How Much Is a Silver Spoon Worth?
Silver spoons vary greatly in size and weight, from small teaspoons to large serving spoons.
Typical Weights
- Teaspoon: 20-30 grams
- Dessert spoon: 30-40 grams
- Tablespoon: 40-60 grams
- Serving spoon: 60-80 grams
Look for hallmarks: "925", "STERLING", or "800" to determine purity. Some silver-plated spoons are NOT solid silver and have minimal melt value.
How to Maximize Value When Selling Silver Spoons
Before selling silver spoons as scrap, it is worth investigating whether they have collector or pattern value. Antique flatware pattern-matching services (Replacements, Ltd. and similar retailers) actively buy discontinued sterling patterns — and often pay well above melt for complete or near-complete sets. Common patterns like "Repousse" by Kirk Stieff, "Grande Baroque" by Wallace, or "Chantilly" by Gorham can sell for $20–$80 per teaspoon as replacement pieces.
For spoons with no collector market, melt value applies: weight × purity × (spot ÷ 31.1035). Most dealers pay 85–95% of calculated melt for clean, hallmarked sterling spoons.
Spoon Identification Guide
- Sterling vs. coin silver: Pre-1870 American spoons often use "COIN" (900 silver); later American and most modern spoons use "STERLING" or "925".
- British hallmarks: Look for the lion passant (walking lion) — this confirms at least 925 fineness on English pieces.
- Souvenir spoons: Many decorative souvenir spoons are sterling and have niche collector markets beyond their silver value.
Frequently Asked Questions: Silver Spoons
How can I tell a plated spoon from a solid silver one? The stamp is the key indicator. Solid silver spoons are marked "925", "STERLING", "COIN", "800", or carry British hallmarks (lion passant, etc.). Plated spoons show "EPNS", "A1", "IS" (International Silver), or simply a pattern name with no silver content marking.
My grandmother's spoons have ornate backs with a pattern — does design affect value? For scrap purposes, design does not affect value. For resale to collectors or flatware matching services, highly decorative patterns from major makers can significantly exceed melt. Check the pattern and maker before deciding to scrap decorative antique spoons.
What are souvenir spoons worth? Most souvenir spoons are sterling silver (925) and sell for their silver weight at scrap. However, spoons with notable subjects, early dates, or unusual makers have collector markets. A simple search of eBay completed listings will show you current collector demand for any specific spoon.