Downloadable chart, guides and checklists
- UK hallmark identification chart (PDF). One A4 page: UK fineness numbers for gold, silver, platinum and palladium, the four assay office marks and how to date a piece, with sources. Free to print and share with credit to GoldPaid.
- Executor’s jewellery checklist (PDF). A printable checklist for recording jewellery, watches and precious metal in an estate.
- UK gold hallmark guide. Reading the London leopard, Birmingham anchor, Sheffield rose and Edinburgh castle, with the fineness marks and date letters beside them.
- Hallmark lookup. Type the numbers or symbols you can see and read what they mean.
- Posting gold safely. What to check before anything goes in the post on Royal Mail Special Delivery, and what the cover does and does not do.
- Probate and inherited jewellery. For executors recording and valuing inherited precious metals, including what HMRC asks for on IHT407.
Getting a valuation
- How we value gold. The full method: XRF purity, payable weight and the live precious-metal market, with a worked example.
- Photo valuation on WhatsApp. Send a photo of your items and any stamps for a rough estimate before you post.
Choose the guide for the decision in front of you
| Your question | Start here | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| What is this mark? | Read the hallmark guide | A clear close-up of each mark and a photograph of the whole item. A partial stamp may not be enough for identification. |
| Is a mixed box worth assessing? | Mixed jewellery boxes | An overall photo and separate views of unusual pieces; keep boxes and paperwork with anything that may have maker or collector value. |
| What should I record for an estate? | Executor’s guide | An inventory and existing paperwork. A current purchase offer is different from a valuation for a particular legal or tax purpose. |
| How should I pack it? | Packing and posting guide | Ask us about the postal option before sending; keep a list and photographs of what goes into the parcel. |
| How do I check the offer? | Measurement and offer checklist | Compare each item, the tested purity and the payable weight with the written breakdown before deciding. |
For charity shop teams sorting donations
- Costume or precious-metal jewellery? Start with identification clues and keep uncertain pieces for assessment rather than discarding them from appearance alone.
- Recognising silver in a mixed donation Use the guide when marks and familiar shapes do not tell the whole story.
- A gold-box process for charity shops Read the suggested workflow for keeping potentially valuable donations together and passing them to the right person for assessment.
Keep the limits of a guide in view
A guide can help you record an item and ask better questions; it cannot confirm metal throughout an object from a photograph or replace advice on an estate. For official background, the British Hallmarking Council’s consumer guidance explains how hallmarks protect buyers. Our editorial policy explains authorship, source checking and corrections. Official reference checked 9 October 2026.
Common questions
Are GoldPaid guides free to use and to quote?
Yes. Every guide here is free to read and free to quote from, with attribution to GoldPaid (https://goldpaid.co.uk). The guides are web pages; the PDFs listed above are free to print and share with credit to GoldPaid.
Not the question you had? The full GoldPaid FAQ covers the rest, from postal cover and ID checks to what happens if you decline the offer.
Speak to us before you post
Please send us photos on WhatsApp, and we will help you. We give a rough estimate where possible and arrange postage with you after our conversation. Your final offer follows inspection.