From the article: Silver and Silver Plate Price Guides
From jewelry to tableware, antique and collectible silver wares ebb and flow in popularity and value. In fact, some people feel like it's better to take the money and run when it comes to melting down their silver. Others feel like there's more to an object than the intrinsic value and want to preserve the history their silver objects hold. Where do you fit in? Would you destroy an heirloom for a quick buck? Share Your View
Think Twice
- Not only is history destroyed for a quick buck, but the consequences can be grave. There are no requirements to prove these items belong to the person selling them. The items are bought by these companies, melted down and who's the wiser. How does anyone know if these items were stolen or not.?I feel these companies promote theft, no matter how much they say they do not, according to them it's always the other guys. Think about it.
- —antiquemom3
Broke But Not That Broke
- Pffft! I bought some silver estate jewelry to a jeweler along with the gold that I was selling. I was offered a whopping $7 for one piece and $3 for another. For pieces that they were going to re-sell, not melt down! Just not worth it. Now, if I had some silver flatware... I'd have to think long and hard about that, but... Probably still not worth it.
- —Guest PG
Save or Melt?
- I have been offered, selling flatware by the piece, about $800 and on a calculator the weight value is $2,800 (sterling melt price). Also in the $800 dollar offer if a piece is not perfect the offer is less, and they would dispose of badly damaged pieces to save return shipping. My question is why would they deserve the $2,000 extra or more for melt value putting very little work in and we settle for so little? I'm going have to melt it if there is no real offers.
- —Guest Gene
cash in or be homeless
- I had to sell whatever I had. About to loose my home, kids gotta eat. I am not happy about it but was able to keep home out of forclosure! What a sad time we are living in, for me anyways.
- —Guest brokeguy1111
no
- The silver I have inherited for the past 4 generations are very special to me. The earliest silver spoon was from a restaurant that my great-great-great grandparents ate after coming here through Ellis Island. They were being treated to a meal in a hotel restaurant. My great-great-great Grandpa saw a child that was knocked down from a run away horse. He ran out to see if the child was hurt and when he stated to carry the child back to safety, Grandpa was hit by a wagon and killed in front of the family! My grandma took a silver spoon from the hotel. All she could think about was watching her husband get killed right before her eyes. The hotel manager gave her the spoon to keep so she would remember the good time they had there before it ended in tragedy. I have been handed down a few nice pieces and I would not ever sell them unless I was in dire need to help another family person! I don't have much but each thing has memories!
- —Guest Connie
Sell My Silver
- IMHO - NO! Silver has not reached a high enough ratio to gold. It's stupid to sell it now and even more stupid if your family means a lot to you. Safe Deposit Boxes are not that expensive to rent to keep everything safe and sound.
- —Guest Blissification
Silver Heirloom
- NO! I have my mother's silverware and I wouldn't sell it for anything!
- —Guest Brenda
