Basically, anything that you'd use to entertain the President at a fancy dinner is considered silverware. But just because you call it silverware doesn't always mean that what you have is real silver. ... Real silver flatware is typically sterling silver, or 92.5% with 7.5% of a base metal, like copper.

Is real silver silverware worth anything?

Antique Silverware Value

Silver is a valuable metal and has a value as scrap. Sometimes the intrinsic value of the silver outstrips the value of the article itself. More modern pieces may not have retained their value but quality antiques will hopefully have more value than their scrap metal price.

How do you tell if silverware is pure silver?

Real silverware often bears the mark of its maker, so grab a loupe or magnifying glass to find an imprint. Authentic pieces may read, "STER", "92.5%", or simply "925", which stands for its percentage of pure silver.