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How to Tell the Difference Between Sterling Silver and Silver-Plated Items

Sterling silver is a term used to describe solid silver of 0.925 fineness -- that is, silver that contains 925 parts of silver per 1000 parts. Silver-plated items have a thin coating of silver over a base metal body. Most silver-plated items are electroplated nickel silver, or E.P.N.S., in which the plating is achieved through an electrochemical process. An earlier mechanical process, known as "Sheffield plate," involved squeezing sheets of silver and copper together in presses. By following the steps below, you should be able to distinguish sterling silver items from both types of silver-plated items.

Instructions

- 1
  Look first for an assay mark. This is a mark that is applied to a piece to indicate that it has reached a legal standard for solid silver; it is a guarantee of quality. On U.S. pieces, look for the number 925 to indicate .925 fineness, in addition to or as well as the words "sterling" or "sterling silver." On British silver -- which you may encounter as it was widely exported -- look for mark that shows a lion walking sideways, known as the "lion passant." The presence of any of these marks is sure proof that the item is sterling silver.
- 2
  Check the item for the letters "E.P" or "A1." "E.P." stands for "electroplated" and "A1" for best quality. The presence of either of these marks is a clear indication that the piece is E.P.N.S., or silver-plated. If the piece has no markings at all, move onto Step 3.
- 3
  Scrutinize the piece carefully for signs of wear. Sterling silver, E.P.N.S. and Sheffield plate wear in very different ways. Because silver is a soft metal, the details of sterling silver items tend to blur after repeated rubbings while still retaining their original color. On E.P.N.S. pieces, the outer layer of silver is thin and rubs away to reveal a pale yellow base metal. On Sheffield plate, the outer layer is slightly thicker, and the exposed copper body will be a rich brown color. It is worth looking out for Sheffield plate, as it was made for a comparatively short period of time between 1745 and 1840. It is thus far less common and more valuable than E.P.N.S., which was produced starting in the 1840s and is still made today.

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