Cutlery Silver (800)
Also: Table Silver, 800 Silver, Silver Cutlery
Cutlery silver refers to solid silverware with a fineness of at least 800 parts per thousand (80 %), which was particularly widespread in middle-class and aristocratic households during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Anyone who inherits an old cutlery box or discovers a heavy table service at a flea market will almost always encounter the same hallmark: 800 — flanked by a crescent and a crown. These punches confirm that the piece is made of solid silver with a fineness of 800 parts per thousand, meaning it contains 80 % pure silver. Cutlery silver is therefore the most commonly found form of scrap silver in Germany and Central Europe, and it has a measurable melt value that derives directly from the current silver price.
Origin and historical background
The 800‰ alloy established itself in German-speaking countries from the mid-19th century onwards as a compromise: pure silver (999) is too soft for cutlery and scratches quickly; sterling (925) was more expensive and associated with the Anglo-Saxon world. 800 silver offered sufficient hardness for everyday use and remained affordable for the middle classes. The German Imperial Hallmarking Act of 1884 established the crescent-and-crown stamp as an official guarantee mark, which came into force across the board from 1888 — a system that remains a recognised identifier to this day.
In France, 800 silver was known as deuxième titre (second standard, 800/1000) — the premier titre denoted the higher 950‰ alloy; Austrian pieces frequently bear the Diana head and the numeral 3 for the third fineness grade (800 ‰).
Identifying hallmarks and punches
| Feature | Germany | Austria | Netherlands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fineness digit | 800 | 3 (third standard) | 2 (tweede gehalte) |
| Guarantee punch | Crescent + crown | Diana head | Lion |
| Maker's mark | Initials + location | Initial + coat of arms | Initials |
| Typical period | 1888–1940s | 1866–1922 | 1814–present |
If official guarantee punches are absent, a manufacturer's mark (e.g. WMF, Bruckmann, Koch & Bergfeld) can serve as an indication — but not proof — of fineness. When in doubt, X-ray fluorescence analysis or an acid test will provide clarity.
Calculating the melt value
The material value of a cutlery piece can be determined in three steps:
Melt value = Gross weight (g) × Fineness (0.800) × Silver price (per g)
Example: A tablespoon weighs 70 g and the silver price is €0.95/g.
70 g × 0.800 × €0.95/g = €53.20 melt value
The current silver price per gram is provided by the silver calculator; the complete result including buying discount is calculated by the melt value calculator.
Solid silver vs. silver-plated — the crucial difference
Many cutlery pieces look like 800 silver but are merely silver-plated: a thin layer of silver (EPNS — Electroplated Nickel Silver, or nickel silver) is electroplated onto a copper or nickel base. These pieces have no significant melt value. Identifying features:
- Solid: Hallmark 800 + guarantee punch, uniformly heavy
- Plated: Marks EPNS, 90, 100 (layer thickness in grams per 24 spoons), WM (wave pattern), no fineness hallmark
- Wear: On plated pieces, the yellowish base metal shows through at grip edges
Purchase and recycling
Scrap silver dealers and refineries typically pay 75–88 % of the melt value when buying 800 cutlery — depending on quantity, condition and current market prices. Complete, well-preserved sets by renowned manufacturers (e.g. Bruckmann, Rückert, Pott) often achieve significantly more than the pure material value at collector and auction markets; here it is worth comparing the smelting proceeds with the collector's value.
Tax classification
When selling cutlery silver from private ownership, a taxable private disposal transaction may arise: 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 miscellaneous private disposal gain and is subject to income tax, provided it exceeds the threshold together with other gains of this type. Consult a tax adviser for binding information in your jurisdiction.
Important: cutlery silver is not investment metal under tax law. The VAT exemption for investment gold does not apply here. When a dealer buys from a private individual commercially, however, the margin scheme for VAT purposes may apply, so that VAT is only charged on the trading margin.
Not tax or investment advice — please consult a tax adviser for binding information.
Key takeaway
Cutlery silver bearing the 800 hallmark is solid silver from the era of middle-class table silver and has a clearly calculable material value. Anyone who knows the weight, fineness and the current silver price can determine the melt value in seconds — and then decides whether melting down or resale is the better option.