How Much Is Silverware & Silver Worth?
The first question with any silverware is sterling or plated — it changes the value 20x. Sterling (marked 925, STERLING, or hallmarked) has melt value as a floor plus collector value on top; silverplate is worth mostly its looks. The tiny marks on the back tell you which you have.
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What silverware & silver actually sold for
Short answer: Based on 45 real completed eBay sales in the US (checked November 4, 2026), silverware & silver typically sold for $70–$99 (median per model): Towle Old Master sterling dinner fork at about $99, Reed & Barton Francis I sterling teaspoon at about $70.
Real completed sales on eBay in the US — what buyers paid, not what sellers are asking. Each sale is checked to be the exact item; graded copies, lots, parts and Best Offer sales (where eBay hides the real price) are left out. Updated November 4, 2026 · 45 sales checked.
"Pay at most to flip" is FlipTip's rule of thumb for resellers — the typical sale ÷ 1.6, which leaves room for eBay's fee (about 13%), shipping and a solid profit; "—" = too cheap to flip one at a time. Tap a price to work out your own number.
"Typical sale" is the median. "Most sold between" is the middle of the market — the middle 70% of sales when there are six or more, otherwise the lowest to the highest. Your item's condition, completeness and exact version move it inside — or outside — that range, so scan yours for its own number — or see how to check eBay sold prices yourself.
Flipping silverware & silver?
At the stall the question isn't what it's worth — it's the most you can pay and still make money after the fees and the shipping label. The "Pay at most to flip" column above gives a starting number for each model.
Free, no account. Or scan it at the stall — FlipTip gives you the max price to pay on the spot (try one scan free, no sign-up).
What decides the value of silverware & silver
Sterling vs. plate
'STERLING', '925', or official hallmarks (lion passant in the UK) = solid silver. 'EPNS', 'Silverplate', 'A1', 'IS' = plated, minimal metal value.
Weight & melt floor
Sterling is 92.5% silver — weigh it and the silver price sets a floor. Weighted pieces (candlesticks with filled bases) contain far less silver than they weigh.
Maker & pattern
Georg Jensen, Tiffany, early American coin silver and ornate Victorian patterns sell well above melt. Pattern identification matters for flatware.
Completeness
Full flatware services for 8/12 with serving pieces in the original chest sell best; odd pieces sell to pattern-matchers.
Typical price ranges
Broad secondhand-market ranges to orient you — the exact value of your item depends on the precise model, edition and condition. Scan it for the real number.
💡 How FlipTip prices it
Point your camera at the item. FlipTip identifies the exact model, edition and era, checks real listings on your country's marketplaces, and gives you a price range, a sell-speed score and a worth-it-or-skip verdict — before you buy or sell.
You also see the most to pay at the stall and your profit after fees. On paid plans and the free trial, in countries with a local eBay, the price comes with the item’s real completed sales — with dates you can open and check.
Silverware & Silver — FAQ
How do I know if it's real silver?
Look for marks: STERLING, 925, or country hallmarks mean solid silver. EPNS/plate marks mean plated. No marks usually means plated or another metal. Scan the marks with FlipTip and it identifies the standard and maker.
Should I sell sterling for melt or to collectors?
Check the pattern first. Common patterns near melt value can go to a refiner; recognized patterns and makers sell 30–100% above melt to collectors — never melt Jensen or Tiffany.
Is tarnished silver worth less?
No — tarnish is superficial and expected. Don't machine-polish antique pieces; over-polishing softens details and can reduce collector value.
Resale prices of exact models
Each page shows what that one model actually sold for on eBay, what you keep after fees and the latest sales.
More value guides
Stop guessing at the shelf
Thrift store, garage sale, flea market or your own attic — scan the item and know if it's a find or a pass.
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