Sterling Silver Forks and Spoons

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

If you were to find a real good deal at a yard sale (below the bullion price for silver) on a lot of silver forks and spoons, what or how would you keep it?? I worry about melting it down into silver ingots because you would have no way of proving that it were silver. If you left them "as is", the markings on the back of the spoon or fork are proof that the piece of silver is truly silver and has the assay mark on it.

It's why I really like to buy my junk silver in quarters, dimes, etc. They are known quantities and are in spendable chunks. BTW, as of Friday silver was at $43.25 an ounce. A silver quarter has a silver value of $7.82 and a dime is $3.12. When I last purchased quarters they were $3.25 each and that was just over a year ago. Not a bad investment.

Any other ideas??

[Betho]

Depending on how good the deal was, I'd take it to my local jeweler/silver trader (ours deals in all forms of silver, including flatware) and see if they would swap me for junk silver or silver bars. I have a few silver forks I keep on hand but I agree that it will be a lot easier to prove value with the silver coins or stamped bars.

[tinknal]

Maybe cut out the assay mark and set it into the ingot before it cools?

[bee]

Hmmm...I could make several assay marks go a llloooonnngg way by imbeding them in pewter ingots.....

I like the swap the flatware out for junk silver or ounce rounds..or sell it for FRNs and buy preps...????

[NELSELGNE]

I thought SILVERWARE was just silver-plated.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by NELSELGNE

I thought SILVERWARE was just silver-plated.

That would would be called silver plate service of which the original poster did not mention.

From an online dictionary for silverware, Dishes, containers, or cutlery made of or coated with silver.

One usually hears the solid silver kind of service referred to as Sterling while the plate is referred to as silverware. Example, Would you get out the Sterling please. Would you polish the silverware please.

[Windy in Kansas]

YuccaFlatsRanch, I don't want to get the thread off track, but is there any way to salvage the silver off of silver plated ware?

I have quite a lot of it that is too worn for proper use that I had figured on making wind chimes with. Decided against that.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

I doubt there is enough silver on silver plate to make any difference.

[Heritagefarm]

Originally Posted by YuccaFlatsRanch

I worry about melting it down into silver ingots because you would have no way of proving that it were silver.

Personally, I would use them. Be sure and tell your guests how much money you have, LOL!
Actually there is a way to tell. Hold a match against the silver; ignite the match. If it is silver, it will react to form silver on the surface. The sulfide wipes off very easily.
Knowing the quality is harder. All metals have a different melting point, therefore you could make ingots provided the entire thing melted at 1763.2 °F, which is the melting point of silver. Also, if you know the total volume of the silver, you can weigh it to find the purity.
3 different ways to prove it is silver; I'm sure there are more!

[Heritagefarm]

Originally Posted by NELSELGNE

I thought SILVERWARE was just silver-plated.

Most "silver"ware is stainless steel, which is a chrome/iron alloy. Chrome plated silverware would probably be too dangerous to use, on account of chipping.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

Most "silver"ware is stainless steel, which is a chrome/iron alloy. Chrome plated silverware would probably be too dangerous to use, on account of chipping.

Perhaps a matter of everyday terms vs. a purer correct form, but silverware or silver plate would contain either silver or a plating of it.

Tableware on the other hand could be plastic, stainless steel, etc. Many families do call tableware silverware although that is entirely improper since it contains no silver.

[edcopp]

Sterling silver is a bit harder to turn into cash than junk silver. It is also a bit easier to get confused on the markings on silverware. It is not unusual for someone to buy silverware that they thought was sterling and find out later that is was not.

When I come across sterling silver at yard sales etc., which is not very often; I sell it as soon as possible at my local antique mall. Then I put the money into silver dollars, other junk silver, or some other item that is easier to figure the value of.

If times get real hard and I need to do some trading with you, and I have 2 silver forks and 1 silver dollar which will you be the most interested in?

[Maura]

Sterling will be marked "sterling" or "99". It's valuable, and may be more valuable as an antique than silver by the ounce.

[edcopp]

The actual marking number for sterling is .925. That is to say that it is 92.5% pure silver. The word sterling is also used to indicate .925 purity. Other terms or words may mean something else.

[oregon woodsmok]

Sterling tableware should be worth more than spot price, unless it is damaged.

People are always looking to fill in their pattern. Name of the pattern and company should be marked on the underside.

It's actually rather nice to keep it as flatware and eat with it.

[Nina]

Although American sterling is more pure than European sterling, it isn't as pure as one ounce silver coins such as the American Silver Eagle. The Canadian Maple Leaf is even more pure. If you made colloidal silver with it you would poison yourself. If you don't want to keep it as flatware or sell it as flatware, you might want to consider sending it to a refiner.
This one is supposed to have a good reputation although I've not dealt with them personally: http://midwestrefineries.com/