Does tarnished silver lose value?

No. Tarnish is a surface reaction and does not change the silver underneath. We buy tarnished sterling on its metal content, so leave it as it is rather than polishing it first.

Is 925 silver real silver?

Yes. 925 means 925 parts per thousand silver, which is sterling. The mark is still worth testing, because a stamp alone does not prove the metal.

Is coin silver the same as sterling?

No. Under the FTC Jewelry Guides, coin silver is at least 900 parts per thousand and sterling at least 925, so coin silver holds slightly less silver. Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and halves are bought by weight on their silver content.

Where can I sell silver in Tennessee?

At our Smyrna showroom, 1932 Almaville Rd Suite 110, Smyrna, TN 37167, which takes walk-ins, Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday, 11 AM to 3 PM. Our Franklin location at 1650 Murfreesboro Rd Suite 154, Franklin, TN 37067 and Bellevue location at 7047 Highway 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221 are by appointment.

Sterling silver vs fine silver: what is the difference?

Sterling silver is 92.5 percent silver and fine silver is 99.9 percent. Fine silver is mostly bullion, while sterling is alloyed for hardness and made into flatware, serving pieces, and jewelry. Neither is better, and both are bought on the silver they contain, so purity and weight decide the value.

What is the real difference?

Purity and purpose. Fine silver is 99.9 percent silver, and you will mostly meet it as bullion: bars, rounds, and coins such as the American Silver Eagle, which federal law sets at .999 fine, and the Canadian Maple Leaf. Sterling is 92.5 percent silver, mixed with other metal so it stands up to use, and you will find it in flatware, tea services, serving pieces, and jewelry.

That difference is also why sterling is not bullion. Bullion means investment-grade silver at .999 fine or higher, so a sterling tray is valued on the silver it contains rather than at a bullion price. Neither is better. They are the same metal doing two different jobs, and both are bought on their silver content. Our silver bullion page covers what we buy in each form.

Sterling and fine silver side by side

Most people holding old silver have a third category too. US coins made for circulation before the change in the Coinage Act of 1965 were 900 fine coin silver, so they belong in the comparison.

Compared	Fine silver	Sterling silver	Coin silver
Silver content	99.9 percent	92.5 percent	90 percent
Marks	.999 or 999 FINE	STERLING or 925	Usually none on US coins, identified by date
Typical forms	Bars, rounds, bullion coins	Flatware, tea services, serving pieces, jewelry	Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and halves
Hardness and use	Too soft for daily-use items	Alloyed for working and everyday use	Made to circulate as money
How a buyer prices it	By the troy ounce from the live spot price	On actual silver content	By weight on silver content

The FTC Jewelry Guides back these marks with numbers. An item called sterling must be at least 925 parts per thousand silver, and an item called coin silver at least 900. British sterling may also carry the lion passant, which the Birmingham Assay Office notes dates to the 16th century and is now optional. For pre-1965 change sold as junk silver, see our coins page.

Why is sterling alloyed, and does it change what you are paid?

Pure silver is simply too soft. The Royal Mint says so plainly, which is why silversmiths work with an alloy, and the Sheffield Assay Office describes sterling as silver with base metals such as copper. A fork made from .999 silver would not hold up to dinner.

The alloy does change the value, and only by the arithmetic. Payment follows silver content, which is weight times purity. A 100-gram sterling piece holds 92.5 grams of silver, and 100 grams of .999 holds 99.9 grams. The added metal is not paid for. Pieces that are only partly silver are bought on the silver actually in them, which is why we test and weigh them rather than guess.

Does tarnish matter?

Not to the silver underneath. Tarnish is a surface reaction. The Canadian Conservation Institute identifies tarnish on pure silver as silver sulfide, and notes that sterling also forms copper sulfide and tarnishes faster because of its copper. So a dark surface tells you nothing either way about how much silver a piece holds.

Do not polish before you sell. Polishing does nothing for weight or purity, and we buy tarnished sterling on its metal content as it is. The same goes for coins, where cleaning can permanently damage the surface and reduce collector value.

Which pieces are neither sterling nor fine silver?

Silverplate is the big one. It is another metal with a silver coating, so it looks the part while holding very little silver. Federal law has long barred stamping silver-plated articles as sterling or coin, as the FTC Guides note, so a plated piece should not carry those words. Look for the word "plate" or a maker's plating mark, and treat a piece with no mark at all as unknown.

Unknown is where testing comes in. Marks can wear, and a stamp alone does not prove the metal, so we test on-site in front of you before any number is quoted. If you inherited a chest of flatware, our estate guide walks through the wider job of sorting a collection.

Our Smyrna showroom takes walk-ins: Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday, 11 AM to 3 PM. Franklin and Bellevue are by appointment. Call (615) 893-2414 or see all locations.

This guide is general information about how precious metals are identified and valued, not financial or investment advice; what any piece is worth is settled at the counter after testing.