2026 Semiquincentennial Coin & Medal Program | U.S. Mint

 

The U.S. Mint presents the 2026 Semiquincentennial Coin & Medal Program, a one‑year tribute to America’s legacy, its people, and enduring ideals.

How Much Is Your Vintage Silver Tray Worth?

Ever found an old silver tray in your storage or gotten one from a grandparent and wondered if it was worth more than just memories? A lot of collectors don’t notice these beautiful pieces because they don’t know they could be sitting on a hidden treasure. Silver trays are more than just fancy serving dishes; they have a long history, are well-made, and are worth real money. Most people who own old silverware, especially trays, don’t know how to figure out how much it’s worth. They might polish it with household polish, use it as decoration, or put it away without knowing how much it’s worth.

The problem? Not all shiny silver trays are made of pure silver. Some are silver-plated, while others are sterling or coin silver. The market value of each type is very different. Also, the market for antique silver changes based on trends, the price of metal, and what collectors want. If you don’t get the right advice, you might sell your piece for a lot less than it’s worth or not value it enough.

Why You Undervaluing Your Silver Treasure

Imagine this: someone gets a beautiful vintage silver tray as a gift and sells it at a yard sale for $50, only to find out later that it was a 19th-century sterling silver piece worth more than $1,000. Sadly, this happens more often than you might think. A lot of people think that silver-plated trays are sterling or don’t notice small but important details like maker’s marks, hallmarks, or hand-chased designs that can greatly affect value. Scratches, spots, or cleaning that isn’t done right can damage the patina, making the tray less appealing to buyers. Your old silver tray might not just be a pretty thing; it could be a valuable piece of history and art that you own.

Find Out How Much Your Old Silver Tray Is Worth

1. Look for Hallmarks or Maker’s Marks

Look for stamps on the back or handles that say “925,” “Sterling,” or “Coin Silver.” There are important clues to authenticity and age in the form of symbols or letters that show the silversmith, manufacturer, or country of origin.

2. Check the Silver Content

Real silver doesn’t have a magnetic field and reacts differently to acid tests. Talk to a professional appraiser to get the most accurate results.

3. Check out the skill and design.

A hand-engraved pattern, fancy handles or decorations around the rims generally add value. Whether Georgian or Art Deco, the collectors are looking for trays that reflect the art of their era.

4. Think about the size, weight, and condition

Heavier sterling trays usually sell for more. Condition is important; dents, scratches, or repairs can lower value, so be careful.

5. Look up the maker or pattern

Some brands, like Gorham, Tiffany & Co., and Reed & Barton, are very popular with collectors. Limited editions or rare patterns can make something worth more on the market. You can use online reference books to help you compare prices.

6. Get an Expert Appraisal

Purity, history and the current market for gold and silver are all considered by a certified appraiser when determining their metals’ worth. Many will offer a free verbal appraisal or based on a photo or digital images.

Learning about the Past of Silver Trays

People have loved silver trays since the 17th century because they are beautiful and show wealth. In Victorian and Edwardian homes, they were used to serve tea, show off fine china, or even show off small collectibles. Knowing when and where your tray was made can help you figure out how much it’s worth and tell a fascinating story about how it was made and what it was used for.

Trends in the Market Right Now

• Victorian-style trays with lots of detail and mid-century Art Deco designs are very popular right now.
• Depending on the maker, design, and condition, heavy sterling silver trays can sell for $500 to $2,000.
• Silver-plated trays are worth more as decorations, usually between $50 and $150.

Different kinds of silver trays:

• Sterling Silver (925): 92.5% pure silver; the most valuable.
• Coin Silver: Common in 19th-century America, this type of silver is usually 90% silver.
• Silver-Plated: A base metal that has been covered in silver, which makes it less valuable.
• Sheffield Plate and Britannia Silver: Old types that are sometimes worth collecting.

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The Most Valuable Gemstones in the World Today

Gemstones have been treasured for thousands of years, valued not just for their beauty but also for perceived spiritual, cultural, and even medicinal significance. Modern assessments determine the value of a gemstone by its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. However, unique qualities and overall rarity are often the common denominators across the world’s most expensive stones and the rare gemstones list.

Blue Diamond:

• Top value: The most famous stones are valued as high as $4 million per carat..
• Why it's valuable: Extremely rare natural blue color caused by trace amounts of boron. Famous stones like The Oppenheimer Blue and The Blue Moon of Josephine have sold for tens of millions.
• Notable sale: The Oppenheimer Blue, 14.62 carats, sold for $57.5 million, one of the most expensive gemstones in the world.

Pink Diamond:

• Top value: Famous rare ones can fetch over $2 million per carat.
• Why it's valuable: Exceptionally rare and often found only in the now-closed Argyle Mine in Australia.
• Notable sale: The Williamson Pink Star, 11.15 carats, sold for $57.7 million in 2022.

Red Diamond

• Top value: Legendary rarities valued up to Around $1 million+ per carat.
• Why it's valuable: The rarest color among diamonds. Almost all red diamonds are under 1 carat.
• Notable piece(s): The Moussaieff Red Diamond, 5.11 carats, estimated value of $20 million.

Jadeite

• Top value: World-renowned gems can reach prices of over $3 million per carat for imperial jadeite.
• Why it's valuable: Especially prized in Chinese culture. Imperial jadeite, which is vivid green and translucent, is extremely rare.
• Notable piece(s): The Hutton-Mdivani Necklace sold for $27.4 million.

Ruby

• Top value: Famed one-of-a-kind stones are valued as high as Over $1.2 million per carat.
• Why it's valuable: The vivid “pigeon blood” rubies from Myanmar are highly prized for their rich color.
• Notable piece(s): Estrela de Fura, 55.22 carats, sold in 2023 for $34.8 million.

