London Assay Office applies first King Charles III Coronation marks

King Charles III Coronation mark test application in aluminium

Wednesday 1 March 2023 - To celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, the Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office have begun applying a new commemorative mark to items made of gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

Sanctioned by the British Hallmarking Council, the mark - which depicts the King’s head against an oval background - was designed by Thomas Fattorini Limited, and is based on a medal by Ian Rank-Broadley FRBS. The mark can be applied by punch or laser alongside the legally required components of the hallmark (sponsor, millesimal fineness, and Assay Office) at the request of Assay Office customers.

Commemorative marks have proved popular with UK consumers since their introduction in 1934 and have been used to mark important occasions including coronations, jubilees and the Millennium. The most recent commemorative mark was issued in 2021 to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and was applied to more than 70,000 items by The London Assay Office.

Will Evans, General Manager of The London Assay Office said, “The London Assay Office is proud to offer this historic mark to jewellers and silversmiths until the end of 2024. The skill of our engineers has been pivotal in realising this important moment. Their decades of precision engineering experience and attention to microscopic detail has led to the creation of some truly beautiful metal punches and digital artwork for laser application. Seeing a London hallmark reach the end-consumer is always significant, and no more so than when it incorporates a commemorative mark to signify a key moment in national life.” 

The Goldsmiths’ Company London Assay Office has been applying hallmarks since 1300. The term ‘hallmark’ comes from a mark being struck in its Hall on Foster Lane in the City of London. 700 years on and that process is still happening today at Goldsmiths’ Hall.

Jewellers, silversmiths and retailers can request the commemorative mark from 1 March 2023 until the end of 2024. Application will be charged at £1 for each item in addition to other hallmarking charges.

To learn more visit: www.assayofficelondon.co.uk