NOTE:
between 1780 and 1853 so called marks for "small
articles" have been used. Marks were structured with
the crown and the date letter in the same punch. Between 1780
and 1828 a little crown was positioned above the date
letter; between 1829 and 1853 a crown of a bigger
dimension was positioned on the right side of the date
letter. Exceptions are marks for 1834 (date letter on the
left side and impressed with its base towards the crown)
and 1835 and 1836 (date letter on the right of the
crown, and crown impressed with its base toward the
letter).
It is common opinion that these marks were used only for
small articles, but it is possible to find them on
articles of big dimension like coffee pots and cake
baskets. As an example of this kind of mark see Sheffield
1833.
In
1973, to commemorate the bi-centenary of
the Assay Office open in 1973, the date letter was the
same used in 1773 . To avoid confusion compare
the marks.
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