All About Antiques

The most crucial difference between silver melt value and antique value is craftsmanship and rarity. While melt value is solely based on the current spot price of silver multiplied by the weight of your item (minus refining fees), antique value accounts for the maker’s reputation, historical significance, condition, and desirability to collectors. Generally, if an…

Genuine antique sterling silver flatware is valued based on its weight in troy ounces (scrap value) plus a collector premium for desirable patterns or makers like Tiffany & Co. or Gorham. Look for the “925” or “Sterling” stamp; without this mark, the piece is likely silver plate, which has minimal resale value. Imagine you are…

The value of antique silver in 2026 is primarily determined by the “triple threat”: purity (Sterling vs. Plate), maker (like Tiffany or Gorham), and weight (Troy ounces). Authentic sterling must bear the word “Sterling” or the British Lion Passant. While scrap silver prices fluctuate, rare pieces with provenance can command 300% above melt value at…

Silver date letters are specific alphabetic characters stamped on British and some international silver to indicate the year of manufacture. To read them, identify the assay office mark (e.g., a leopard’s head for London) and match the accompanying letter’s font, case, and shield shape to a reliable hallmark chart. A specific letter like “A” cycles…

Silver purity marks indicate the fineness of the metal, with 925 representing sterling silver (92.5% pure), the standard for US and British silverware. 800 and 835 denote lower-grade “coin silver” commonly found in German and Italian antiques, while 950 indicates high-purity silver often seen in French Britannia standards. These impressed numbers act as a guarantee…

Authentic Gorham silver is identified by the standard Lion, Anchor, and G trademark found on the underside of sterling pieces. Items manufactured between 1868 and 1884 bear a capital letter date code (A-Q), while pieces from 1885 to 1933 feature specific year symbols, such as a wolf or an anchor. Always verify the “Sterling” stamp…

Authentic American silver can be identified by locating specific maker’s trademarks (like Gorham’s lion-anchor-G or Tiffany & Co.’s strict block lettering) and verifying the metal purity stamp. Unlike British silver, which uses a date letter system, American pieces typically feature the word STERLING or the number 925 (for 92.5% purity) stamped directly on the base…

Authentic British sterling silver is identified by a legally enforced series of symbols known as hallmarks: the Standard Mark (usually a Lion Passant indicating 92.5% purity), the Town Mark (Assay Office location), the Date Letter, and the Maker’s Mark. Used since the 14th century, this system guarantees the quality of the metal and allows for…

The 925 stamp signifies Sterling Silver, meaning the piece contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% strengthening alloy, typically copper. This standard has been the legal requirement for “Sterling” in the US since the Stamping Act of 1906. Unlike silver plate, which has zero intrinsic silver value, 925 silver holds consistent market value based on its…