Start With the Hallmarks
The most reliable way to identify sterling silver is to look for a hallmark or maker's stamp. On flatware, this is typically found on the back of the handle. On hollowware and serving pieces, check the underside of the base. On jewelry, look inside the ring band, on the clasp, or on the back of a pendant or brooch.
Sterling silver made in the United States is most often marked "Sterling" in full. You may also see "Ster" or "Stg" as abbreviations. British sterling is identified by the Lion Passant hallmark — a walking lion facing left — along with date letters and assay office marks.
European silver — from Germany, Scandinavia, and many other countries — is often marked ".925" or "925" to indicate 92.5% silver content. Some older Continental silver is marked "800" or "830," which indicates a lower silver content (80% or 83%) but is still genuine silver.
Marks That Indicate Silver Plate (Not Sterling)
Silver-plated items are often marked in ways that can be mistaken for sterling marks at first glance. These marks indicate only a thin silver coating — not solid sterling:
✗ EPNS
✗ EP
✗ E.P.
✗ Silver Plate
✗ Electroplate
✗ EPBM
✗ A1
✗ Triple Plate
✗ 1847 Rogers Bros.
✗ Community
✗ Oneida
✗ WM Rogers
✗ National Silver
If your piece has any of these marks and no "Sterling" or ".925" mark, it is almost certainly silver-plated — not sterling.
The Magnet Test
Silver is not magnetic. If a strong magnet sticks firmly to your piece, it is not silver — it may be silver-plated steel or another magnetic alloy. However, a non-magnetic result does not confirm sterling: copper, nickel, and many other non-magnetic metals are also used in silver-plated items.
The magnet test can rule out some imposters, but it cannot confirm sterling. Always rely on hallmarks first.
The Ice Test (A Curiosity, Not a Confirmation)
Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. If you place an ice cube on a piece of genuine sterling silver, it will begin melting noticeably faster than on other metals. This is a real phenomenon — but it is not a reliable field test, because silver-plated items with a silver layer thick enough will also conduct heat quickly.
The ice test can be an interesting confirmation when combined with hallmarks, but should not be used alone.
Visual Wear Patterns
On silver-plated items, the silver plating eventually wears away at high-friction points — the tips of spoon bowls, the back of fork tines, knife edges, and the edges of handles. When it wears through, you'll see the underlying metal: a reddish copper color, a yellowish or white metal.
Sterling silver does not wear through to reveal another metal, because it is solid silver all the way through. If you see a different color showing through at any point, the piece is silver-plated.
When in Doubt, Bring It In
If you're not certain whether what you have is sterling silver, bring it to Malpass, Inc. We'll identify it at no cost and with no obligation. We've evaluated thousands of pieces and can give you a definitive answer quickly.
Ready to Sell?
If you've confirmed your items are sterling silver, Malpass, Inc. is ready to make you an offer. We purchase flatware, jewelry, serving items, coins, Silver Eagles, and bars — licensed and bonded, by appointment.
Malpass, Inc. · Chesapeake, VA
Licensed & Bonded · By Appointment Only