What is the Belleek “gold mark,” and why was it introduced?

Belleek’s 7th mark (1980–1993) is described as the first gold mark. The official explanation ties it to a centenary celebration of a gold medal won at the Melbourne Exhibition of 1880. Alongside the colour change, the design shifts by omitting the round disk that previously carried Irish-language wording. For collectors, the gold stamp is a quick visual cue for late 20th-century Belleek that sits after the long green-mark run. If the stamp looks gold yet reads more brownish, Belleek’s guide mentions a change to a browner-toned gold to improve clarity of the backstamp.