How can I tell the difference between silver vs silver plate?
Dear Eric,
I’ve inherited quite a lot of silver-looking cutlery, tea sets, a stunning cruet set and other items. How can I tell the difference between silver vs silver plate? Is there a huge difference between the two?
Many thanks,
Tom, Bristol
Dear Tom,
Thank you for your question. Ah, the silver vs silver plate conundrum — it’s kept many a kitchen drawer in suspense! One of the most common things I’m asked is how to tell the difference between silver vs silver plate. To the untrained eye they look almost identical, but once you know what to look for, the differences become surprisingly clear.
Back in the day — long before you or I were born — around 1300, it became law that British silver had to be stamped to guarantee its purity. After years of refining the system, we ended up with the hallmark: a tiny set of symbols that tell you where a piece was made, when, and by whom.
Fast-forward to the 18th century and along came silver plating, letting people enjoy the look of silver without the cost. By the 1840s, we saw the rise of EPNS — Electro-Plated Nickel Silver — and that’s when all those shiny, often confusing marks began to appear.
Makers started adding codes — things like “A1” to suggest a thicker plating, although some were, shall we say, more hopeful than honest. Over the last century the plating has become thinner and thinner, to the point where modern silver plate may only carry the barest whisper of silver. Sadly, nickel isn’t worth much today, so while plated items can be lovely, they’re rarely valuable.
How to Tell the Difference Between Silver and Silver Plate
Hallmarks: The Best Way to Spot Silver vs Silver Plate
Real silver (sterling) will carry genuine British hallmarks. Look out for the lion passant — the walking lion — which confirms sterling silver made in England. You’ll also see symbols such as the leopard’s head for London or the anchor for Birmingham. Paired with a maker’s mark and a date letter, these confirm you’re holding solid silver.
EPNS Marks: How They Reveal Silver Plate vs Sterling Silver
If you find “EPNS,” “EP,” or “A1,” it’s plated — a base metal like nickel or brass with a thin silver coating. Still attractive, still useful, but not sterling. Most people are surprised at how thin the coating can be, which is why understanding silver vs silver plate is so important when valuing your items.
The Sound and Feel Test
Silver has a softer, warmer feel in the hand. Tap it lightly and it gives a gentle ring. Plate tends to sound harder or tinny and can feel colder.
The Tarnish Test
Silver tarnishes to a soft grey-black. Silver plate often goes yellowish or patchy as the base metal begins to show through.
If you’re still unsure and would like a professional opinion, you can always use our free postal valuation service. You’ll find more Ask Eric articles over on the Antique Collective blog, updated weekly with new snippets of knowledge.
We’re also working on a full Hallmark Guide for the website — keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, the Assay Office website has excellent reference charts if you’d like to explore hallmarks further.
So if you’re ever in doubt about silver vs silver plate, always check the hallmarks first — the lion doesn’t lie.
Either way, polish it up and enjoy it! No sense in keeping it hidden away for a rainy day — life’s far too short for stainless-steel teaspoons.
All the best,
Eric
