What does EPNS mean on jewelry?
Short answer
Silver plate over base metal (EPNS = electroplated nickel silver): not solid silver.
The stamp in detail
| Item | What the tables say |
|---|---|
| Stamp | EPNS |
| Class | Plated, filled or rolled coating |
Is there any melt value?
The precious metal in a coating is a thin layer; the weight is mostly base metal.
If you still want to try numbers, the calculator does the sum for a stamped fineness. It will not compute one for a plated or filled stamp.
What EPNS can be mistaken for
Pieces that look like silver and are not:
- silver plate (EPNS)
- alpaca, nickel silver
- white gold and platinum
What a stamp cannot settle: Silver, white gold or platinum without marks: white colour does not tell them apart.
What settles it:
- Jeweller: acids or X-ray fluorescence.
Related stamps
Also in this group: GF, 1/20 12K GF, RGP, GP, HGE, GEP, 18K GP, VERMEIL.
Frequently asked
What does EPNS mean on jewelry?
Silver plate over base metal (EPNS = electroplated nickel silver): not solid silver.
Is a piece stamped EPNS worth melting?
The precious metal is a thin layer on base metal, so the melt value is very small.