We Buy Silver Sets

Do you have old sterling silver flatware or a serving set that’s just collecting dust? If you’re like most folks, you’re not using that old silver set. Nobody in your family wants it, and you don’t know what do with it. Maybe you even forgot about it for a while. Meanwhile, it sits unused in a drawer or closet.

Why not sell that silver for a great price? Midlands Gold buys new and antique silver sets and servingware.

Your old silverware may hold sentimental value. On the other hand, times change. Things that once were treasured keepsakes can outlive their usefulness, become clutter, and tie up money. If you’d like to unlock the cash value of your old silver, call us now to get started.

sterling silver flatware set that we buy

Table of Contents

Old Silver Flatware & Serving Sets

What is a Silver Set?

Most old silver flatware sets are composed of .925 sterling silver. A few others are made of .900 coin silver or .800 silver. Complete sterling flatware sets include two kinds of forks and spoons, and butter knives. Many sets include serving pieces, such as soup ladles and pie servers. All pieces store securely in a wood case. These sets accommodate up to 12 people.

Then there are silver serving sets and pieces. Large sterling tea sets include a silver pitcher, sugar bowl, milk pourer, and teacups and saucers. Otherwise, you may have any of the following pieces: fine silver platters or trays, pastry racks, gravy boats, butter dishes, salt and pepper shakers, candlesticks, and more.

History of Silver Serving Sets

Since colonial times, owners of fine silver would use it for special occasions. This pomp and tradition was inherited from the Brits. It was common to use sterling flatware and serving pieces on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and at meals shared with special company. Here in the states, the popularity of sterling flatware began to wane by the 1990s. These days, we’re more likely to use paper plates for guests.

The Modern View of Old Silver

That old silver represented something special to somebody. As the original owner, you would remember buying pieces over the years and using them for so many events. As an inheritor, you may remember it from childhood. On the other hand, you may have no attachment to it at all.

In any case, it served somebody well for many years. But old fashions expire, like parasols and butterfly collars. And it has outlasted its useful life, like your favorite sweater that no longer fits.

people discussing why to sell their old silver sets

Now, nobody wants that silver set. It’s just clutter. And the thought of spending hours polishing it simply doesn’t fit anybody’s lifestyle anymore.

Selling Your Silver Set

we buy sterling silver serving pieces

Old Silver Markings

Thinking of selling your old silver set? Before calling Midlands Gold, check the pieces for silver markings. These markings can be stamped or cast and raised. They are found on the back or bottom of silver serving pieces.

The markings indicate whether your item is silver (and what kind of silver) or simply silver plated. Your pieces can bear countless other markings. However, the following markings confirm that the pieces are true silver. If unmarked, the pieces are not true silver.

These markings indicate that your items are silver:

  • 800 (80% silver)
  • 850 (85% silver)
  • 900 (90% silver)
  • Coin Silver (90% silver)
  • 925 (“sterling”, 92.5% silver)
  • STER, STERLING or Sterling

Many antique silver serving sets bear unique hallmarks. These numbers, letters, shapes, and images indicate the maker, the series, the year and other details. These details are a matter of curiosity; most of them have no bearing on silver content (unless you see a lion head or anchor).

Your may see various maker names on your silver. These are irrelevant. Gorham, Rogers, Roger Bros, and Oneida all made sterling and silverplate sets. So these names don’t matter if the markings listed above are not present. Conversely, any of the following markings will tell you the item is not sterling.

These markings indicate that your items are silverplate:

  • EP (electroplate)
  • EPNS (Electroplated Nickle Silver)
  • Triple Plated Silver
  • Community Silver

Note About Knives

Let’s assume that your spoons and forks are marked as sterling silver. Yet you see “Stainless” or “Stainless Steel” on your knives. What does this mean?

Silver knives are different from other pieces of sterling flatware in two ways. First, knife blades are stainless steel. Silver is a soft metal, so silver blades would be impractical. Second, knife handles are not entirely silver. They are composed of a thin silver wrap, weighted with a plaster or lead core (to add strength and counterbalance the blade).

We’ll Buy Your Silver Set

Your old silver serving set may be worth several hundred to over a thousand dollars. Instead of a pile of tarnished silver, wouldn’t you rather have a substantial amount of cash? That can buy something more useful and desirable to you, or somebody else. Call Midlands Gold now to get started!

old silver sets are worth a lot of money

Silver Sets: Questions & Answers

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Yes. You must be 21 years or older to sell your gold to Midlands Gold.

Yes. Midlands Gold is required by law to see and retain a copy of the seller’s Drivers License, along with some biographical information and details of the transaction.

Midlands Gold offers you benefits that you won’t find elsewhere. Click here to learn more about these unique benefits.

To find out what happens at appointments, call us at 803-272-GOLD or click here to walk through the process of selling your gold.

Maybe. Silver-plating techniques have been practiced for centuries. So age doesn’t necessarily indicate that your silverware is real silver. Look for purity markings on the items.

As a general rule, unmarked silverware is not silver. However, even a medium-sized set can be worth hundreds of dollars if you see any of the following markings on the pieces: 800, 850, 900, 925, Coin Silver, STER, STERLING, or Sterling.

No. Midlands Gold does not buy silver-plated items. The actual precious metal content of such items is negligible.

Yes. We buy other kinds of antique silver besides servingware. These include silver candlestick holders and candelabras, goblets and sculptures. Typically, these items contain less silver than you would expect, though. They’re weighted silver, which means they’re wrapped in a thin layer of silver but contain a partial or full plaster or metal core.

No. Midlands Gold doesn’t perform any appraisals.

Let’s say your antique silver flatware bears silver markings on the spoons and forks. Yet the knives are marked “stainless”. That’s normal.

Knives are different than spoons and forks in two ways. First, the blade is made of stainless steel. Silver is a soft metal, so a sterling blade would be impractical. Second, the handles are not solid silver. They are composed of a thin layer of silver wrapped around a plaster or lead core; this gives the handles strength and counterbalances the steel blade.

Your antique silver may bear unfamiliar hallmarks. Sometimes, clients ask what these hallmarks mean. There are thousands of silver hallmarks, so I can only answer this in general terms. These numbers, letters, shapes and images reference the maker (also called a “maker’s mark”), the series, the year, or other information.

If you have questions about jewelry, please call us at 803-272-GOLD or click here to learn more about jewelry.

If you have questions about coins, please call us at 803-272-GOLD or click here to learn more about coins and rounds.

If you have questions about antique silver, please call us at 803-272-GOLD or click here to learn more about silver sets.

If you have questions about dental gold, please call us at 803-272-GOLD or click here to learn more about dental gold.