Why it matters
The value difference is dramatic. A silver-plated tea service might be worth £20 as scrap, while a solid sterling equivalent could fetch £1,500–3,000. Identifying which you have before selling is essential.
InstaSilver only buys solid silver. We do not buy silver-plated or EPNS items. This guide will help you determine which you have before submitting.
What is EPNS?
EPNS stands for Electroplated Nickel Silver. Extremely common in British cutlery from the 1880s onward. The base metal is a nickel-copper-zinc alloy, and the plating is a thin silver coating often just microns thick. EPNS is not silver and has negligible scrap value.
The hallmark test
The definitive test. Look for the lion passant (walking lion) using a loupe or magnifying glass. If present = solid silver. If absent on British flatware = almost certainly plate. Also look for EPNS, EP, A1, A, ALPACA, or BEST marks — any of these indicate plating, not solid silver.
The wear test
On heavily used plated items, the silver layer wears through at contact points — tips of spoons, edges of forks — revealing the yellowish or reddish base metal. Solid silver wears evenly throughout.
Sheffield Plate
Distinct from Sheffield-made silver. Sheffield Plate (pre-1840) fused a thin silver layer to copper by heat. It has antique value but very little silver content. We do not buy Sheffield Plate.
The magnet test
Silver is not magnetic. If a strong magnet attracts the item firmly, the base metal is ferrous — definitely not silver. However, many plated items use non-magnetic bases, so this test can only rule out silver (if magnetic), not confirm it.