Reading hallmarks

How to read Chester silver hallmarks

By the Sortwell team · Updated 9 November 2026 · 3 min read

A small antique silver christening cup and napkin ring on the windowsill of an old timber-framed house.

Short answer: On Chester silver hallmarks, the town mark of the Chester Assay Office is three wheatsheaves and an upright sword, though older pieces show the city arms in other forms. Chester's date letters run from 1701 until the office closed on 24 August 1962. Because the office is long closed, Chester silver can interest collectors more than an everyday piece from a busier office.

On this page

The town mark
Chester's date letter cycles
Why Chester silver interests collectors
Common questions

Chester closed more than 60 years ago, so a piece with its mark is at least that old. If you haven't read a hallmark before, begin with the basics in our guide to reading silver hallmarks.

The town mark

Chester's mark is three wheatsheaves and a sword. Earlier marks show the arms of Chester differently, so an older piece may look unfamiliar. If you're unsure, compare it with the pictures in a hallmark reference.

Older pieces may also carry a leopard's head. All the English offices were authorised to strike it on sterling silver from 1720, so a leopard doesn't automatically mean London. Look for the wheatsheaves beside it.

Mark	What to look for	What it tells you
Town mark	Three wheatsheaves and a sword, or the city arms	Marked at Chester
Lion passant	A walking lion	Sterling silver
Sovereign's head	A monarch in profile	Duty paid, 1784 to 1890
Date letter	A letter in a shaped punch	The year of marking
Maker's mark	Initials	Who made the piece or sent it in

A crown and 18 or similar on a Chester piece means gold. Our gold hallmarks guide explains how gold marks work.

Chester's date letter cycles

Chester's date letters run in cycles of around 25 letters from 1701. The table comes from a single source, Mozeris Fine Antiques' chart, which is checked against Jackson's reference work. That chart has no entry for 1751 to 1775, so use Jackson's or Bradbury's for those years and check any date that matters.

Cycle	Letter style	Punch	Note
1701 to 1725	Roman capitals	Square or shield	No J
1726 to 1750	Script capitals	Octagonal	No J
1776 to 1796	Roman small letters	Octagonal	No j
1797 to 1817	Roman capitals	Square or shield	No J
1818 to 1838	Roman capitals	Square, clipped corners	D covered two years
1839 to 1863	Old English capitals	Shield	No J
1864 to 1883	Old English small letters	Shield, cut corners	No j
1884 to 1900	Roman capitals	Rectangle, cut corners	A to R
1901 to 1925	Script capitals	Shield	Same style as 1726 to 1750
1926 to 1950	Old English capitals	Shield	J, not I, for 1934
1951 to 1962	Roman capitals	Shield, cut corners	Ends with the closure

Two cycles use script capitals, so the punch and town mark matter when you're telling them apart. Pick the cycle, then count along from A to reach the year, leaving out any letters that were skipped.

Chester's year changed in July or August, depending on the period, and from 1890 ran from 1 July, so each letter covers parts of two calendar years. For a date that really matters, check a printed reference or ask the Goldsmiths' Company Library, which helps identify marks struck before 1975.

Why Chester silver interests collectors

Very ordinary 20th-century pieces, like napkin rings and small jewellery, often sell for little more than their weight. Older pieces can do much better, partly because of local interest and partly because fewer survive. An 18th-century Chester piece in good condition is worth having looked at by someone who knows provincial silver, ideally through a specialist sale. Our guides to valuing antiques and selling them explain how to approach that. For silver in an estate, you'll also need a figure for probate.

Common questions

What is the Chester hallmark?

Chester's town mark is three wheatsheaves and an upright sword, used alongside a walking lion, a date letter and a maker's mark. Older pieces may show the city arms in other forms.

When did the Chester Assay Office close?

It closed on 24 August 1962. Anything with a Chester mark was hallmarked on or before that date.

How do I date Chester silver?

Work from the date letter, matching its style and punch shape to one of Chester's cycles, then count along from A, allowing for missing letters. Before 1962 each letter covers parts of two calendar years.

Is Chester silver valuable?

It depends on the piece. Everyday 20th-century items often sell on weight. Older or unusual pieces can attract collectors of provincial silver, and they're worth getting a specialist opinion on.

Sources

This guide is general information for people in England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland can differ. It isn't legal, tax or financial advice, and Sortwell isn't a law firm or a valuer. If an estate is complicated or there's a disagreement, talk to a solicitor. Figures were checked on the date above.