Inherited silver: what is worth getting valued?

Sterling silver vs silver plate — how to tell the difference

This is the single most important question when assessing inherited silver, and it is one that a surprising number of people answer incorrectly. Sterling silver is a solid alloy — 92.5% pure silver throughout the metal. Silver plate is a base metal (usually copper, nickel or brass) with a thin layer of silver deposited on the surface. The two can look identical to the eye, especially when tarnished.

The practical difference in value is significant. Sterling silver has an intrinsic metal value regardless of its condition, plus potential additional value as an antique or collectable piece. Silver plate has neither. Once the thin silver layer wears through — as it always eventually does — the base metal beneath is visible, and the item has only decorative value at best.

The key to distinguishing between them is hallmarks. British sterling silver was required by law to be assayed and marked, and these marks are your most reliable guide. They are typically found on the underside of flatware, the base of hollowware, and the inner rim of items such as napkin rings or card cases. You will usually need a magnifying glass — a 10x loupe is ideal, but a phone camera with the zoom function can often read them clearly enough.

Common UK hallmarks and what they indicate

What makes inherited silverware worth specialist assessment

Confirming that silver is sterling is the starting point, not the end point. The second question is whether a piece has value beyond its metal content — and this requires understanding what the collector and specialist market currently values.

Early pieces — broadly, pre-Victorian — are worth specialist attention almost regardless of form or condition. Georgian silver in particular carries historical significance and collector interest that places it well above its melt value. Pieces by known makers (look for the maker's mark, which in British silver is usually the maker's initials in a shaped shield) can attract specific collector interest.

Form matters. Candlesticks, tea services, coffee pots, sauce boats, entree dishes, sugar casters and wine coasters all attract collector interest. Specific categories — vinaigrettes, nutmeg graters, caddy spoons, wine labels — are actively sought by specialist collectors and can represent disproportionate value relative to their size. Flatware in complete services, particularly in documented patterns, is also worth careful assessment.

Condition affects but does not determine value. Some tarnish is expected and easily addressed. Significant dents, splits, solder repairs, or polished-away engraving reduce value. But even damaged sterling silver retains its intrinsic metal value, and a specialist buyer will account for what a piece is despite its condition, not dismiss it because of it.

What does not usually have significant monetary value

Being honest about this saves time for everyone. Several categories of inherited silver-coloured items rarely justify the effort of a specialist assessment for monetary purposes:

• EPNS flatware and cutlery. Electroplated cutlery was produced in enormous quantities throughout the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Sets are common, wear through readily, and have limited collector interest unless in exceptional condition with original fitted cases. The metal value is negligible.
• Modern reproduction silverware. Mass-produced silver-plated items made in the latter twentieth century — decorative trays, photograph frames, candlesticks — are common, have no age-related premium, and rarely attract specialist interest.
• Damaged complete sets where most pieces are EPNS. A canteen of cutlery where the majority of pieces show through-wear to base metal has limited value. If some pieces are sterling and some are not, separating them may be worthwhile — but the plated pieces themselves are unlikely to be worth sending for specialist assessment.
• Continental silver without clear hallmarks. Some European silver uses different marking conventions and lower purity standards. Without clear marks, the silver content cannot be confirmed without testing.

Common mistakes when dealing with inherited silver

Two mistakes account for the majority of avoidable losses when inherited silver changes hands:

Polishing before valuation. Silver polish removes the natural patina that develops over time. For antique pieces, this patina is part of the evidence of age and authenticity. Over-polishing can thin decoration, blur maker's marks and partially erase hallmarks. Send items as found. A specialist buyer works with silver in its natural state.

Selling sterling silver as scrap without a specialist assessment. Scrap silver dealers pay based solely on metal content. A Georgian tea caddy or a set of Victorian fish knives and forks in a fitted case may have collector value substantially above its melt weight. Selling for scrap without assessment is irreversible and often results in a significant loss that need not have occurred.

For help with inherited silver, visit our pages on estate silver buyers and selling inherited items. Our guide to selling jewellery from a deceased estate covers related considerations for jewellery included in the same estate.

Frequently asked questions