~18th-19th century

Helsinki 953 Helsinki 954 Helsinki 955 Helsinki 956 Helsinki 957 Helsinki 958 Helsinki 959 Helsinki 960 Helsinki 961 Helsinki 962 Helsinki 963 Helsinki 964 Helsinki 965 Helsinki 966 Helsinki 967 Helsinki 968 Helsinki 969 Helsinki 970 Helsinki 971 Helsinki 972 Helsinki 973 Helsinki 974 Helsinki 975 Helsinki 976 Helsinki 977 Helsinki 978 Helsinki 979

~20th century

helsinki_1 helsinki_3 helsinki_2

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.