Is your silver real?
A lot of silver-coloured cutlery and trays are silver-plated, not solid silver. Plated items have only a thin coat of silver, so they're worth very little as scrap.
Solid British silver usually has a hallmark with a lion, the word Sterling, or the number 925. Plated items are often stamped EPNS, which stands for electroplated nickel silver. If you're not sure, bring it in and we'll test it for free.
Checking your old coins
- UK silver coins dated before 1920 are 92.5% silver.
- Coins dated 1920 to 1946 are 50% silver.
- Coins dated 1947 or later are cupronickel and contain no silver.
Cornwall's mining capital
In the 1700s and 1800s, the mines around Redruth made it one of the richest copper mining areas in the world. William Murdoch's house on Cross Street is said to be the first home lit by gas, in 1792.
When mining declined, many Redruth families went to the gold fields of South Africa. There's even a suburb near Johannesburg called New Redruth. Gold and silver sent home in those years still turns up in Redruth jewellery boxes and coin tins today.
Gold and silver together
Many people bring us a mix of metals. A chain, some rings, a few old coins and a set of spoons. We sort everything by metal and purity, weigh each group separately, and show you the price for each one.
That way you can see exactly where your money comes from. If you'd rather keep some pieces, just take them back. There's no obligation to sell anything.
How to sell from Redruth
Visit our Bodmin branch
About 45 minutes along the A30. Open weekdays, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Sell by post
Post your gold and silver from Redruth. We pay within 24 hours of your parcel arriving.
When the price on the page isn't the price you're paid
Some gold buyers' websites show big tables of live prices per gram, labelled simply "9ct gold price" or "silver price". It's easy to think that's what they'll pay you. Usually, it's the market value, not their offer.
The difference can be large, and it applies to silver as much as gold. If a buyer shows the market price but never says what they pay, you can't tell how much they're keeping.
Our silver and gold numbers, side by side
- Sterling silver: market value £1.27 per gram, we pay £0.89
- 9ct gold: market value £37.66 per gram, we pay £34.48
The gap between those numbers is our margin. We show it because you deserve to see it.
Selling gold elsewhere in Cornwall
We buy gold right across the county. If you're not in Redruth, one of these local guides may be closer to home.
Get a free valuation today
Find out what your gold and silver are worth, with no pressure to sell. Contact us for a free valuation, or call our Bodmin branch on 01208 420331.
