Kansas City Metro · Lenexa, KS
Silver Purity Guide — Sterling, Coin Silver, and .999 Fine
Not all silver is the same. Sterling silver, coin silver, fine silver, and silverplate all look similar but have vastly different values. Here's how to tell them apart and what each is worth at market.
The silver purity scale
Silver purity is expressed as parts-per-thousand. The higher the number, the more pure silver by weight.
- .999 or .9999 Fine — 99.9%+ pure silver. Silver rounds, bars, and modern bullion coins (American Eagles).
- .925 Sterling — 92.5% pure silver. The standard for silver flatware, jewelry, tea services, and holloware.
- .900 Coin Silver — 90% pure silver. US pre-1965 dimes, quarters, halves, and silver dollars.
- .800 European Silver — 80% pure silver. Older European and German holloware.
- Silverplate — a thin layer of silver over base metal. Not valued for silver content.
How to identify sterling silver
Sterling is stamped 'Sterling', 'STER', '.925', or '925'. Look on the underside of flatware handles, the base of holloware, and on jewelry clasps. English sterling carries hallmarks — a lion passant, a city mark, and a date letter. American manufacturers usually just stamp 'STERLING' plainly.
How to market silverplate (and why it isn't worth much)
Silverplate is stamped with clues: 'EPNS' (electroplated nickel silver), 'A1', 'Silver on Copper', 'Community Plate', 'Rogers', 'Oneida', 'Wm. Rogers', 'International Silver Co.' without a sterling mark. Silverplate has a very thin silver layer over a nickel or copper base — usually less than $0.01 of recoverable silver per piece. We don't buy silverplate for silver content.
Note that many famous silverplate brands (Rogers, Oneida, Community) also produced true sterling. Look for the word 'Sterling' or '925' to confirm.
Example: what's your sterling flatware worth?
A single sterling silver dinner fork typically weighs 60–80 grams, and a full 12-piece sterling flatware set adds up quickly. Actual value depends on total silver weight, the pattern, and the current market — bring your set in for a live evaluation.
US 90% silver coins
All US dimes, quarters, and halves dated 1964 or earlier are 90% silver (except 1965–1970 half dollars which are 40%). Their value moves with the market — bring what you have in and we'll evaluate on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is '925' the same as sterling?
Yes. 925 means 92.5% pure silver, which is the exact definition of sterling silver.
Do you buy silverplated flatware?
No — silverplate contains too little silver to recover economically. Only .925 sterling and higher purities are worth buying for silver content.
What are 'junk silver' coins?
It's the industry term for pre-1965 US 90% silver dimes, quarters, and halves. 'Junk' isn't an insult — it means non-collector-grade coins valued for silver content.
How do I know if my old flatware is sterling?
Check the back of a handle for 'Sterling' or '925'. If there's no mark, or if it says 'plate' or 'EPNS', it's silverplate.
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