What is 500 Silver (Meaning and Definition)? What is its Value and is it Worth Anything, Even as Scrap Metal?

Silver 500, also called “Half Silver,” is a silver alloy containing 50% silver and 50% copper. It was commonly used in British coins from 1920-1946 and occasionally in jewelry where cost is a concern.

Silver 500 isn’t magnetic (it’s diamagnetic) but is allergenic due to its copper content. This makes it unsuitable for people with sensitive skin.

While jewelry exists in Silver 500, it’s rarely used due to softness and tarnishing issues. The hallmark is simply “500,” and its value equals half the current silver spot price.

Learn more about Silver 500 right below!

Take this quiz and test your knowledge on .500 silver alloy. Take the quiz after you’ve read my guide for your best results.

What is Silver 500 (Definition and Meaning)? Why is it Called “Half Silver”?

500 silver is a silver alloy that contains 50% silver and 50% copper.

Silver 500 is also known as “Half Silver” because of the exact divide on the middle between pure silver content and copper content.

Silver 500 is commonly found in British silver coins produced between 1920 and 1946. It’s also sometimes used in jewelry and other items where a silver appearance is desired but the full cost of sterling silver isn’t necessary.

Additionally, 500 silver is considered scrap silver and can be sold for its pure silver content.

What is the Melt Value of Half Silver (Silver 500)?

The melt value of 500 silver depends on the current silver market price which fluctuates from moment to moment based on the demand/supply interplay.

To determine the worth of your 500 silver item first you need to measure its weight.

Next, multiply the weight by the silver spot price and then by 0.50 (for 50% purity) to get the melt value.

For example, let’s say the current price of silver is $3 per gram. And your 500 silver item weighs 40 grams.

The exact worth of that 500 silver item would be $3 x 40 x 0.50=$60.

Is There Jewelry Made From Silver 500?

Yes, there’s jewelry made from 500 silver, although this silver standard is rarely used for jewelry design.

500 silver is too prone to tarnishing to produce excellent jewelry pieces and its low price is the only real reason to use this silver alloy. 500 silver is almost 2x cheaper than sterling silver because it has almost 2x less pure silver in it (50:92.5%).

Below are some examples of 500 silver jewelry. They exclusively come from Italy where people like to make jewelry out of old .500 silver Lire coins.

Is Silver 500 Magnetic or Not?

No, silver 500 isn’t magnetic. It’s diamagnetic. This means 500 silver generates a weak opposing magnetic field when exposed to a magnetic field.

Silver 500 is diamagnetic because both copper and pure silver are diamagnetic metals.

Is Silver 500 Hypoallergenic or Allergenic?

No, silver 500 isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic.

500 silver contains 50% silver and 50% copper (and occasionally zinc). Silver is hypoallergenic, to nearly everyone (there’re edge cases of course) but copper and zinc are allergenic to people with sensitive skin.

This means items made of 500 silver have too much copper and zinc for people with sensitive skin to comfortably wear or use.

Note: copper is the bigger allergenic metal here as zinc, if present, will be there in miniscule quantities. It’s often not enough to cause a skin reaction in sensitive individuals.

Is There Bullion Made From Silver 500?

No, there’s no bullion made from silver 500. Silver bullion is made from 999 silver (Fine Silver) and you can purchase this silver type to put it in your silver IRA account.

You can buy IRA-approved silver coins and bars from Augusta Precious Metals, the best gold IRA company in the United States.

What is the Hallmark for Silver 500?

The hallmark for silver 500 is typically just “500” engraved on the .500 silver item.

See example below of this silver hallmark.

What’s the Difference Between 500 Silver and Nickel Silver?

500 Silver has 50% actual silver, mixed with copper, while nickel silver (German Silver) is a base metal alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc. It has no real silver, despite its silvery appearance.

So, the key difference is real silver vs a silver-colored imitation.

Zero percent silver content means that nickel silver is even more accessible to people with limited budgets than 500 silver. And .500 silver is already one of the most affordable silver alloys you can find on the market.

Comparison	500 silver	Nickel Silver
Composition	50% silver and 50% copper.	60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc.
Value	Silver 500 is more valuable than nickel silver because it contains more pure silver (nickel silver has no real silver in it).	Nickel silver is less valuable than Silver Decoplata because it contains no pure silver content.
Tarnishing properties	Silver 500 tarnishes slower than nickel silver because it contains less copper compared to it.	Nickel silver tarnishes faster than 500 silver because it contains more copper than it.
Durability	Silver 500 is less durable than nickel silver because it contains less copper (copper is more durable than silver).	Nickel silver is more durable than 500 silver because it contains more copper (copper is more durable than silver).
Allergenic properties	Silver 500 is less allergenic than nickel silver because it contains less copper than it.	Nickel silver is more allergenic than 500 silver because it contains more copper than it. It also contain zinc, a common allergenic base metal.
Common applications	500 Silver was commonly used in British coins between 1920 and 1946. Occasionally, it is used in jewelry where cost is a significant concern.	Nickel silver is used in decorative items (jewelry, flatware, architectural trim), musical instruments (flutes, saxophones), electronics (contacts, switches, connectors), and precision components (keys, watch parts, springs, ballpoint pen tips).

What is 500 Silver (Meaning and Definition)? What is its Value and is it Worth Anything, Even as Scrap Metal? Conclusion

Silver 500, also called “Half Silver,” is a silver alloy that contains 50% silver and 50% copper. It was commonly used in British and Italians coins and occasionally in jewelry where cost is a concern.

Silver 500 isn’t magnetic (it’s diamagnetic) but is allergenic due to its copper content, making it unsuitable for sensitive skin. No bullion is made from this alloy as only fine silver (999) is used for investment purposes.

While jewelry exists in Silver 500, it’s rarely used due to softness and tarnishing issues. The hallmark for .500 silver is simply “500”.

References:

• how to see the difference between an 1920 .925 an .500 silver?- http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=41453.0
• SF Co (500) hallmark – 50% or plate?- https://www.reddit.com/r/Hallmarks/comments/1l5owa5/sf_co_500_hallmark_50_or_plate/
• 1958-2001 Italy Silver 500 Lire- https://www.littletoncoin.com/shop/1958-2001-italy-silver-500-lire-itk98-wc
• Vintage Italy 1964. lire 500 Silver coin. Repubblica Italiana CARAVELLE – Ships – Cristoforo Colombo. art. 6355. 57th birthday- https://www.etsy.com/listing/214485825/vintage-italy-1964-lire-500-silver-coin
• Vintage Italy 1961. lire 500 Silver coin. Repubblica Italiana CARAVELLE – Ships – Cristoforo Colombo. art. 6349. 60th birthday- https://www.etsy.com/listing/214485691/vintage-italy-1961-lire-500-silver-coin
• Italian 500 Lira Coin Pendant Necklace – Gold or Silver Bail – Vintage Bimetal Repubblica Italiana Lire Italy- https://www.etsy.com/listing/4302109861/italian-500-lira-coin-pendant-necklace
• Original Italian 500 Lira Flip Coin Pendant Necklace in 18Kt Gold Plated Sterling Silver- https://miabellaitaly.com/products/genuine-italian-500-lira-flip-coin-pendant-necklace-in-18kt-gold-plated-sterling-silver
• Handcrafted Italian 500 Lire Silver Coin Ring: Italian Heritage Jewelry- https://www.etsy.com/listing/215094743/handcrafted-italian-500-lire-silver-coin