We Buy Silver Sets

Do you have an old silver set that’s just collecting dust? Maybe you inherited it, or it was given to you by a relative. Maybe you forgot about it and just found it again.

If you’re like most folks, you’re not using that old silver set. Why not sell it for a great price? Midlands Gold buys modern and antique silver sets and servingware.

We understand that some items can hold sentimental value. On the other hand, times change. Things that once were treasured keepsakes can outlive their usefulness, and take up space and tie up money. If you’d like to unlock the cash value of your antique silver, call us now to get started.

Table of Contents

About Silver Sets

What is a Silver Set?

When it comes to old silver, sterling flatware is king. Complete sets include an assortment of forks, knives and spoons. Many include soup ladles and pie servers. Place settings and other pieces store securely in a wood case. Typical sterling silver sets accommodate up to 12 people.

Then there are tea sets, comprised of a silver pitcher, silver teacups, and perhaps a sugar bowl and milk pourer. We also see fine silver platters and trays, sometimes with small silver serving dishes and gravy boats. We’ve come across sterling silver plates, pastry racks, butter dishes, salt and pepper shakers, candlesticks and more.

History of Silver Sets

Since colonial times, owners of fine silver would bring it out for special occasions. It was pomp and tradition (inherited from the Brits). The popularity of large silver sets began to wane, in the US, by the 1990s. The old model of high society has changed. Now, nobody sets a table with fine silver.

Problems with Silver Sets

First, sterling silverware isn’t a social signal anymore. Setting a table with it would seem more odd than impressive to your company. Second, silver tarnishes and requires maintenance. Spending hours polishing silver, just to use it rarely or let it sit unused, is not fun or practical.

Probably, if you’re under 70 years old and own a silver set, somebody gave it to you. They may have bought the entire set at once. Commonly, though, middle class folks purchased place settings or pieces one at a time, as they could afford them.

So that silver set represented something special to them. It was an idea of wealth. By giving it to you, they may have hoped to pass on that special-ness. You can appreciate that.

Nonetheless, old fashions expire, like parasols and butterfly collars. Now, that silver set feels like clutter and extra work. Moreover, it could be turned into a substantial amount of cash to pay for something more useful and desirable to you.

Selling Your Silver Set

Old Silver Markings

If you’d like to sell your silver set to Midlands Gold, check the pieces for silver markings. These markings can be stamped or cast and raised. They indicate the purity of your silver and are found on the back or bottom of silver items. Generally, if an item is unmarked, it’s 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

Lots of antique silver pieces 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. The main question is whether or not your items display any of the markings listed above.

On the other hand, if you see one of the following markings, you’ll know the item is only silver-plated.

These markings indicate that your items are silver-plated:

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

A 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 consist of a weighted plaster or lead core (to add strength and counterbalance the blade), wrapped with a thin layer of silver.

We’ll Buy Your Silver Set

Bring us your old flatware, platters, tea sets and everything else. If it’s silver, Midlands Gold will buy it. More importantly, we’ll pay you well for it.

What’s Next?

Midlands Gold buys gold, platinum and silver of all kinds. How can we help you? Presumably, you’re interested in selling to us. Otherwise, you may be looking into a scrap gold fundraiser for your organization. We’ll explain everything and answer your questions. Click a button below to learn how each service works.

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Old Silver Sets Questions & Answers

We’re glad you asked. Learn more about Midlands Gold on our About Us page.

You must be 21 years or older to sell precious metals 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.

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, we invite you to call us at 803-272-GOLD or visit our page about Jewelry.

If you have questions about coins, we invite you to call us at 803-272-GOLD or visit our page about Coins & Rounds.

If you have questions about bullion bars, we invite you to call us at 803-272-GOLD or visit our page about Bars & Ingots.

If you have questions about dental gold, we invite you to call us at 803-272-GOLD or visit our page about Dental Gold.

If you have questions about selling your gold, we invite you to call us at 803-272-GOLD or visit our page about Selling Your Gold.