How to Sort Silver Plate from Sterling Silver #1

Video Description

In this video we take a pile of flatware and work through it, noting what to look for to identify Silver Plate, Sterling Silver, and Coin Silver. We also discuss identifying Sterling Handled items, and Sterling items that have enamel on them. Overall this is a video for helping you to grab these pieces when you see them out and about at Garage Sales and Thrift Shops. Maybe even the stray antique store, not everything that is solid silver is marked as such... If you find the content useful please drop me a like, subscribe, and leave a comment. If it is handy I can make more videos like this. If you have specific questions just let me know and I'll see what I can do about answering. The video provides a detailed guide on how to differentiate between silver plate, sterling silver, and coin silver (0:00). The presenter goes through various pieces of flatware, explaining the visual cues and markings to look for. Here are the key takeaways for identification: Silver Plate Indicators: Wear Spots: A very common tell-tale sign of silver plate is a visible wear spot where the plating has worn off, revealing the base metal underneath, often a yellowish or brownish color (1:24, 1:30). This is frequently seen at points of high contact. Green Tarnish: If you see green oxidation, it indicates the presence of copper or brass beneath the plating, as silver tarnishes black, not green (6:06). Specific Markings: "Community Plate" or "Community": This marking always indicates silver plate (4:52, 5:26, 8:56). "A1 Plus" or "A1": These markings also signify silver plate (7:14, 7:16). "AA" or "Triple" (e.g., "XS Triple"): These denote the thickness of the plating, confirming it's plated, not solid silver (6:32, 14:04). Rogers Markings: While there are many Rogers variations, most indicate plate unless explicitly stating "Sterling" (11:28, 26:15). Star Mark: A small star often found near the blade on items with a handle can indicate silver plate (26:06). No "Sterling" Mark: If a piece is made of solid silver, it will almost always be explicitly marked "Sterling" (1:54, 2:01, 2:16). Sterling Silver Indicators: Explicit "Sterling" Mark: The most reliable sign is the word "Sterling" stamped on the piece (3:55, 7:47, 20:40, 26:54). Maker's Marks: Learning specific patterns or maker's marks, like "Goram" with the "Spanish Tracery" pattern, can help identify sterling even without seeing the back of the piece (7:42, 7:50, 7:58). Black Tarnish: Sterling silver will tarnish black, not green (4:23, 8:53). Sterling Handled Items: For items with a separate handle and blade (like pie servers), the "Sterling" mark usually refers only to the handle, which is often hollow and filled with plaster or cement (24:42, 27:27). Coin Silver Indicators: Early American Silversmith Names: Pieces with names of early American silversmiths, especially from the 1830s or earlier, are often coin silver (14:50, 15:00, 15:58). These are generally very light due to the economy of silver used (16:16). "800" Mark: This mark indicates 80% silver content, common in European coin silver (10:00). Crescent Moon Mark: A crescent moon symbol is a Germanic mark for silver (10:02). West Coast Silversmiths: Some West Coast silversmiths from the late 1800s, especially during the Comstock Lode era, used locally mined silver which was coin silver (22:30, 23:04). The presenter also notes that sometimes even ugly or neglected pieces can be sterling silver (4:23, 20:48).