How to value your Silverware

Ever wonder if that chest of silver you or your family has is worth anything? This video will help you to answer that question. As mentioned in the video, you can find the current Spot Value at a number of sites, I frequently use: https://www.apmex.com/silver-price/pr... and https://www.kitco.com/charts/silver If you need a loupe to see the silver markings, a budget Loupe I use is one of these. It's not actually good, but its basically impossible to beat for the money: https://amzn.to/4fWPjIy ($7 at the time I am uploading this video) In this video we will first go through a section teaching you how to evaluate the contents of your silver chest, pointing out where hidden treasures may lurk, and starting an initial valuation of the contents. We will discuss how baby spoons, children's silverware, serving pieces made of sterling or maybe even souvenir spoons may end up in the chest. We will mention that sometimes coins or other family heirlooms may even have found their way in there. After that section is complete we will discuss weighing up your sterling and determining a scrap or melt weight value of your set using the latest spot price on silver. This will help you to understand how much your set is worth if its destroyed for the silver it contains, so that if you do choose to sell it you will know what a scrap buyer will be getting when they scrap it. If you don't want to sell to such a buyer, and would instead prefer the set to be used, the best way to accomplish that is to sell it at a price somewhere above scrap value. This video from Treasure Everywhere! is a comprehensive guide to valuing silverware, particularly focusing on identifying sterling silver versus silver plate, and then calculating its scrap value. Here's a breakdown of the key points: Introduction to Silverware Chests (0:20-1:08): The host explains that many people own silverware chests but don't know the value of their contents, often due to inheritance, forgotten history, or accumulated miscellaneous items. Sterling Silver vs. Silver Plate (1:08-2:12): The video emphasizes the significant difference in value between sterling silver and silver plate. Sterling silver sets are far more valuable, starting at around $1,500, while silver plate sets typically sell for $100-$200. Identifying Sterling Silver (2:12-5:05): The primary method for identification is to look for the "Sterling" mark, often found on the back of the pieces. The host shows how to identify the pattern (e.g., International Sterling Enchantress) and use this information to find replacement costs online, indicating the absolute top dollar value for pieces. Older silver may not have the pattern marked on it, making identification more challenging. Identifying Silver Plate (5:08-6:40): The video demonstrates how markings like "Silver Plate," "A1+," or company names without "Sterling" indicate silver plate. Checking Every Piece (5:50-7:58): It's crucial to check every different pattern within a chest, as some sets might be predominantly silver plate but still contain valuable sterling pieces. Tricky Knives and Other Sterling Pieces (6:40-13:20): Knives often have stainless steel blades and hollow handles, making them difficult to identify by mark alone. They are typically identified by their matching pattern to known sterling pieces. The video highlights common finds in silverware chests that might be sterling, even if the main set is plate, such as baby spoons (9:19), serving pieces (9:26), and souvenir spoons (12:23). Some souvenir spoons, especially from places like Norway, might be even higher purity than sterling (e.g., 930s silver, meaning 93% silver) (12:51). Determining Scrap/Melt Value (13:20-22:56): Weighing the Sterling (14:29-17:52): The host demonstrates using a kitchen scale to weigh the sterling silver in grams, as this aligns with how spot prices for silver are often quoted (per gram or troy ounce). Calculating Value (20:17-22:56): Using the total weight in grams and the current spot price of pure silver (e.g., $1 per gram as an example), the host calculates the raw value. He then applies a conservative 90% recovery rate (21:30) for sterling (92.5% pure silver) due to refining loss, and further suggests a 98-99% spot price (22:07) for scrappers. This calculation helps determine the minimum value for selling to prevent melting. Importance of Preservation (22:56-25:35): The video concludes by advocating for the preservation and continued use of these historical silverware sets, especially for holiday meals, to honor their history and allow younger generations to appreciate them. The host also encourages community engagement for identification help.