Common Items Made of Silver
Silver isn’t just found in coins and bullion. For centuries, it has been used in everyday household items, decorative objects, and personal accessories — many of which still surface today in unexpected places.
Knowing what items are commonly made of silver and how to identify them can help collectors and precious-metal buyers spot value where others overlook it.
1. Silver Coins (The Obvious Starting Point)
Coins remain the most recognized form of silver.
Common examples include:
Pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars (90% silver)
World silver coins
Modern bullion coins
Where to find them:
Coin shops
Coin shows
Estate sales
Old collections
Coins are usually clearly marked and easy to verify.
2. Flatware and Silverware
Silver flatware is one of the most common non-coin sources of silver.
Solid Silver Flatware
Typically marked:
“STERLING”
“925”
Silver-Plated Flatware
Marked with:
“EPNS”
“Silverplate”
Brand names without purity marks
Only sterling flatware contains meaningful silver value.
Where to find it:
Thrift stores
Estate sales
Antique shops
Garage sales
3. Jewelry
Silver jewelry is widespread and often overlooked.
Look for:
Rings
Chains
Bracelets
Earrings
Common marks include:
925
Sterling
Sterling Silver
Where to find it:
Thrift stores
Estate jewelry boxes
Flea markets
Pawn shops
Broken or mismatched jewelry can still be valuable for silver content.
4. Serving Pieces and Hollowware
Silver hollowware includes items like:
Tea sets
Creamers and sugar bowls
Serving trays
Candlesticks
These may be:
Solid sterling
Weighted sterling (silver shell with internal filler)
Silver-plated
Sterling hollowware often carries both collectible and melt value.
Where to find it:
Estate sales
Antique malls
Auction lots
5. Decorative and Religious Items
Silver has long been used in decorative objects.
Examples include:
Picture frames
Religious medals and crosses
Icons and ceremonial pieces
These are often sterling and sometimes surprisingly heavy.
Where to find them:
Estate sales
Antique shops
Church sales
6. Tableware and Drinkware
Silver can appear in:
Cups and goblets
Baby cups
Bowls
Baby cups are especially common in sterling silver.
Where to find them:
Vintage gift collections
Estate lots
Antique dealers
7. Musical and Specialty Items
Some niche items contain silver components.
Examples:
Vintage flutes (sometimes sterling bodies)
Vintage pens
Collectible compacts
These pieces are often marked clearly.
Where to find them:
Specialty antique shops
Musical instrument dealers
Estate collections
8. How to Tell If an Item Is Really Silver
Key identification tips:
Look for hallmarks (925, Sterling)
Use a magnet test (silver is not magnetic)
Watch for tarnish (silver tarnishes black, not rust)
Be cautious of silver-plated items
When in doubt, have items tested by a reputable dealer.
9. What to Avoid
Many items look silver but contain little or none.
Be cautious of:
“Silverplate” markings
EPNS items
Aluminum or stainless steel look-alikes
These usually have minimal precious-metal value.
Final Thoughts
Silver appears in far more places than most people realize. From flatware and jewelry to decorative items and specialty pieces, knowing what to look for can help you uncover hidden value.
Whether you’re collecting, stacking, or just curious, learning how silver was used historically opens new doors beyond coins alone.
To calculate silver content, track melt values, and organize silver finds alongside coins and bullion, visit CoinCollectingTools.com.