How Much Is My Silver Worth? NJ Silver Buyers Guide

Silver is one of the most commonly overlooked valuables sitting in people's homes. That set of sterling silverware in the back of the cabinet. The silver coins in a jar. The tarnished jewelry you haven't worn in years. All of it has real cash value — and at today's silver prices, it may be worth more than you think.

Here's everything you need to know before selling silver in NJ.

Like gold, silver value comes down to three factors:

Not all silver is the same. The most common types you'll encounter:

Important: Silver-plated items have very little silver value. Sterling (925) and coin silver (90%) are the most common valuable types.

Silver is weighed in troy ounces (1 troy oz = 31.1 grams). The more it weighs, the more it's worth. A full set of sterling silverware can weigh several hundred grams — worth hundreds of dollars at today's prices.

Silver trades on global markets and the price changes daily. Check our live metal prices for today's exact rate.

Sterling silver jewelry (stamped 925 or STERLING) is worth its melt value based on weight and today's spot price. A typical sterling silver necklace weighing 20 grams is worth approximately $15–$20 at current prices.

This is where the real money often is. A full set of sterling silverware — forks, knives, spoons, serving pieces — can easily weigh 500–1,000 grams or more. At today's silver prices, that's $400–$800+ in melt value.

Don't confuse sterling with silver-plated flatware. Look for the 925 or STERLING stamp on each piece. If it says "Silver Plate," "EP," or "EPNS," it has minimal silver value.

• Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, half dollars — 90% silver ("junk silver")
• Morgan dollars, Peace dollars — 90% silver, often worth $25–$35+ each
• American Silver Eagles — 99.9% fine silver, 1 troy oz each
• Foreign silver coins — varies; we test and identify everything

A bag of pre-1965 quarters can be worth significantly more than face value. Bring them in — we buy all silver coins. See our full coin buying page for details.

Silver bars and rounds are valued at or near spot price. We buy all sizes — 1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, 100 oz bars.

We pay based on the live silver spot price — not a fixed lowball rate. Our typical payout:

• Sterling silver jewelry: 80–90% of melt value
• Sterling silverware: 80–90% of melt value
• Silver coins (junk silver): Based on silver content at spot
• Silver bullion: Near spot price

Compare that to pawn shops, which typically pay 40–60% of melt value for silver.

Look for these stamps:

• 925 — most common sterling stamp worldwide
• STERLING — common on older American pieces
• 900 — coin silver (90% pure)
• 800 — common on European silver
• EP, EPNS, Silver Plate, Silverplate — plated, not solid silver

No stamp? Bring it in — we test everything with professional equipment at no charge.

Tarnish doesn't affect value. Silver tarnishes naturally when exposed to air — it's just silver sulfide on the surface. The metal underneath is still 92.5% pure silver. Don't clean it before bringing it in; some cleaning methods can damage pieces.

Rt9 Cash for Gold Buyers is located at 960 US Route 9 South, South Amboy, NJ 08879, serving all of Middlesex County:

• Sayreville, Old Bridge, Woodbridge
• Perth Amboy, Carteret, Metuchen
• Edison, South Amboy, Raritan

Hours: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM, 7 days a week including Sunday. No appointment needed.

Visit our silver buying page for more details on what we accept and current prices.

While you're here, bring the whole collection:

• Gold jewelry — all karats
• Diamonds and diamond jewelry
• Platinum rings and settings
• Luxury watches — Rolex, Omega, Cartier
• Coins and gold bullion
• Estate jewelry collections

Call or text Maureen: 732-727-4653

No pressure. No obligation. Just an honest number — and cash in hand if you decide to sell.