Gold £—/gSilver £—/g

Sell Invest

Silver seller guide

Melt value or collectible value: how we decide which calculation pays you more

Most silver is sold for its melt value, but some coins are worth significantly more to a collector. We check both and offer whichever is higher.

Why British Gold Exchange

40+

Years in the precious metals business

£0

Cost to request your free insured postal pack

24h

To receive your firm, itemised offer once your items arrive

100%

Of items returned free if you decline

Ready to get a valuation?

The short answer

We work out both values, melt and collectible, and offer the higher

Every silver item has a minimum value: its melt value. This is the weight of pure silver it contains multiplied by the spot price, less the buyer's rate. For most silverware, jewellery and common bullion coins, melt value is the only value, because there is no meaningful collector premium to add.

Coins receive a second assessment. Certain dates, mintmarks, proof strikes and low-mintage issues trade at a premium above their silver content, sometimes well above. A rare-date silver coin is worth more to a collector or specialist dealer than it would fetch as scrap. We identify these pieces and apply the appropriate premium.

In practice, this means you never need to sort your collection before sending. Send everything together and we will assess each piece individually on both measures. Your fully itemised offer gives you the higher of the two.

What affects it

How we decide between melt and collectible value

Common bullion coinsBritannias, Maple Leafs, Kookaburras and Eagles are valued at up to 99% of the live spot price for their silver content. They carry no collectible premium, as they are minted in large numbers and bought and sold for their silver content.

Pre-decimal UK coinsPre-1920 coins (92.5% silver) and 1920–1946 coins (50% silver) are typically valued for melt. Certain rare dates, proof strikes and uncirculated examples carry collector premiums, and we check each one.

Proof and commemorativeModern proof silver coins, from The Royal Mint and others, often trade at a premium above melt because of their limited mintage and presentation. We assess these against secondary market sales data.

World silver coinsUS Morgan dollars, Peace dollars and pre-1965 US dimes, quarters and halves have significant collector markets for certain dates and mintmarks. We apply premiums where they are warranted.

Sterling silverwareCutlery, teapots, candlesticks and serving pieces are almost always valued for melt. Signed pieces by known makers such as Paul Storr or Hester Bateman can have antique value, so please contact us before sending if you think you have one.

Silver jewelleryAlmost always priced for melt. Designer or vintage pieces with a strong secondary market, such as Tiffany or Georg Jensen, may be worth more than melt, and we assess these where it applies.

Damaged or cleaned coinsCleaning or damage usually removes any collector premium, leaving the coin worth its melt value only. This is the main reason not to clean silver coins before selling.

Scrap / mixed silverBroken chains, odd earrings and damaged pieces are all valued at melt. Condition makes no difference to the silver content, so send everything.

How it works

From first contact to payment

Request your free pack

We dispatch your free pack the next working day, with a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label. There is no cost and no commitment.

Send your items

Pack your items in the packaging we supply and hand them in at a Post Office. They are insured up to £2,500 from then until they reach us. For items worth more, please contact us first.

Receive your offer

Every coin and piece is assessed for both melt value and any collectible premium. Your itemised offer gives you the higher of the two.

Get paid

If you accept before 3pm on a working day, you receive a same-day bank transfer. If you decline, we return every item free of charge, with no questions asked.

Common questions

Questions we hear most

How do I know if my coins have collectible value?

The main factors are the date, the mintmark, the condition (uncirculated or circulated) and whether it is a proof issue. If you think some coins might be valuable, particularly pre-1900 dates or clearly uncirculated examples, note them on your contents list and we will assess them carefully.

What if I think your collectible assessment is too low?

Our offer is fully itemised. If you believe a particular piece deserves a higher collectible premium, you can decline that item and have it returned while accepting the rest. There is no obligation to sell everything.

I've seen silver coins selling for much more on eBay. Why doesn't that apply?

eBay prices include buyer's premium, platform fees and selling time, and the prices people quote are often the highest sales rather than the average. A specialist buyer is buying from you, not selling to a final collector, so cannot match a retail price. For genuinely rare pieces, a specialist auction may achieve more than a trade buyer can offer.

Will you identify all my coins by type before making an offer?

Yes. Our offer letter identifies each coin by denomination, date and condition, shows both the melt value and any collectible assessment, and states which figure is used in your offer.

What's the difference between a bullion coin and a numismatic coin?

Bullion coins such as the Britannia, Maple Leaf and Eagle are produced for investment and traded purely on their metal content. Numismatic (collectible) coins are valued for their rarity, historical significance, condition or series, separately from their silver content.

Get started

Send your silver and we will assess melt and collectible value on every piece

Request your free insured pack and receive a fully itemised offer within 24 hours of your items reaching us. Each coin and piece is assessed individually, and you receive the higher value.

Send us a message