Sterling Silver Flatware Value Calculator

🍴 Sterling Silver Flatware Calculator

Get Real Value for Spoons, Forks & Weighted Knives

1. Select Silver Purity Sterling Silver (.925) - Standard Coin Silver (.900) - Vintage USA European Silver (.800) Pure Silver (.999)

2. Weight of Solid Items (Spoons/Forks) *Put spoons & forks on a kitchen scale.

3. Count of "Hollow Handle" Knives *Do not weigh knives! Enter quantity. We calc ~20g silver per handle.

Current Silver Price ($/oz)

Total Melt Value $0.00

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🧐 The Ultimate Guide to Scrap Silver Flatware

If you have inherited a chest of old silverware, or if you hunt for treasures at estate sales, you need to know the difference between "Real Silver" and "Silver Plate". A single real sterling spoon can be worth $25, while a plated one is worth pennies.

1. How to Identify Real Sterling Silver

Inspect the back of the handle with a magnifying glass. You are looking for specific hallmarks:

• "Sterling" or "Ster": The USA standard (92.5% silver).
• 925: The international standard.
• Lion Passant: A tiny lion walking to the left (British Sterling mark).
• 800 / 830: Common on older German or Italian silver (80% purity).

⛔ FAKE ALERT (Silver Plate)
If you see stamps like IS, EPNS, A1, Triple, Quadruple, Community, or Rogers Bros, the item is Silver Plated. It is made of base metal (copper/brass) with a microscopic layer of silver. It has NO scrap value.

2. The "Weighted Knife" Handle Problem

Dinner knives are the most confusing part of any set. If you put a knife on a scale, it might weigh 60 grams. However, you cannot sell it for 60 grams of silver!

Why? The blade is stainless steel. The handle is hollow and filled with cement, sand, or resin to give it balance. The actual silver is just a thin skin wrapped around the cement.

Solution: Use the "Knife Count" box in our calculator. We use the industry standard estimate of 15 to 20 grams of pure silver per handle.

📊 Real vs. Plated Cheat Sheet

Stamp / Marking	Type	Scrap Value
Sterling / 925	Solid Silver	$$$ HIGH
Coin / 900	90% Silver	$$$ HIGH
800 / 835	Continental	$$ MEDIUM
EPNS / A1 / IS	Electroplate	ZERO ($0)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much is a full set of sterling silver worth? A standard "Service for 8" (approx 45-50 pieces) typically contains between 40 to 60 troy ounces of pure silver. At $30/oz, a basic set is worth $1,200 to $1,800 in scrap melt value alone. Antique patterns can be worth even more. Should I clean the silver before selling? NO! If you plan to sell it as a set to a collector, cleaning it improperly can destroy the "patina" (antique look) and lower the value. If you are selling it for scrap (melting), the condition doesn't matter, so cleaning is a waste of time. Who pays the most for silver flatware? 1. Private Collectors/Replacements Ltd: If you have a rare pattern (like Tiffany & Co or Francis I).
2. Online Refiners: Pay 90% of melt value for scrap.
3. Pawn Shops: Pay the least (usually 50-60% of melt value). What does "Weighted" or "Reinforced" mean? This is often found on candlesticks and knife handles. It means the item is not solid silver; it is filled with cement or a metal rod for stability. The silver content is only about 10-15% of the total weight.