800 Silver

800 Silver denotes a silver alloy consisting of exactly 800 parts per thousand — that is, 80 percent by weight — of pure silver. The remaining 20% consists predominantly of copper, which improves mechanical strength and workability. In Germany, 800 Silver was for decades the legal minimum standard for silverware and remains to this day the most common alloy encountered in inherited items, old stock and flea markets. You can calculate the current silver price and the melt value of a specific piece online at any time.

Hallmarks and Identifying Features

In Germany, 800 Silver is traditionally stamped with the moon-and-crown hallmark (crescent moon + crown) — a mark that has stood since 1888 for tested silverware and guarantees the buyer the state-inspected fineness declaration. Alongside this, the plain number 800 is frequently found, sometimes supplemented by the maker's mark of the manufacturer or the mark of a refinery.

Distinction from Other Silver Alloys

800 Silver should be deliberately distinguished from other common alloys:

• 835 Silver (835 ‰): Frequently used for German post-war cutlery; slightly higher silver content, simultaneously slightly lighter in colour.
• Sterling Silver (925 ‰): International standard for jewellery and modern flatware; noticeably brighter in tone, higher fineness.
• Britannia Silver (958 ‰): British high standard, almost pure silver, very soft.
• Fine Silver (999 ‰): Investment metal (coins, bars), barely suitable for functional objects.

The lower silver content of 800 makes the alloy harder and more durable — ideal for daily-use cutlery — but also leads to a slightly warmer, faintly yellowish-grey tint and stronger tarnishing than higher-grade alloys.

Calculating the Melt Value

You can determine the material value of an 800 Silver piece using the following formula:

Melt Value = Weight (g) × 0.800 × Silver Price (€/g)

Example: 100 g of 800 cutlery silver at a silver price of €0.95/g yields a melt value of €76.00. The melt value calculator or the silver calculator make this even easier by automatically incorporating the current daily price. The actual buying price from a dealer is typically 10–25% lower, as testing, melting and handling costs apply.

Tax Classification

For private individuals, the speculative holding period under § 23 Para. 1 No. 2 EStG applies when selling 800 scrap silver: if more than one year has elapsed between purchase and sale, the gain is tax-free — regardless of its amount. If sold within the one-year period, the gain counts as a private disposal transaction and is subject to income tax, provided it together with other gains of this type exceeds the tax-free allowance of €1,000 (up to 2023: €600).

On the VAT side: 800 Silver is not investment gold and is therefore not VAT-exempt (unlike fine gold under § 4 No. 28 UStG). When a dealer purchases scrap silver from a private individual, the dealer may apply the margin scheme under § 25a UStG, so that VAT is levied only on the trading margin rather than on the full selling price. This is not tax or investment advice — please consult a tax adviser for specific questions.

Typical Applications

800 Silver is found mainly in:

1. Cutlery and tableware — spoons, forks, knives, trays (main use in Germany and Austria up to approx. 1980)
2. Jewellery — rings, chains, brooches; rarer today, as sterling (925) dominates the market
3. Silverware of the early 20th century — teapots, sugar bowls, candlesticks
4. Middle East and North Africa — 800 Silver remains widespread there to this day as a jewellery alloy

In Brief

800 Silver, with its 80% silver content, is the classic German utility alloy for cutlery and tableware — recognisable by crescent moon, crown and the stamp number 800. Anyone owning or buying scrap silver should know the weight and current silver price in order to reliably assess the real material value.