Silver coins are often inherited, found in a drawer… or bought without really knowing their value.
But be careful: not all silver coins are worth the same.
Some are worth only the value of the metal.
Others can be worth several hundred euros due to their rarity.
Here is the complete 2026 guide to help you determine which silver coins are truly valuable and which ones often turn out to be a letdown.
Silver coins that will have real value (in 2026)
Modern coins made of pure silver (999/1000)
These are the most sought-after today, as they are often used as an investment.
Examples:
- Silver Maple (Canada)
- Silver Philharmonic (Austria)
- Britannia Silver (United Kingdom)
- Silver American Eagle (USA)
- Lunar Silver (Australia)
Value: close to the market price of silver + a premium depending on the model and year.
These coins will be very easy to resell in 2026 because demand is high.
925 sterling silver coins
These are collectible coins, often commemorative.
Examples:
- Belgian commemorative silver coins
- French 925 sterling silver coins
- Collectible items from the 1960s to the 1990s
Value: depends on the weight + sometimes a small premium if the edition is rare.
Old 835 or 900 silver coins
These are the most common coins in Belgium:
- The 50 Belgian franc coins featuring Leopold II or Baudouin
- Old French silver coins
- Italian and Spanish coins from that period
They often contain between 50% and 90% silver.
Value: price of the metal (purchased by weight).
They are generally not rare → their value depends mainly on the market price.
Silver coins that are worth little (or nothing)
Silver-plated pieces
They often look like real coins, but their value is €0.
Signs of a plated coin:
- Color that yellows or oxidizes
- Complete absence of a hallmark
- Weight too light
- "Too shiny" appearance
These items are often found in commercial collections sold on TV or by mail order.
"Silver" souvenir medals—but without any silver
Many medals sold as “silver” do not contain a single trace of silver.
Value: €0
→ This is the most common mistake made by individuals.
How can you tell if a coin is really made of silver?
At home, you can:
- Check the hallmarks (900, 835, 925, 999)
- Check the weight
- Use a magnet (silver isn't magnetic)
But be careful:
⚠ A non-magnetic coin isn’t necessarily silver.
Many alloys are not magnetic either.
Only a professional analysis (using a spectrometer) provides a result that is 100% reliable.
What will your silver coins be worth in 2026?
The price depends on:
- Purity (999, 925, 900, 835…)
- Weight
- The current price of silver
- Possible scarcity
- Market demand
In 2026, demand for physical silver skyrockets → pure silver coins command higher premiums than usual.
Where can you have your silver items appraised or sold?
At L’Agence de l’Or, we offer free appraisals of all your silver items at our four locations:
📍L’Agence de l’Or – Braine-l’Alleud
📍L’Agence de l’Or – Uccle
📍L’Agence de l’Or – Wavre
📍L’Agence de l’Or – Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
✔ Professional spectrometer analysis
✔ Free estimate
✔ Immediate payment
✔ No obligation
✔ Today's silver price
✔ Transparent advice to help you decide
Just bring in your coins, even if you don't know what they are.
We'll tell you exactly whether they're valuable… or not.
Don't let your money sit idle in a drawer
Many people own silver coins without knowing their true value.
Some are worth very little…
Others may be worth much more than expected.
The safest option?
Have your items appraised for free at one of our offices and get a clear price based on today’s market rate.
Have your silver items appraised for free at one of our locations.
No obligation to sell. Just the truth about their value.
Sales tax on the purchase of silver coins: an important point
Unlike gold investment coins, silver coins are subject to VAT at the time of purchase.
In Belgium (as in most European countries), silver is not considered an investment metal for tax purposes.
➡ This means that:
- A 21% sales tax applies to the purchase of silver coins.
- This cost has a direct impact on the final price paid by the buyer.
- When resold, this VAT is not recoverable, because the metal is sold by weight as a precious metal.
This is therefore a key factor to consider when properly assessing the profitability of an investment in silver coins.