Lettering styles

Capitals

All of the inscription is in capitals (uppercase)

Date range: 1st-19th C

Commonest date range:16th-17th C

Examples: DUR-343D59 and NMS77149D

​

 

Gothic

Also known as ‘black letter’ script

Date range: 13th-19th C

Commonest date range: 15th C

Examples: LANCUM-632780 and DENO-5082A6

​

​

Lombardic

A decorative form of capital (uppercase) letters

Date range: 13th-16th C

Commonest date range: 13th-16th C

Examples: YORYM-0A0FD2 and NMS-CFF3F5

​

​

Lowercase

All of the letters of the inscription are in lowercase including the initial letter

Date range: 16th-18th C

Commonest date range: 17th-18th C

Examples: WILT-AFE9A5 and ESS-6B83B5

​

                 

Mixed

Different parts of the inscription are in lowercase and uppercase; this may be as ‘sentence case’ where the initial letter is capitalised and the remaining letters are lowercase (see BERK-118101 and KENT-6C2FB6 below) or the differing cases may be random through the inscription.

Date range16th-19th C

Commonest date range: 17th-18th C

Examples: BERK-118101 and KENT-6C2FB6