Hallmarks · By country
Irish hallmarks
Dublin has assayed since 1637 and dates its work, so Irish pieces can be read as precisely as British ones.
- Marking since
- 1637
- Gives a year
- Yes
How the system works
A crowned harp is the sterling standard mark. From 1730 a seated figure of Hibernia was added, originally as a duty mark and retained afterwards as the Dublin town mark. Date letters run in cycles as in Britain.
The marks
| Mark | What it means |
|---|---|
| Crowned harp | Dublin, the only Irish assay office. |
The standards
| Figure or mark | Fineness and use |
|---|---|
| Crowned harp | Sterling silver, and 22 carat gold from 1784. |
| Hibernia | Seated female figure. Duty mark from 1730, town mark thereafter. |
| Plume of feathers | 20 carat gold, from 1784. |
| Unicorn's head | 18 carat gold, from 1784. |
Dating a irish piece
Read the date letter with its surround shape against the Dublin cycle table. Hibernia's presence indicates 1730 or later.
Where people go wrong
- Irish gold used distinct standard marks from 1784: a crowned harp for 22 carat, a plume of feathers for 20 carat and a unicorn's head for 18 carat. The 20 carat standard is essentially unique to Ireland.
- A great deal of nineteenth century Irish jewelry was made in Birmingham and carries English marks.
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