Thrifter Finds Valuable Silver - Here Are The Two Words That Let Them Know Its Worth

Every now and then, stories emerge about shoppers serendipitously finding valuable, high-end items at thrift stores for very friendly prices. It doesn't happen often, but every time it does, a whole new wave of motivation washes over those thrifters that are still waiting their turn. According to Newsweek, a man in Nevada looking for a thoughtful piece for his hairdresser wife came across a gorgeous silver mirror for just $9.99. Eagle-eyed, he later realized that the piece was actually sterling silver and worth at least seven times that number.

Knowing how to identify sterling silver, its maker's mark, and its age is crucial when scouring the resale market for vintage examples of the valuable metal. This particular piece was not just marked "sterling," but it also contained information about the manufacturer, Webster Company, and the year of production, 1953. The Webster Company was a prominent American silversmith that predominantly worked with sterling silver, so remembering the words "Webster Sterling" could help you determine whether something is really silver and potentially grant you the same fate as this lucky Nevada man.

Hailing from North Attleboro, Massachusetts, Webster Company was first established in 1869 under the name G.K. Webster & Co., after its founder George K. Webster. It was eventually bought by Reed & Barton in 1950 but continued to produce silverware under the Webster brand name. Its most easily identifiable mark, which was also found on the lucky mirror mentioned above, featured an overlapping "W" and "C," with a small "o" on their right side, all struck through by a feathered arrow. Occasionally, pieces will also be marked "Webster." 

There is another Webster silversmith in U.S. history, however, that was called E.G. Webster, Webster Manufacturing Co, and E.G. Webster & Son, among many other names. This company was mostly in the silver-plating — and not sterling silver — business and used many different markings, the most simple of which could be confused with Webster Co. Still, it's important to remember that sterling silver made in the U.S. from the 19th century onward is typically labeled with either the word "sterling" or the number "925," which refers to its 92.5% pure silver content.

When it's not marked, there are other ways to tell if your silverware is real silver as opposed to plated silver. Plated silver is made from a base metal like nickel or zinc coated with silver, making it much less valuable than the sterling silver alloy of over 90% pure silver and a small percentage of copper. Sterling silver is much heavier than plated silver and a better heat conductor. So, if you want to tell the two apart, dip them in hot water and see which one gets hotter faster.