How to Sell Sterling Silver Flatware for the Best Price
Tucked away in china cabinets and storage boxes across Upstate South Carolina are sets of sterling silver flatware that families no longer use — and often do not realize are worth significant money.
If you have inherited a set, found one at an estate sale, or simply have silverware sitting unused, this guide will help you understand what you have, what it is worth, and how to sell it for the best possible price.
Is It Sterling Silver or Silver-Plated?
This is the first and most important question. Sterling silver and silver-plated flatware look similar but have very different values.
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver throughout the entire piece. It is marked with:
- "Sterling" (most common on American pieces)
- "925" or ".925"
- "92.5"
- "EPNS" (Electroplated Nickel Silver)
- "Silver Plate"
- "A1" or "AA"
- "Quadruple Plate"
- No marking at all
Look for the marking on the back of a fork or spoon handle. If you see "Sterling," you have something valuable.
The Major Sterling Silver Flatware Makers
The brand matters. Some makers command a premium above melt value because of their craftsmanship, pattern rarity, and collector demand.
Top American Sterling Flatware Makers:
- Tiffany & Co. — The most prestigious American silver maker. Certain Tiffany patterns sell for well above melt value.
- Gorham — One of the largest and most prolific American makers. Patterns like Chantilly and Strasbourg are highly collectible.
- Reed & Barton — Known for patterns like Francis I and Marlborough.
- Wallace — Grand Baroque is one of the most popular sterling patterns ever made.
- Towle — Old Master and King Richard are sought-after patterns.
- International Silver — Joan of Arc and other patterns have strong collector followings.
- Lunt — Eloquence and other patterns remain popular.
- Kirk Stieff — Repousse is one of the most recognized American sterling patterns.
- Whiting — Known for ornate Victorian-era patterns.
Notice and Warning
Flatware marked as "International Sterling" is real, solid sterling silver. It is composed of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper (or other alloys) for strength. However, because the company produced both sterling and plated lines, you must carefully check the hallmarks.
How to Verify Real Sterling
Understanding the hallmark stamps on the back or bottom of the pieces is the best way to confirm you have real sterling:
- Look for the words: "International Sterling" or "Sterling by International".
- Look for the purity numbers: Real pieces will frequently be stamped with "925" or "0.925".
- The "IS" Mark: The historic International Silver Company produced a massive amount of plated flatware. The letters "IS" stand for "International Silver," but this mark alone only indicates the maker — not that it is sterling.
- Plated Indications: If a piece is marked "IS" but the word "Sterling" or the number "925" is missing, it is silver-plated (a thin layer of silver over a base metal) and holds much less value.
- Knife Blades: For sterling flatware sets, the handles are solid sterling, but the knife blades are almost always made of stainless steel (for sharpness and durability) and are sometimes hollow or filled.
What to Watch Out For
How Sterling Flatware Is Valued
Melt Value
Every piece of sterling flatware has a melt value based on its weight and the current silver spot price:
Most dealers price sterling flatware in grams.
Weight (troy oz) × 0.925 × Kitco.com silver spot price = Melt value. To determine gram prices you divide the melt value price you got by 31.1033 and that will give you the per gram price for melt.
Let's say you have a spoon that weighs 1 oz. At $65/oz silver:
$65 x .925 x 1 = $60.13 melt value per spoon by the ounce price and divide that by 31.1033 = $1.93 per gram
A complete service for 12 (typically 60–80 pieces) can easily have $2,000–$4,000 or more in silver content alone.
Melt value is deceptive because if your sterling set has no value above melt — because there is no collector value or your set is damaged — then it is only worth its silver content. To extract real money from that silver, it needs to go to a refiner who needs to make a profit. It costs money to mail sterling to the refiner and the payout for sterling from a refiner (in current market conditions, June 2026) is typically 75% to 85% to the submitter. And then the dealer needs to make a reasonable profit from that. That's the real world scenario. Hopefully, your sterling has collector value.
Pattern and Maker Premium
Rare or highly collectible patterns from prestigious makers can sell for significantly more than melt value. A complete Tiffany Chrysanthemum service for 12 in excellent condition, for example, is worth far more than its silver weight.
At Clemson Coins, we evaluate both the silver content and the collector market for your specific pattern before making an offer.
Condition
Flatware in excellent condition with minimal wear commands better prices than heavily worn or damaged pieces. However, even worn sterling is worth its silver content — do not throw anything away.
What to Bring In
Bring everything:
- All flatware pieces (forks, knives, spoons, serving pieces)
- Any original storage chest or rolls
- Any documentation, receipts, or appraisals you have
Where NOT to Sell Sterling Flatware
Antique malls and consignment shops take a significant commission and may sit on your pieces for months.
Online auction sites require photography, listing, shipping, and fees — and you may not get the best price without a strong collector audience.
Pawn shops are generalists who typically offer well below market value on silver.
"We buy silver" mailers — like gold mail-in buyers, these operations count on sellers not knowing the true value of what they are sending.
Why Clemson Coins Is the Right Choice
We buy sterling silver flatware every week from customers across Upstate South Carolina and beyond. We know the major makers, the collectible patterns, and the current market for both melt value and collector pieces.
When you bring your flatware to us:
- We weigh every piece on a certified scale
- We identify the maker and pattern
- We check current silver spot prices and collector market data
- We make you a fair offer that reflects both melt value and any collector premium
Bring Your Sterling Silver to Clemson Coins
Located in Pendleton, South Carolina — convenient to Greenville, Anderson, Clemson, and all of Upstate SC — we are ready to evaluate your sterling silver flatware at no charge and with no obligation.
Walk in any time during business hours. No appointment needed.
Clemson Coins, Currency and Bullion Pendleton, South Carolina
We look forward to seeing what you have.