$30 paper weight or a good score?

[iammoleman2]

The wife and I spent some time yesterday looking through some thrift stores. She found some cute things for the grand kids as she always does. I found a silver (I think) tea pot and two forks. I am a noob at the sterling silver hunting so some help with these marks would be much appreciated. The 800 is stamped on the tea pot and the other pics are of the forks. Thank you in advance.

 

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[bill from lachine]

The 800 stamp appears to be good as to the forks I spotted an EP which stands for Electro Plated so one out of 2 ain't bad.

What's the weight on the teapot?

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[iammoleman2]

The tea pot weighs 1100 grams.

 

[JimDon]

Unfortunately the teapot is not silver. It is plated. 800 is the pattern number. There are some references to it on 925-1000.com.

 

[JimDon]

 

[Dakota Sioux]

The Wm Rogers 800 is a pattern series not a silver purity. It is silver plated.

 

[Dakota Sioux]

JD beat me to it

 

[iammoleman2]

Oh man. You guys are harshing my buzz.

 

[bill from lachine]

I'll defer to the pros on this one.....there are some types of silver items that is 80% silver as I've found a few rings....but what the heck at the price you paid still not that bad a deal.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[iammoleman2]

I may be able to recoup my money through eBay but learning takes time and experience and mistakes. I learned a lesson and that is priceless. Got to find the bright side.

 

[JimDon]

I may be able to recoup my money through eBay but learning takes time and experience and mistakes. I learned a lesson and that is priceless. Got to find the bright side.

I have a pile of mistakes. I've good news is that I am right more then wrong. Keep at it and don't be afraid to buy items that you are unsure of.

 

[NHBandit]

Looking at the marks I believe all of it is plated. You might get your investment back from people who collect this sort of thing but I suspect you just learned a $30 lesson..

 

[GibH]

Yep, A1 and epns are plating marks.

 

[Jayers]

The bright side is that you learned more about silver marks and won't make that mistake on a $300 purchase. We've all been there, all gotten home something that was not the diamond in the rough we thought it was. The key to this biz/hobby/obsession is to keep at it, keep looking and keep learning. Read every thread on Garage and Thrift Stores here at Tnet, read other forums on coins, antiques, precious metals, jewelry, art, that you want to pursue. Specialize in one area and get really smart on it. Do a search on ebay on a topic -say, teapots-, hit "Sold" and see what sold and for what amount. Get out and talk to sellers, jewelers, pawn owners. I was new at one time too and bought stuff that just sits in the basement collecting dust because it wasn't worth what I hoped.

 

[tamrock]

When silver was high my daughter had a friend over and my daughter was showing her all the money I was getting out of old forks and spoons on eBay. Couple weeks later my daughters friend came over to show me all the silver spoons and forks she and her mother picked up at the various thrift shops around Denver. They spent over a $150. on the pile of forks and spoons she showed me. I had to explain to her why the stuff I was selling was going for such high prices. She and her mom when out and wasted the money all on plate silver. I felt bad for her and wasn't to happy with my daughter going out and showing her friends how to make easy money by buying old silverware. Knowing the marks on silver plate is just as important as knowing the marks on solid silver if you plan to succeed at finding these kind of treasures at yard sales and thrift stores.