I am not an appraiser of silver.

Please note, I am not an appraiser of silver. Prices will vary in different regions of the country. On-line auctions and independent appraisers in your area are the best method of determining the value of your silver, for your area.

A warning to some...looking for values.

If you have old appraisals of your silver, they are most likely incorrect. Silver flatware and hollow ware prices have dropped dramatically in the last few years.

Mom’s appraisal from 1980 when silver was at $50 a troy ounce is not a good appraisal. Even one from 5 years ago is going to be wrong 90% of the time. Appraisals of silver should be done by people who know the silver and not looking up the values in a book or on-line.

Most appraisals are for insurance purposes, and not for what the silver should sell for, which is going to be much less. Historic silver with a documented provenance will have more value than grandmothers teaspoons used on special occasions. Photograph your silver for documentation purposes and keep pics in a safe place along with an inventory of measurements.

I can help you determine pattern, age and other concerns, but I am not an appraiser, nor do I play one on TV. Please note that not all appraisers are experts in each brand of silver. I have seen appraisals that have the wrong pattern name, the age of the item and more. Be sure to ask anyone that appraises your silver how familiar they are with STIEFF silver. This site will certainly be able to educate you about your STIEFF silver so that you will be better prepared to ask questions and be more knowledgeable concerning the age and name of the patterns.

A personal opinion about some appraisals...

I would like to make mention that the State of Maryland uses from time to time uses on-line auctions to liquidate items found in safety deposit boxes. They use an appraiser(s), that time and time again provides them with wrong information.. which is find amazing considering that Stieff silver was made right there in Maryland.  So, just because an appraiser puts something in writing... does not mean that it is correct. Calls and emails to Maryland  fell on deaf ears, stating the the appraiser said other wise. (one example was KIRK Repoussé pattern silver, marked Kirk, but being sold as STIEFF, because the appraiser deemed it to be STIEFF Rose silver. Another sale had mixed brands and patterns, but being sold under one name.) Bottom line, use your eyes and brain when presented with a written appraisal.  Remember that the true weight of a knife is only the weight of the silver in the handle (which is full of cement or rosin) and not the whole weight including the blade... as I have seen appraisals showing otherwise. ALSO, please remember those coin shops and silver buying stores are not giving an appraisal of the silver.. they are telling you what they will give you for the silver.. so that they can in turn either sell it or more on ebay.. or sell it to a refiner that will melt it down. Either way, they need to make a profit on the deal.. so that is not really the value of the silver.  Most silver has a higher value than the melting weight of the silver.

At his site, the noted Silversmith and Silver Restorer Jeffrey Herman makes the following suggestions for appraisals.

American Society of Appraisers
11107 Sunset Hills Road Ste 310

Reston VA 20190

800 272-8558

Appraisers Association of America, Inc.
212 West 35th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
212/889-5404, Fax: 212/889-5503

International Society of Appraisers
225 West Wacker Drive Ste 650

Chicago IL 60606

312 961-6778

ebay and other on-line prices

Often looking on sites like ebay, you can get a good idea of values. Look in both the current auctions an in the completed auctions. The completed auctions will show what items really sold for .. and not the sometimes inflated “buy me now” prices some ask for, but never get.  As ebay has opened the market to people everywhere it is often a good source of what the true value is.. and not what the local antique store is asking. As silver prices have moved up and down over the years.. some items collecting dust in antique stores (with prices that have not changed in years) can often be a great value.. or over priced as the owner has not adjusted for current value in the current economic situation. The true value is what the item is worth to you.