Gold and silver from Front Range households
Estate boxes in Lakewood, coins in a Boulder rental move, jewelry from a Centennial downsizing.
Denver precious-metal leads are personal property, not mine concentrate. People find jewelry and worn silver coins while selling a mid-century house or settling an estate. Photograph hallmarks. Keep dental gold and plated costume pieces from being one blurry pile.
The spot widget is the market, not a local bid. A partner buyer names the offer after seeing weight and purity. Government photo ID is part of completing the sale.
Local prices vary by yard. Send a photo for a quote. The figures above are live market spot prices from gold-api, for reference only — not a local scale ticket.
Denver Scrap is an independent referral service that connects you with local scrap yards.
Sorting gold and silver before a Denver quote
Separate solid gold, solid silver, gold-filled pieces, and silver-plated items before asking for an offer. Marks such as 10K or 14K can help identify gold fineness, while “925” commonly marks sterling silver. A stamp is a useful clue, not proof: pieces may be misidentified, and buyers can test the metal. Keep pieces with unclear marks in their own group.
Jewelry may include stones, springs, clasps, solder, or other metals. Those parts affect what can be assessed as precious metal, and a buyer may weigh or test pieces differently once they are examined. Ask how stones and non-metal parts are handled before accepting an offer. Do not remove settings or take apart items unless the buyer says to; cutting can damage a piece that might otherwise have resale value.
Silver-plated serving pieces and gold-filled jewelry are not the same as solid silver or solid gold. Plating is a thin surface layer, and gold-filled construction has a bonded gold layer over another metal. These items may have little or no melt value compared with solid precious metal. Set them aside and describe them accurately rather than mixing them into a lot of solid pieces.
Comparing Denver precious-metal offers
A useful offer should make clear what material the buyer is evaluating, how purity is determined, and how the final amount is calculated. Ask whether the quoted figure is preliminary or final, and whether the buyer will explain the weight and test results on site. The referral site does not buy or weigh your items; independent partner buyers handle evaluation and any sale directly.
If you contact more than one buyer, give each the same description and ask what could change the offer after inspection. Confirm whether the buyer evaluates pieces individually or as a group, and whether any non-metal parts are excluded from the payable weight. The market spot price is only a reference point; it does not account for purity, processing, or a buyer’s offer.
Before traveling, ask what identification and payment arrangements the buyer requires, and whether an appointment is needed. Keep items secure and bring only the pieces you intend to have evaluated. If you are settling an estate or selling items for someone else, ask in advance what documentation the buyer needs to complete the transaction. The partner buyer sets its own process and final terms.
Questions
What does a karat mark tell me about gold?
Karat describes the proportion of gold in an alloy: 24K is pure gold by the karat scale, while lower numbers contain more other metals. A mark can guide sorting, but it does not establish the final purity or offer. A buyer may test an item, especially if the mark is worn, missing, or uncertain.
Does sterling silver always have a 925 mark?
No. Sterling silver is commonly marked 925, indicating 92.5 percent silver, but marks can be absent, worn, or misleading. Older or imported items may use other marks or standards. Silver-colored appearance alone cannot confirm the metal. Keep uncertain items separate and ask the buyer how it will be tested before deciding whether to sell.
Should I remove stones from gold jewelry before selling it?
Usually, do not remove stones before asking the buyer. Removing a setting can damage the jewelry, and some pieces may have value beyond their metal content. Ask whether stones are assessed separately, excluded from the metal weight, or returned to you. Confirm the process before the buyer begins testing or disassembly.
Are gold-filled or silver-plated pieces valued like solid metal?
No. Gold-filled items have a layer of gold bonded to a base metal, while silver-plated items have a thin silver coating. They are not equivalent to solid gold or sterling silver for melt evaluation. Keep them separate, describe them accurately, and ask whether the buyer accepts them rather than assuming they qualify for a precious-metal offer.
What should I ask before agreeing to sell?
Ask what purity and weight the offer is based on, how the buyer handles stones or other non-metal parts, and whether the offer can change after testing. Request a clear explanation of the final terms before handing over the items. Independent partner buyers complete the evaluation and sale; the referral site does not set their offers.