Emerald

• Top value: Up to $300,000+ per carat for flawless Colombian stones.
• Why it's valuable: Deep green color and clarity, with historical significance and scarcity of high-quality specimens.
• Notable piece(s): Rockefeller Emerald, 18.04 carats, sold for $5.5 million.

Alexandrite

• Top value: Over $100,000 per carat for Russian-origin, high-carat, color-change stones.
• Why it's valuable: Rare color-changing property (green in daylight, red in incandescent light) and limited deposits.
• Notable piece(s): High-quality specimens over three carats can sell for $50K–$100K+ per carat.

Musgravite

• Top value: Famed one-of-a-kind stones are valued as high as Around $35,000 per carat.
• Why it's valuable: One of the rarest gemstones ever discovered, with very few cut stones in the world.
• Notable piece(s): The current biggest known stone is the Ophir Grand Musgravite at 214 carats.

Black Opal

• Top value: $10,000–$30,000+ per carat.
• Why it's valuable: Rarest and most valuable opal due to vivid "play-of-color" on a dark base.
• Notable piece(s): The Virgin Rainbow, valued at over $1 million.

Red Beryl 

• Top value: Can go for $20,000–$50,000 per carat.
• Why it's valuable: Found only in Utah, and in very small quantities. Much rarer than emerald or ruby.
• Notable piece(s): The American Museum of Natural History owns two of notable red beryl gemstones — the "Scarlet Wonder" and the "Red Beryl Suite".

Gemstone value is influenced by more than just size or sparkle. Four primary factors — color, clarity, cut, and carat weight — make up the standard valuation model used by gemologists. However, additional variables, such as origin, rarity, durability, and market demand, influence prized gemstones and their value.

For instance, diamonds are widespread but still hold immense value due to their cultural symbolism and demand in engagement rings. In contrast, red beryl or musgravite — found in extremely limited geographical areas — are highly valuable simply because so few quality specimens exist. A pigeon blood ruby or an alexandrite with strong color-shifting effects can fetch significantly more than other stones of similar weight. Source

The 7 Phases of Watch Collecting

 

This video breaks down the 7 Phases of Watch Collecting—from your first Timex to total enlightenment. Discover which phase you’re in right now, the psychology behind each stage, and how to escape the trap that’s quietly draining your wallet.

Proof Coins: Making Money

 

San Francisco Mint Deputy Superintendent Paul Lewis describes the process of minting proof coins and what makes them unique.

What Types of Coins Does the U.S. Mint Make? Let's Find Out!

 

"Ask the Mint" answers real questions from students across the United States! 

The National Medal

In accordance with Public Law 92-229, the United States Mint produced the National Medal commemorating the year 1776 and its significance to American independence. The medal was designed to exacting standards by the Mint's Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro and depicts the Statue of Liberty ringed by 50 stars representing the 50 States and 1776-1976 on the obverse. The reverse bears the Great Seal of the United States and the inscription "We the People."

The National Medal was offered for sale in seven different versions and four sizes between January 1 and July 31, 1975. The $4,000 three-inch gold medal was made-to-order and individually numbered. 424 of those were sold. Two smaller versions in gold were also offered. The Mint sold 30,239 units of the $100 version and 5,383 units of the $400 version. Additionally, the Mint sold 426,459 units of $5 bronze medals, 209,885 units of $25 silver medals, and 47,150 units of $15 gold-plated medals. The Mint also sold 9,425 three-inch silver medals, valued at $150 each. 

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How Did the Discovery of Gold Help the U.S. Mint Expand?

 

"Moments at the Mint" is a series focusing on the intersection of important moments in  U.S. history with the work of the United States Mint. In this episode, we explore how the discovery of precious metals influenced current and historic Mint locations across the U.S.

Mint Marks on Medals

Most medals don’t have mint marks. The Philadelphia Mint makes Congressional Gold Medals and their bronze duplicates, Presidential Medals, and most others. But for certain numismatic silver medals, other Mint facilities may help. The U.S. Mint sometimes places a mint mark on a medal for marketing purposes. The mark can be on the obverse or reverse side, depending on how it fits into the design. Source

Mint Marks

Mint marks are letters that identify where a coin was made. In the past, they held the maker responsible for the quality of a coin. When the U.S. used precious metals such as gold and silver to make circulating coins, a commission evaluated the composition and quality of coins from each of the Mint facilities. These evaluations ensured that each facility produced coins to the correct specifications.

Philadelphia was the only branch in operation in the Mint’s earliest years, so identifying the source of a coin was not necessary. When the Mint opened branches in Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans in 1838, mint marks made their first appearance on U.S. coins.

However, the practice of not identifying Philadelphia’s coins continued even after the first branches were established.

This changed in 1942. When nickel was removed from five-cent coins during World War II, the “P” mint mark first appeared on coins produced in Philadelphia. The mark’s position also moved from the right of Monticello to above the dome to indicate the new metal composition.

After the war, when use of the regular alloy resumed, mint marks returned to their former positions, and the Mint no longer used Philadelphia’s “P.”

The Coinage Act of 1965 eliminated mint marks to discourage collecting while the Mint worked to meet the country’s coinage needs. So, no mint marks appeared on circulating coins from 1965 to 1967.

When mint marks returned in 1968, they were placed on the obverse, after having previously been on the reverse of coins.

In 1979, the Susan B. Anthony Dollar was introduced. Once again, the “P” mint mark appeared. The following year, the “P” appeared on all of the denominations except the cent, which still holds true today.

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