Why You Can Make More Money than Ever by Recycling Silver
It might surprise you to learn that until the middle of the 20th century, silver was not widely regarded as a precious metal. Prices were so low back then – in fact, historical data from The Silver Institute shows that silver was selling for only about 75¢ per troy ounce in 1950. Such giveaway prices explain why silver was used so extensively as plating and in pure form. The price of silver has fluctuated widely since then, but has been on a steady rise. By 1999, it was selling for nearly $10. And these days, it is trading for between $18-$20 on the London Fix.
Shown: Photo of shipment of silver-plated scrap sent to Specialty Metals by a customer to be refined and recycled for the best prices on silver.
To summarize: once silver was cheap, today it is not. That situation has created an opportunity, because older silver and silver-plated items that date from the days of cheap silver can be found just about anywhere – in estate sales, antique stores, auction houses, and elsewhere. If you can find those items and recycle the silver they contain by sending them to a silver refinery like Special Metals Smelters and Refiners, you can end up with a lot of money thanks to of today’s high silver prices.
What kind of older silver items should you be looking for?
Smaller Antique Items, Including
- The handles and tips of walking canes
- Letter openers
- Lighters and lighter cases
- Paperweights
- Buttons
- Belt buckles
- Cigarette and cigar cases
- Eyeglass frames and cases
- Commemorative plates and medals
Many of our customers send us sterling silver flatware, silver-plated tableware and hollowware for us to refine and recycle.
Tableware, Including
- Punchbowls
- Serving platters
- Salad-service spoons and forks
- Handles of carving knives
- Sterling silver silverware and silver-plated tableware (to help you understand their value, check out a post that appeared on this blog on March 24, ”Do You Own Silver-Plated or Pure Silver Items? This Online Encyclopedia Helps You Identify them Fast”)
Adornments, Including
- Jewelry of all kinds
- Hair pins and combs
- Pocket watches, fobs and chains
Home Decorations, Including
- Candlesticks and candelabras
- Picture frames
- Light fixtures and switch plates
- Mantle and wall clocks
- Trophies
How to Cash In on Today’s Higher Silver Prices
Gather up your silver items and call Specialty Metals Smelters and refiners at 800-426-2344. Your collection of small silver and silver-plated items could be worth much more than you think.
Related Posts:
Why It Pays to Find a Refiner for Silver, the Forgotten Precious Metal
The Puzzling, Profitable Process of Refining Silver-Plated Scrap Items
Finding Value in Cutlery from the Golden Age of Silver Electroplating
Why Big Dollars Could Be Hiding in Small Quantities of Silver Tableware