Of all the questions I receive, the one most frequently asked is some version of, “How much is my silver worth?” Sometimes the questioner is asking about a set of sterling flatware but more often, the question relates to a set of silver plate pieces.
If you have any question about the difference between sterling and silver plate, read these articles:
The weight of silver content on a silver plate piece is very small. For example, the weight of the silver content on a silver plated fork is often between one and two grams. The layer of silver on the surface of the piece may be as thin as 0.000125 inch! Because the amount of silver is so small, most metal refiners won’t melt it down because the cost of the energy to melt it is greater than the value of the silver recovered. Of course, if the market price of commodity silver is very high, this could change. Here’s an actual case study of melted silver plate pieces:
So, if the value of silver plate flatware cannot be based upon its silver content, what does determine its value? Here's my opinion:
- Condition- Is the flatware in excellent condition with intact plating all over?
- Pattern- Is the pattern desirable? Is it distinctive, very nice and perhaps unusual?
- Rarity- Does the pattern fall into the category of a collector's item?
- Popularity/Availability - Are people still trying to add pieces to their sets and if so, how available are pieces on the resale market?
As inferred by the comments above, the specific pattern has a direct impact on value. It appears to me that the vast majority of pieces sell in the range of $1.00 to $5.00 each when sold by one individual to another individual (no dealer involved). Some serving pieces might sell for a little more. This range is for pieces that don't fit the collector category.
I know that I have just disappointed a lot of people so I encourage second and third opinions. If you have a set like this and you think I've missed the mark, take your set by an estate silver shop or old line jeweler. Ask their opinion.
There are a few exceptions to this estimate:
Check out recently completed sales on eBay to see what your pattern sold for in the past couple of weeks. Here's an article that will help you find such sales:
The article talks about sterling pieces but it applies to silver plate as well.
Here are some other related articles:
- How thick is the layer of silver on silver plate pieces?
- Selling used silver plate (or silverplate) flatware
- What does “90” or “100” or “800” mean on my German silver flatware?
- What to do with plated silver
Selling Your Silver: A Guide to Finding a Buyer and Getting a Good Price, by Jim Stringer
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