Key:royal_cypher

royal_cypher=* is for tagging the monarch's initials or symbol, which may be displayed on an object.

Use royal_cypher:wikidata=* for the Wikidata item for the cypher (not the monarch).

A royal cypher is often used in the UK and other (former) Commonwealth countries. It is particularly common on post boxes (see amenity=post_box), and is sometimes seen on post offices, telephone exchanges and government buildings. The royal cypher usually gives an indication of when the postbox or building was built.

Values for UK and Commonwealth monarchs

Value	Description	Example picture	Wikidata item
VR	Victoria (1837 to 1901)		Q33102356
EVIIR	Edward VII (1901 to 1910)		Q33102324
GR	George V (1910 to 1936)		Q33102273
EVIIIR	Edward VIII (1936) Very few EVIIIR postboxes exist.		Q33102195
GVIR	George VI (1936 to 1952)		Q33102169
EIIR	Elizabeth II (1952 to 2022). Note: usually not used on postboxes in Scotland, see scottish_crown below.		Q33102113
CIIIR	Charles III (2022 to present). Note: usually not used on postboxes in Scotland, see scottish_crown below.		Q114242600
scottish_crown	The Crown of Scotland. Usually used instead of the sovereign's cypher for postboxes in Scotland - see w:Pillar Box War.
no	no royal cypher visible on the object

Special editor support

• There is a StreetComplete quest asking specifically about them.
• Overpass Turbo query to show postboxes using the StreetComplete icons for mapped cyphers (high zoom levels recommended).