What does 900 mean on jewelry?
900 means Coin · 90% silver (Silver). Solid precious metal
Solid silver. Antique American coin silver often carries collector value well above scrap. At today's price the metal is worth about $1.43 per gram.
What the mark tells you
"Coin silver" — historically made from melted currency. Common in 19th-century American flatware.
You may also see it written as coin, coin silver, .900. They all mean the same thing.
What 900 is worth by weight, today
A piece stamped 900 is 90.0% silver, so at today's spot price the metal in it is worth $1.43 per gram. A buyer will offer 70–90% of that — they carry the refining cost and take a margin — and anything below about 60% is a poor offer.
| Weight | Metal value | Likely offer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 g | $1 | $1 – $1 |
| 3 g | $4 | $3 – $4 |
| 5 g | $7 | $5 – $6 |
| 10 g | $14 | $10 – $13 |
| 20 g | $29 | $20 – $26 |
| 50 g | $71 | $50 – $64 |
Weigh the piece without stones if you can. A typical ring is 3–6 g, a 45 cm chain 8–15 g, a bangle 15–30 g. Stones, solder and springs add weight that is not silver.
Is it worth anything?
Solid silver. Antique American coin silver often carries collector value well above scrap.
Marks often confused with 900
| Mark | Means | Worth |
|---|---|---|
| 925 | Sterling · 92.5% silver | Solid metal |
| 958 | Britannia · 95.8% silver | Solid metal |
| 800 | 800 · 80% silver | Solid metal |
| 835 | 830–835 · 83–83.5% silver | Solid metal |
Where to find it
On a ring the mark is almost always inside the band. On a chain or bracelet look at the clasp or the tag beside it; on earrings check the post or the back. Marks are tiny and often worn — a phone camera zoomed all the way in usually reads one better than your eye does.
A stamp is evidence, not proof
Marks wear down, are struck only partially, and are occasionally forged outright. If a piece is valuable enough to matter, have the metal tested rather than relying on the stamp alone. Equally, an absent stamp does not always mean an absent metal: older and handmade jewelry is frequently unmarked.
Found something real? Value it
If the piece is solid metal or holds a stone, see what it is actually worth — both at retail and what you would genuinely be offered for it.
Value my jewelry