Garage Sale Cheat Sheet

Quick reference for finding precious metals

QUICK PRIORITY RULES (READ FIRST)

  • Buy by markings, not shine – many valuable items look dull
  • Magnet test: Precious metals are NOT magnetic (some clasps may be)
  • Weight matters: Precious metals feel heavy for their size
  • When in doubt, buy cheap – silver mistakes are usually recoverable

Current Spot Prices

Silver: $84.77 / oz
Gold: $5,107.90 / oz

Last updated: 2026-02-22 15:00:02.242104

Current Live Prices

Silver

$84.77
per troy ounce
Per Gram:
$2.73
Per Pennyweight:
$4.24

Gold

$5,107.90
per troy ounce
Per Gram:
$0.16
Per Pennyweight:
$0.25
Last updated: 2026-02-22 15:00:02.242104

Gold Value Per Gram by Karat

Karat Purity Value per Gram Value per Pennyweight
24K 100.0% $164.22 $255.39
22K 91.7% $150.59 $234.20
18K 75.0% $123.17 $191.55
14K 58.3% $95.74 $148.90
10K 41.7% $68.48 $106.50
9K 37.5% $61.58 $95.77

Silver Value Per Gram

Type Purity Value per Gram Value per Pennyweight
Fine Silver 99.9% $2.72 $4.23
Britannia 95.8% $2.61 $4.06
Sterling 92.5% $2.52 $3.92
Coin Silver 90.0% $2.45 $3.81
80% Silver 80.0% $2.18 $3.39

Gold Hallmarks & Stamps

Where to Find Gold Stamps:
  • Rings: Inside the band
  • Necklaces & Bracelets: Near the clasp
  • Earrings: On the back of the post or inside the hoop
  • Charms & Pendants: On the back or near the bail
24K or 999 or 1.000

24 Karat (99.9% pure gold) - Pure gold, most valuable

22K or 916 or .916

22 Karat (91.6% pure gold) - Common in Indian jewelry

18K or 750 or .750

18 Karat (75% pure gold) - High-end jewelry standard

14K or 585 or .585

14 Karat (58.3% pure gold) - Most common in USA jewelry

10K or 417 or .417

10 Karat (41.7% pure gold) - Minimum karat sold as gold in USA

9K or 375 or .375

9 Karat (37.5% pure gold) - Common in UK/European jewelry

Gold-Filled / Gold-Plated (NOT Solid Gold)

Marks to AVOID paying gold price for:

GF 1/20 12K GF - Gold Filled

GP GEP RGP - Gold Plated

Real-Life Examples

What You'll Actually See:
  • 14K Ring: Look inside the band - you'll typically see "14K" stamped in tiny letters, or sometimes "585" (the decimal equivalent)
  • 18K Necklace: Check the clasp area - often stamped "18K" or "750" on the small metal tag near the clasp
  • 10K Bracelet: Usually marked "10K" or "417" near the clasp or on the inside of the closure
  • Italian Gold: Often shows "750" or "585" with a maker's mark (Italian gold is frequently unmarked despite being authentic)

Important: U.S. hallmarking is voluntary, so some authentic pieces may lack stamps. Use multiple tests (magnet, weight, appearance) to verify.

Gold Items to Look For

  • Jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings)
  • Watches & watch bands
  • Dental gold (crowns, bridges)
  • Class rings & wedding bands
  • Gold coins (check if collectible first!)
  • Cufflinks & tie clips
  • Religious items (crosses, crucifixes)

Silver Hallmarks (NON-COIN)

Common U.S. Marks

STERLING STER 925 .925

Sterling Silver (92.5%) - Standard for quality silver items

British Sterling Hallmarks (VERY IMPORTANT)

Lion Passant → Sterling silver (92.5%)

Leopard Head → London assay office

Crowned leopard / other city marks → Other UK assay offices

Letter stamp → Year code

CRITICAL: If you see a lion passant, it is sterling even if NO numbers are present!

