What Does 800 Mean on Silver?
An 800 stamp on silver means the piece contains 80% pure silver, alloyed with 20% other metals, usually copper. It is a continental European standard, especially common on German, Italian, and other European flatware, holloware, and older jewelry. It is genuine silver, but a lower grade than sterling's 92.5%.
The Full Explanation
The number 800 is a millesimal fineness mark: the metal is 800 parts per thousand silver, or 80% pure. The remaining 20% is base metal, typically copper, which adds hardness. This standard never took hold in Britain or the United States, where sterling (925) dominates, but it was widely legal and popular across continental Europe.
Germany is the country most associated with 800 silver. A law effective in 1888 established the crescent moon and crown (Halbmond und Krone) as the national mark, with 800 as the minimum permitted fineness, so German pieces often show '800' alongside those symbols. Italy also used 800 extensively, particularly for flatware and serving pieces, and the standard appears on silver from Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, and elsewhere in Europe, as well as on some Egyptian and Ottoman-region work.
Most 800 silver you will encounter is flatware, tea sets, trays, and decorative holloware made from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. The higher copper content makes 800 silver slightly harder than sterling but also quicker to tarnish, and its color can be marginally less bright.
For value, 800 silver is worth its weight in silver at 80% of fineness, so its melt value runs about 13.5% below sterling of the same weight. Collectible value depends far more on maker, age, and condition — well-made German or Italian 800 pieces from respected workshops can be worth considerably more than melt.
Where to Look
On flatware, the 800 stamp appears on the back of spoon and fork handles, near the base, and on knife blades or handle ends. Holloware such as teapots and trays is usually marked on the underside of the base. Jewelry carries the mark on clasps, pin backs, or inner ring bands.
Look for accompanying symbols: a crescent moon and crown indicates Germany after 1888, while other national marks or a maker's initials can help place the piece. The stamp may read '800', '0.800', or '800S'.
Quick Tips
- 1800 silver is genuine silver — 80% pure — just a lower standard than sterling's 92.5%
- 2A crescent moon and crown next to the 800 identifies German manufacture after 1888
- 3The extra copper content means 800 silver tarnishes somewhat faster than sterling
- 4Melt value is roughly 13.5% less than sterling of equal weight, but maker and age often matter more
- 5Continental flatware sets marked 800 are common at estate sales and are frequently mistaken for sterling
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Related Questions
A 925 stamp on a ring means it is made of sterling silver — an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals,
What Does 958 Mean on Silver?A 958 stamp on silver indicates Britannia silver — an alloy containing at least 95.84% pure silver, a higher grade than
What Does EPNS Mean on Silverware?EPNS on silverware stands for 'electroplated nickel silver' — a base metal alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc coated with
What Does Sterling Mean Stamped on Jewelry?The word STERLING stamped on jewelry means the metal is sterling silver — at least 92.5% pure silver alloyed with copper
Frequently asked questions
Is 800 silver worth anything?
Yes. A piece marked 800 contains 80% pure silver, so it has real melt value based on weight and the silver spot price. Antique 800 flatware and holloware from good German or Italian makers can sell well above melt. Condition, completeness of sets, and maker's marks drive the premium.
Is 800 silver the same as sterling?
No. Sterling is 92.5% silver, while 800 silver is 80%. Both are genuine silver alloys, but sterling is the higher grade. Items marked 800 cannot legally be sold as sterling in the US or UK.
Why do old European spoons say 800?
Continental Europe adopted lower legal minimums for silver than Britain. Germany's 1888 law set 800 as the national minimum, and Italy and other countries used the standard heavily for flatware. Enormous quantities of 800 spoons, forks, and serving pieces were made from the late 1800s onward, and many survive today.
Does 800 silver tarnish more than sterling?
Generally yes, somewhat. Tarnish is driven largely by the copper in the alloy reacting with sulfur in the air, and 800 silver contains more copper than sterling. The difference is modest in practice — regular use and proper storage matter more than the exact fineness.
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