Identifying silver
Tarnish, hallmarks, and the ring test.
Silver tarnishes to a dark grey-black sulfide film rather than green. A genuinely old surface has soft, even tarnish sitting in the recesses; burial can also leave a purplish-grey chloride crust on ancient pieces.
Look for hallmarks — maker, standard, assay office, and date letter — usually on the edge or back. Their style and layout are themselves datable. Much ancient and medieval “silver” is debased (billon), so a coppery tint or greenish corrosion does not rule silver out.
Silver is denser and softer than most substitutes; it gives a clear, ringing tone when tapped. Plated pieces show a warmer metal where the silver has worn through — check high points and edges first.
Avoid acid testing on anything you value as an artifact: it scars the surface. Weigh the piece, note the tarnish pattern and any marks, and record “silver” with the confidence the evidence actually supports.