~18th-19th century

Hämeenlinna 1878 Hämeenlinna 1879 Hämeenlinna 1880 Hämeenlinna 1881 Hämeenlinna 1882 Hämeenlinna 1883 Hämeenlinna 1884 Hämeenlinna 1885 Hämeenlinna 1886 Hämeenlinna 1887 Hämeenlinna 1888 Hämeenlinna 1889 hameenlinna_3

~20th century

hämeenlinna_2 hämeenlinna_1

The oldest locality marks featured here are from the 1600s. The oldest marks were based on a town's coat of arms. As a result, Hamina and Helsinki have very similar marks in appearance: a boat under a crown.

Later came the introduction of locality marks where the town was represented by letters. The mark was either the full name, abbreviation or initial. The same letters, such as L, were used for more than one place.

Locality marks were renewed in 1943, and since 2001 new locality marks have to be just a coat of arms. Previously approved marks may still be used.

Used by various smiths, locality marks may vary slightly in appearance to the images below, for example, the letters and figures in the details. This is due to the mark stamps being hand-made and also subject to wear.