Gold hallmarks from 1897 on a gold medal. A hallmark is an official mark made on an item of precious metal to guarantee the quality of the metal. In the past this was done by guilds, and later by assay offices. Hallmarks usually indicate the quality, who made the item, and the year of marking. The mark at left is that of the maker (JAR), James Andrew Restall. The three marks at right are (from left): the quality mark (crown and carat number, here 18-carat gold); the assay office mark (here an anchor mark for the UK city of Birmingham); and the year mark (x) for the year 1897.