Tips Of The Trade
Silver 101

Here’s a crash course in the world of collecting, caring for and consigning the precious metal. To help, we’ve enlisted the expertise of Lee Drexler, President of Esquire Appraisals, Inc. and an appraiser, consultant and authority on the subject. We asked Drexler to school us on all things silver, so save those EBTH.com search keywords and get your pencils out, because class is now in session.
First thing’s first. How do we identify silver?
Know your markings. Let’s go over the most common hallmarks one might come across: “925” will be from the United States and most of South America. The “Lion Rampant” will be from England, along with the King’s or Queen’s head and a letter that corresponds to the date it was made. A helmeted man is from France – “800” is from Italy or Germany – “835” is from Denmark, and “84” is from Russia.
The marking “EP” is electroplate and “EPNS” is also plate.


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Vintage Sterling Money Clip with 1922 Peace Silver Dollar

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Vintage Anson Sterling Money Clip with 18K Accents and 1900 Morgan Silver Dollar

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Money and Gambling Themed Charms Including 1944 Mercury Dime

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Dragonfly and Cross Necklaces with Black Onyx and Diamond

What do collectors need to know about silverplate?
When a thin layer of pure or sterling silver is deposited on the surface of a base metal, that’s called electroplate or silverplate.

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Ancient Judaea a Bronze Prutah"Widow's Mite" Coin in Sterling Cross Pendant

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Vintage Charm Bracelets and Earrings with Mexican Centavo Coin Bracelet

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Proof Sterling Silver Charles Lindbergh Commemorative Medallions

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
History of the Spanish Peseta .925 Silver Coin Set
What silver manufacturers should we look out for?
The top manufacturers are Tiffany, Buccellati, Bulgari, Gorham, George Jensen and Robinson. If it’s not by these makers, you’re pretty much paying the weight value, so go to auctions and buy things that you like and can use.


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
J. Comes Mexican Modernist Sterling Silver Segmented Necklace

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Modernist Mexican Los Ballesteros Sterling Bracelet

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
S. Kirk & Son "Rose" Sterling Silver Flatware and Utensils, 1937–1991

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Magnesite and Shell Heishi Necklace

What pieces are the safest investments?
Those looking to invest might want to purchase silver coins instead of silverware. Silver coins might go up in value whereas ordinary silver that is not antique or by a well-known maker will only sell at weight.

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Vintage Brooches Including Forstner, Mexican, Sterling and 850 Silver

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
International Silver Paul Revere Porringer and Other Sterling Silver Tableware

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Topaz and Diamond Key Necklaces

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Flower and Heart Motif Door Knockers Earrings
Is there a time where a hallmark made all the difference in determining an ordinary piece from an extraordinary piece?
I recently did an appraisal for an Austrian woman who had a lot of silver, including a pair of candelabra with four crowns on them. In Europe, you were not allowed to use crown insignia unless you were royal, so as soon I saw these, I knew it was a royal piece. It was stamped with the English hallmark and maker’s mark, so I was able to determine the age and origin. After some research, I discovered it was part of a collection of six – the other four had sold at auction a couple of years earlier. At that time, the auction house discovered they had belonged to a German king who acquired them during a summer in London. The candelabra sold at Clarke Auction Gallery for a very high price.


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Rings Including Obsidian and Black Onyx

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Berber Style Sterling Agate, Amber and Faux Coral Necklace

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Modernist Sterling Malachite Pendant

What are high value pieces that someone might have in their home?
Coffee pots, pitchers, bowls, anything European with full hallmarks, or anything marked Tiffany or Gorham is collectible. There are miniature enameled clocks made in the late 19th and early 20th century that one might have and can be of value. The “84” hallmark is Russian silver, and Russian silver is very sought-after right now because it was all destroyed or lost during Communist reign. Depending on the maker, it might be extremely valuable.

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Jewelry Including Vintage Graduated Necklace, Sterling and Faux Pearl

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Studio Sterling Silver Amethyst, Peridot and Rhodolite Garnet Earrings

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Coral, Tiger's Eye and Gemstone Necklaces with Sterling Clasps

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Magnesite Beaded Necklace with Sterling Silver Closure
What is the current status of silver as far as market value goes, and what time periods should we be looking for?
The older silver from the 16th to 18th century is certainly much more valuable, with the exception of some important Tiffany pieces that are 20th century. Fabergé was made up until the Russian Revolution in 1917. If you can find Fabergé, you’re in the money. But there isn’t much of that.


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Italian Sterling Silver Curb Chain Necklace

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
10K Opal and Sterling Peridot Cross Pendant Necklaces

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Studio Sterling Silver and Brass Spiral Necklace

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling and Hematite Floral Openwork Bracelet

How do you store or care for silver?
People have these little felt bags they keep silver in, but it still tarnishes. Some people keep silver in zippered plastic bags because it locks out the air and doesn’t tarnish.

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Italian Milor Sterling Riccio Chain Necklace

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Cross and Dragonfly Necklaces with 10K and Cubic Zirconia

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Michael Dawkins Sterling Silver Quartz and Mother of Pearl Doublet Earrings

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Pearl Foliate Ring and Sarda Sterling Tanzanite Ring
If you inherit silver, what should you do with it?
Get it appraised. Find out if it’s valuable or not. If you love it, keep it. If you don’t love it, sell it!


EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Gorham "Lansdowne" Sterling Silver Carving Set, Early/Mid 20th Century

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Tommy Bahama Sterling Silver Wristwatch

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Coral Beaded Necklace with Removable Enhancer Pendant

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Peridot and White Topaz Bypass Ring

EBTH Columbus - Hilliard
International Paul Revere Reproduction Sterling Bowl and Other Silver Plate

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Judith Jack Sterling Silver and Marcasite Embellished Black Leather Wallet

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash
Sterling Black Onyx and Resin Pendant and Earrings

EBTH Cincinnati - Blue Ash