We Buy & Appraise Sterling Silver Spoons, Forks, Trays, Pitchers, Flatware and Other Silverware Items

Contact us today if you are interested in finding out the value of your sterling silver or have sterling silver pieces you are interested in selling. Please fill out the contact form below or call 919-756-7616.

Selling Sterling Silver in Raleigh, NC

A Helpful Guide to Understanding and Selling Your Sterling Silver

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Have sterling silver flatware, serving pieces, or antique silver that you're considering selling? At Carolina Rare Coins and Currency in Raleigh, North Carolina, we purchase sterling silver in a wide variety of forms, from individual forks and spoons to complete flatware sets, antique serving pieces, and fine silver made by renowned manufacturers such as Tiffany & Co. and Gorham.

Whether you've inherited a collection, have sterling silver that's been sitting unused for years, or simply want to know what your silver is worth, we're happy to help.

Not all sterling silver is valued the same way. Some pieces have additional value because of their age, maker, rarity, or desirability, while others are primarily worth their silver content.

We've put together this guide to answer some of the most common questions we receive from customers looking to sell sterling silver.

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1. There's No Need to Polish Your Silver Before Selling

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One of the most common questions we hear is whether sterling silver needs to be cleaned or polished before bringing it in.

The answer is no.

Cleaning your sterling silver generally won't increase the amount you'll receive when selling it. In fact, improper cleaning or aggressive polishing can sometimes negatively affect the value of antique or collectible pieces.

Whether your silver is beautifully polished or has spent decades tucked away in a drawer, we're happy to evaluate it just as it is.

Save yourself the time and effort and bring it in for an evaluation.

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2. Some Antique Sterling Silver Is Worth More Than Its Silver Content

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While much of the sterling silver we purchase is valued primarily for its precious metal content, certain pieces can command a premium because of their collectible or historical significance.

Desirable flatware patterns from manufacturers such as Tiffany & Co., Gorham, and other prominent silversmiths may have value beyond their silver weight.

Early American coin silver, particularly pieces dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, can also be collectible. The same is true of certain antique pitchers, tea services, trays, bowls, and other holloware.

Factors that can influence collector value include:

• Manufacturer or silversmith

• Age and historical significance

• Rarity and desirability of the pattern

• Condition and completeness

• Overall craftsmanship and design

At Carolina Rare Coins and Currency, we understand the importance of identifying pieces that may have additional value before treating them simply as scrap silver.

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3. Sterling Silver Knives Are Usually Weighted

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If you've tried weighing your sterling silver flatware at home, it's important to understand that not every piece contains the same proportion of silver.

Most sterling silver dinner knives have hollow sterling handles filled with a weighted material. The blades are typically made of stainless steel.

As a result, the total weight of a sterling-handled knife is not an accurate representation of its actual silver content.

This is an important distinction when estimating the value of a flatware set. Forks and spoons are generally solid sterling silver, while knives and certain serving utensils may contain considerably less silver than their total weight suggests.

We account for these differences when evaluating sterling silver flatware so that our offers reflect the actual silver content of the pieces.

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4. Rising Silver Prices Have Changed How Sterling Silver Is Valued

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One of the biggest changes in the sterling silver market has been the relationship between the value of the silver itself and the collectible or decorative value of finished pieces.

Years ago, when silver prices were substantially lower, a sterling silver pitcher or flatware set might have sold for considerably more than its intrinsic silver value because someone wanted to use or display it.

As silver prices have risen, that relationship has changed.

Consider a sterling silver serving piece containing 10 troy ounces of actual silver. When silver was $15 per ounce, its metal value was approximately $150. A buyer might have willingly paid $300 for the finished piece because of its appearance, craftsmanship, or usefulness.

At a hypothetical silver price of $70 per ounce, that same piece would contain approximately $700 worth of silver. Its intrinsic metal value may now exceed what most buyers would pay for it as a decorative or functional object.

This is why many common sterling silver flatware patterns and serving pieces are now valued primarily for their silver content rather than their usefulness or collectible appeal.

That doesn't mean your sterling silver isn't valuable. Quite the opposite. Higher silver prices can make previously overlooked flatware sets and household silver worth a substantial amount of money.

We evaluate sterling silver with both its precious metal content and any potential collectible value in mind.

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5. Not Everything That Looks Like Silver Is Sterling Silver

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Many people inherit silver-colored flatware or serving pieces without knowing whether they're made of genuine sterling silver.

Unfortunately, not everything that looks like silver contains significant precious metal value.

Genuine sterling silver is generally composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, most commonly copper.

Sterling pieces are frequently marked with stamps such as:

• STERLING

• 925

• 925/1000

• STERLING SILVER

However, markings alone aren't always conclusive, and some genuine antique silver may carry unfamiliar hallmarks.

Items marked EPNS, Silverplate, Silver Plated, or A1 are generally silver-plated rather than solid sterling silver.

Certain pieces may also be marked Coin Silver, which typically indicates a silver alloy of approximately 90% purity, although actual composition can vary.

If you're unsure what you have, bring it to Carolina Rare Coins and Currency. We can examine your pieces, identify relevant markings, and evaluate their silver content.

You don't need to know exactly what you have before visiting us.

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Sell Your Sterling Silver at Carolina Rare Coins and Currency

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Whether you have a single sterling silver serving piece, a complete flatware service, or an inherited collection of antique silver, Carolina Rare Coins and Currency is interested in buying your sterling silver.

We purchase sterling silver flatware, tea sets, trays, bowls, pitchers, candlesticks, and many other forms of household and antique silver.

As an established Raleigh precious metals and collectibles dealer, we understand that selling inherited or long-owned family silver can raise questions about value, authenticity, and the selling process.

Our goal is to provide a straightforward evaluation and a competitive purchase offer based on the silver content and any additional collectible value.

Have sterling silver you'd like to sell? Contact Carolina Rare Coins and Currency or visit our Raleigh location to have your silver evaluated.