Silver

Sterling Silver vs 925 Silver vs Fine Silver — What Do Those Numbers Mean?

What does 925 stamped on your silver actually mean? Learn the difference between sterling, fine, and coin silver — and what it's worth when you sell in NYC.

February 25, 2026 1 min read

You flip over a necklace and see a tiny stamp: 925. Or maybe 999. Or the word Sterling. Silver hallmarks tell you exactly how much pure silver is in a piece. Once you know how to read them, you’ll never have to guess what your silver is worth.

Understanding Silver Stamps

Silver is almost never sold in its pure form because pure silver is too soft. It gets mixed with other metals — usually copper — to add strength. The hallmark stamp tells you the ratio of pure silver to alloy metals, expressed in parts per thousand. So 925 means 925 parts out of 1,000 are pure silver — that’s 92.5%.

What Is Sterling Silver?

Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver — which is why the 925 stamp is synonymous with sterling. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper for hardness. Sterling has been the international jewelry standard for centuries. Common stamps: 925, Sterling, Ster, or STG.

Fine Silver: The Purest Form

Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, stamped as 999 or .999. Found in bullion coins (American Silver Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf) and investment-grade bars. Pays out at the highest rate since you’re getting paid on nearly pure metal content.

Coin Silver and Other Grades

Coin silver (900) — Pre-1965 US dimes, quarters, and half-dollars were 90% silver
800 silver — Common in European and Middle Eastern silver. 80% pure.
Silver-plated — NOT solid silver. Stamps like EPNS, EP, or “Silver Plate” indicate plating. Very low resale value.

Quick Reference

999 / Fine Silver — 99.9% pure — Highest value per gram
925 / Sterling — 92.5% pure — Very high value
900 / Coin Silver — 90% pure — High value
800 Silver — 80% pure — Good value
Silver Plate (EPNS) — Thin coating only — Minimal value

What This Means When Selling

When you sell silver in NYC, your payout is based on the weight of the piece multiplied by its silver percentage, applied against the current silver spot price. A 100-gram piece of 925 sterling pays you on 92.5 grams of pure silver. Bring any silver items to our office at 30 W 47th St, Suite 906 for a free evaluation.

30 W 47th St, Suite 906

Ninth floor, between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, in the middle of the Diamond District block. Walk-ins welcome Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm.

Subway

B, D, F, M to 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center — exit at 47th Street and walk half a block east. Closest stop, under two minutes.
N, Q, R, W to 49 St, then two blocks south.
7 to Fifth Ave–Bryant Park, then five blocks north.
4, 5, 6 to 51 St, or to Grand Central–42 St and west on 47th.
1 to 50 St, then east toward Sixth Avenue.

Commuter rail

Metro-North into Grand Central Terminal — roughly a ten-minute walk west along 47th Street, no transfer needed.
LIRR, NJ Transit and Amtrak into Penn Station — take the B, D, F or M uptown one stop to Rockefeller Center, or walk about fifteen minutes.
PATH to 33rd Street, then the B, D, F or M uptown.

Bus

M1, M2, M3, M4 run along Fifth and Madison Avenues and stop within a block.
M5, M7 run on Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
M50 crosstown covers 49th and 50th Streets.

Driving & parking

There is effectively no street parking on this block. Several garages sit on 47th and 46th Street between Fifth and Sixth, and more along Sixth Avenue — booking ahead through a parking app is usually cheaper than the drive-up rate. From the FDR, exit at 49th Street and head west. From the West Side Highway, exit at 56th Street and head south and east.

Coming in with a large lot

If you're bringing a significant quantity, call before you come. We'll have the right person at the counter and can arrange for you to come up without waiting. For estates and bulk lots we can also discuss secure transport.