To sell sterling silver in Minneapolis or St. Paul, start with a free auction estimate from a specialist who can tell you whether your pieces belong at auction, with a refiner, or with a private buyer. Revere Auctions, based in St. Paul, evaluates silver at no charge and handles everything from single Georg Jensen spoons to full estate silver collections. The right route depends on what you have — and an honest evaluation up front avoids disappointment later.

What are my options?

Twin Cities sellers really have four routes, and each fits a different kind of silver.

• Auction house. Best for collectible and name-maker pieces — Georg Jensen, Tiffany & Co., Buccellati, early American coin silver, Arts & Crafts hand-hammered work, presentation silver, and anything with documented provenance. Also the right home for mixed estates where a specialist can sort the collectible from the weight silver. See how consignment works at Revere.
• Refiners and “we buy silver” shops. Fast and transactional. They pay a percentage of the daily spot price and are the right route for plain weight silver — common mid-century flatware in undistinguished patterns.
• Private dealers. Can be quick, but offers vary widely. Worth getting a second opinion before you accept one. Revere also brokers private sales when that path makes sense.
• eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Platform fees, shipping risk, and slow going for large sets. Fine for a single piece if you enjoy the work.

Honest market note: mid-range sterling made after about 1960, and nearly all silverplate, is a flooded market. Formal entertaining declined, and sets from downsizing households outnumber the buyers looking for them. Go in with realistic expectations.

Is it sterling, coin silver, or plate?

Check the marks before you do anything else.

• Sterling is 92.5% pure silver, marked “sterling”, “925”, or “STERLING 925”. English silver carries hallmarks — a lion passant indicates sterling.
• Coin silver is older American silver, roughly 90% pure, often marked “coin” or “pure coin” — or not marked at all.
• Silverplate is a thin layer of silver over base metal. Marks like “EPNS”, “quadruple plate”, “A1”, or “silver on copper” tell you it is plate. It has essentially no melt value.

A few practical points. Silver is weighed in troy ounces (ozt); one troy ounce is about 31.1 grams. Weighted pieces — candlesticks, compotes, and trophies marked “weighted” or “reinforced” — contain cement or pitch cores and hold far less silver than their heft suggests. Monograms typically reduce value on common patterns but matter little on rare or historically important pieces. And do not heavily polish antique silver before an evaluation — collectors prefer original surfaces.

What silver sells well at auction?

There are really two markets for sterling: weight silver and collectible silver. Recent results at Revere show the range.

• A monumental sterling silver punch bowl with James J. Hill provenance, 389 troy ounces, sold for $24,000. Silver with documented Minnesota provenance draws strong bidding from local and national collectors.
• A rare Georg Jensen Owl serving set brought $2,800. A group of Michelsen/Georg Jensen Christmas spoons and forks sold for $3,100, another Michelsen & Jensen Christmas spoon collection for $2,300, and a Vivianna Torun Georg Jensen bracelet watch for $900. Original Jensen designs can reach $14,000 at auction.
• Buccellati and Jensen silver appear regularly in Revere’s Furnishings + Decorative Art sales.

Common 20th-century American sterling flatware in plain patterns — much of the production from Gorham, Towle, Wallace, International, and Reed & Barton — trades close to its silver weight. That is not a criticism of the silver; it is a description of the market.

What is the first step?

Request a free auction estimate. Three ways to do it:

1. Upload photos and descriptions through the online estimate form.
2. Email info@revereauctions.com.
3. Text 612-208-6985 (that number receives text messages only).

You will hear back within 5–7 days with a specialist’s opinion on auction value and the best route to sell. For larger collections or full estates, we schedule in-person appointments at the St. Paul offices or on site — see our estate services. Consignors in the Twin Cities metro can drop items off at the office or use our local transport service.

Send clear photos of every mark. The stamp on the underside decides most of what happens next.

How long does it take?

Plan on a few months from first contact to check in hand — the exact timing depends on which upcoming sale your consignment lands in. A typical sequence:

1. Estimate: 5–7 days after you send photos.
2. Consignment and pickup or drop-off: scheduled once you accept terms and sign the contract, which sets the reserve — the lowest amount an item can sell for. Revere typically sets the opening bid at the reserve.
3. Cataloging, photography, and marketing: sales are posted to all major art databases and marketing platforms, and over 100,000 collectors receive alerts. Bidders participate from around the world.
4. Auction day: a preliminary settlement report arrives by email that evening.
5. Settlement: checks are mailed approximately 30 days after the auction.

If you need speed above all else, a refiner or dealer will be faster — and, for weight silver, likely comparable in net. For anything collectible, the auction timeline is where the money is.

What does Revere charge?

Straightforward. Our seller’s commission is calculated off the hammer price and negotiated in the consignment agreement.

What we do not charge:

• No fees for storage, cataloging, photography, or advertising.
• No fees if an item does not sell.
• No fees for re-offering an unsold piece.

Optional consignment insurance is 1.5% of the final sale price, deducted from the settlement alongside the commission. Consignors can waive it if their homeowners or private insurance already covers the item.

One tax note worth flagging: U.S. federal third-party reporting rules require a W-9 from sellers over $600 in a calendar year, and selling at auction can affect income taxes. Ask your accountant if you are moving a significant estate.

Also selling jewelry from the same estate? See our guide to selling jewelry in Minneapolis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my silver is sterling or silverplate?

Look for marks. Sterling is stamped “sterling”, “925”, or “STERLING 925”, and English sterling carries hallmarks including a lion passant. Silverplate is marked “EPNS”, “quadruple plate”, “A1”, or “silver on copper” — it has essentially no melt value. Older American coin silver (about 90% pure) is often marked “coin” or “pure coin”, or not marked at all.

Should I polish my silver before an appraisal?

No. Collectors prefer original surfaces, and heavy polishing or machine-buffing can reduce value on antique pieces. Send us photos as-is and let the specialist decide what, if anything, needs attention.

What is my sterling flatware set actually worth?

Common 20th-century American sterling in plain patterns — much of the production from Gorham, Towle, Wallace, International, and Reed & Barton — trades close to its silver weight. Rare makers and patterns (Georg Jensen, Tiffany, Buccellati, early American coin silver, Arts & Crafts hand-hammered work) sell well above melt at auction, sometimes by multiples.

Do I have to pay anything if my silver doesn’t sell?

No. Revere charges no fees if an item does not sell during the auction, and no fees for re-offering an unsold piece. There are also no separate charges for storage, cataloging, photography, or advertising.