Silver Seller Guide
Sterling, fine, coin silver or plated — here's how to tell what you actually have
The difference between sterling silver and silver plate can be hundreds of pounds on a typical collection. Here's how to tell them apart.
Why British Gold Exchange
40+
Years in the precious metals business
£0
Cost to request your free insured postal pack
24h
Maximum time to receive your firm, itemised offer
100%
Of items returned free if you decline
Ready to get a valuation?
The short answer
UK hallmarks are the most reliable method — for everything else, XRF testing is definitive
In the United Kingdom, silver items sold as silver above 7.78 grams must carry an assay office hallmark by law. The hallmark is the most reliable way to identify purity — it's legally guaranteed and cannot be counterfeited on a legitimate item. Look for a lion passant (the UK sterling mark) or a purity number such as 925 (sterling) or 999 (fine silver).
Many items — particularly cutlery, older European silverware, coin silver pieces, and foreign items — may not carry a UK hallmark but are still genuine silver. XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis is the industry-standard method for confirming purity without damaging the piece. It's accurate to within 0.1% and takes seconds.
Silver-plated items have a base metal core with a thin silver coating — typically less than 0.5% of the total weight is silver. They have essentially no silver value as scrap and cannot be sold for their metal content. The markings to watch for are EPNS (electroplated nickel silver), EP, A1, and SHEFFIELD PLATE — none of these are solid silver.
What affects it
Silver types and what each one means
How it works
From first contact to payment
Request Your Free Pack
We post a fully insured, tracked Royal Mail freepost envelope. No cost, no commitment required.
Send Your Items
Use our supplied packaging and post your items. They are covered by our insurance from the moment you drop them at the post office.
Receive Your Offer
Every piece is XRF-tested to confirm its exact silver content. The offer is based on the verified reading, not your estimate.
Get Paid
Accept and receive a same-day bank transfer. Decline and we return every item free of charge — no questions asked.
Common questions
Questions we hear most
How do I check for a UK silver hallmark?
Look inside rings, on the clasp of necklaces, under the base of candlesticks, and on the back of spoons near the handle. The lion passant (a walking lion) is the sterling mark for England and Wales. You'll also see a date letter, maker's mark and assay office symbol.
What does EPNS mean on my cutlery?
EPNS stands for Electroplated Nickel Silver — it means the item has a nickel base with a thin silver coating. It has no significant silver value. We return EPNS items free of charge after testing.
My item says '800' — is that silver?
Yes. 800 fineness means 80% pure silver, a standard common in European continental silverware. It is worth slightly less per gram than sterling (92.5%) but is still genuine silver with a real market value.
Can I test silver at home before sending?
You can use a magnet (silver is not magnetic — but neither are many non-silver metals, so this only rules things out), look for hallmarks, or use an acid test kit. However, XRF testing is far more accurate and we do it for free — there's no advantage to home testing before sending.
I have some pre-decimal coins — are they silver?
UK silver coins minted before 1920 are 92.5% silver (sterling). Coins minted 1920–1946 are 50% silver. Coins minted 1947 onwards are cupronickel with no silver. The year on the coin tells you which category it falls into.
Get Started
Not sure what you have? Send it — we'll tell you
Every item is XRF-tested on receipt. If it's silver, we'll offer you a fair price. If it's plated, we'll return it free. No guessing required.