European / International Silver Marks

800 .800

80% Silver - Common in European silver (BUY)

830 835

Scandinavian Silver - 83-83.5% silver

900 .900

90% Silver - High-quality European silver

Minerva Head → France (varies by number)
Crescent & Crown → Germany

Coin Silver

COIN COIN SILVER

~90% Silver - Mostly older U.S. flatware, pre-1930

Silver-Plated (NOT Solid Silver)

AVOID unless extremely cheap

Common plated marks:

EP EPNS EPBM A1 IS

Rogers, Community, Oneida (unless marked STERLING)

U.S. Silver Coins ("Junk Silver")

90% Silver Coins

  • Dimes: 1892–1964
  • Quarters: 1892–1964
  • Half Dollars: 1892–1964 ONLY

Rule: If it's 1964 or earlier, it's usually 90% silver

40% Silver Coins

Kennedy Half Dollars: 1965–1970 (40% silver only)

Silver Dollars (90%)

Morgan: 1878–1921

Peace: 1921–1935

Silver Items to Look For

  • Flatware sets (spoons, forks, knives)
  • Tea sets & serving pieces
  • Candlesticks & candelabras
  • Jewelry (check for tarnish)
  • Pre-1965 US coins (90% silver)
  • Trays & bowls
  • Picture frames

Quick Testing Tips

Visual Inspection
  • Look for hallmarks/stamps (usually hidden in clasps, inside rings, bottom of items)
  • Check for wear - real gold/silver won't show different metal underneath
  • Tarnish is normal for silver (actually a good sign!)
  • Check edges and clasps for plating separation
Magnet Test
  • Gold and silver are NOT magnetic
  • If item sticks to magnet, it's not real (or heavily alloyed)
  • Carry a small rare earth magnet for testing
Weight Test
  • Gold is heavy - real gold feels substantial
  • Silver is also heavy compared to aluminum or steel
  • Bring a small pocket scale (optional but helpful)
Ice Test (Silver Only)
  • Silver has highest thermal conductivity of any metal
  • Place ice cube on silver - it will melt quickly
  • Great for testing larger silver pieces

Red Flags - Avoid These

Fake Marks & Terms
  • GP, GF, HGE, RGP = Gold Plated/Filled (not solid gold)
  • Silver Plated, EPNS, EPBM = Not solid silver
  • German Silver, Nickel Silver = Contains NO silver at all
  • Tibetan Silver = Usually just copper/zinc alloy
  • No marks at all = Probably not real (but test anyway)
Warning Signs
  • Green discoloration on skin contact (copper)
  • Flaking or chipping edges (plating coming off)
  • Different color metal showing through worn areas
  • Extremely light weight for size
  • Rust or corrosion (precious metals don't rust)

Quick Math Formulas

Weight Conversions
  • 1 troy ounce = 31.1 grams = 20 pennyweights (dwt)
  • 1 gram = 0.643 pennyweight
  • 1 pennyweight = 1.555 grams
Calculate Melt Value

Value = Weight (grams) × Price per gram × Purity

Example: 10 grams of 14K gold at $85/gram pure
10g × $85 × 0.583 (14K purity) = $495.55

Testing Tools (Cheap & Useful)

Small Magnet
Jewelry Loupe (10×)
Pocket Scale (grams)
Acid Test Kit

High-Value Items People Miss

  • Sterling scrap jewelry (broken OK - buy by weight)
  • Single sterling earrings (people think they're worthless)
  • Sterling weighted candlesticks (still worth stripping)
  • Old silver flatware without full sets (mismatched is fine)
  • Foreign silver coins (Canadian, Mexican, etc.)
  • Tarnished items (sellers often price low)

Quick Walk-Away Red Flags

  • Magnetic → Not precious metal
  • Says EP / EPNS only → Silver plated
  • Extremely lightweight → Probably fake
  • Seller insists "it's silver" but no marks → Pass

GARAGE SALE BUY RULE

If you can buy marked silver or gold at under melt value, BUY IT. Condition matters far less than the metal content.

4 Visual Rules to Remember

If you remember just these 4 rules, you'll beat most buyers:
  1. Lion = Sterling (even without numbers)
  2. 925 / 800 = Buy (solid silver)
  3. Magnet sticks = No (not precious metal)
  4. EPNS = Plate (not solid)

Negotiation Tips

DO
  • Bring cash for better deals
  • Be friendly and respectful
  • Buy in bulk for discounts
  • Check items thoroughly before buying
  • Ask about untested jewelry boxes
  • Shop early or at end of day
DON'T
  • Tell them it's gold/silver (if they don't know)
  • Test items with acid in front of seller
  • Insult or lowball excessively
  • Buy without inspecting for damage
  • Ignore items just because they're tarnished
  • Pass up "junk jewelry" boxes

Essential Tools to Bring

Strong Magnet

Test if items are magnetic (precious metals aren't)

Magnifying Glass

Read small hallmarks and stamps

This Cheat Sheet

Reference prices and hallmarks on your phone