with the case maker's sponsor mark. On Edwardian and Georgian boxes, on the lip of the lid where it meets the body. On older flatware, on the back of the stem near the bowl.
What it means for postal valuation
A London hallmark gives a buyer two pieces of information at once: the metal was independently assayed by a major UK office, and the maker (sponsor) is a registered entity. The XRF test on arrival confirms the alloy still matches the standard. The offer is paid on the test result. Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market.
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. The method is set out on the sell gold by post page.
A close note
The leopard's head has been continuously punched onto British gold and silver for over 700 years. On any tray of jewellery from antique to modern, it is the mark you are most likely to find. Knowing how to read it turns an unfamiliar inheritance into a piece you can value with confidence.
Common questions
When did the London leopard lose its crown?
In 1821. From that year onwards the head is uncrowned.
Was the leopard ever replaced?
Between 1697 and 1720, Britannia and the lion's head erased replaced the leopard on silver during the higher Britannia standard period.
Does London assay only stamp the leopard?
No. London marks gold, silver, platinum and palladium with their respective standard marks, plus the leopard as the town mark.
Can I send a London-assayed item by post for valuation?
Yes. Same method as any other piece. The hallmark helps with the initial inspection.
Is a forward-facing leopard older than a profile leopard?
Generally yes. The earliest marks were forward-facing. The mark moved through several profile forms over the centuries.
Are modern laser-applied marks accepted?
Yes. UK assay offices can apply marks by hand punch or by laser at the sponsor's request. Both are legal.
What does the date letter look like?
A single letter inside a shaped shield. The shield shape changes every full alphabet cycle so the same letter has been used many times.
Does London assay sit inside the Goldsmiths' Hall?
Yes. The office is in Foster Lane in the City of London.