What are sterling silver souvenir spoons worth?

The following is a value guide to help you determine what your sterling silver souvenir spoons are worth: Sterling silver souvenir spoons were very popular back in the late 1800's and early 1900's. They were once how refrigerator magnets are popular today for tourists. When a traveler visited a national park or another popular tourist destination, the gift shops sold silver souvenir spoons that lauded the location in the form of a well designed spoon that would depict the highlights including landmarks, history, cultures and architecture. You can still find some souvenir spoons sold today, but most are usually made of base metal or silver plated.

Today, some silver souvenir spoons are highly collectible and are worth far more than just scrap silver value. However, that said, unfortunately the vast majority of all sterling silver souvenir spoons (as in 95% of them) are only worth money for their intrinsic silver value. The collectors only want very high end pieces that have intricate designs, 3-dimensional proportions and unusual themes and places.

Here are some highlight categories of some of the better material that collectors want:

Enameled - If the silver souvenir spoon is American made and has enamel appied to it, it will definitely be worth more as in at least double scrap and often can be in the many multiples times its silver value. U.S. flags, Americana and famous U.S. cities are worth the most. European made enameled souvenir spoons are also worth a premium, but maybe not quite as much as their American made counterparts. If they depict a very popular tourist destinations in Europe or if they have a really cool and unusual subject matters then some of these are worth as much or more as the comparable ones made in The United States.
Full Size 6" Spoons - If you do have a more ornate spoon that is of a subject matter desirable to collectors, it is more valuable if it is the fuller size of 6" versus the demitasse coffee spoon size of between 4-4.5". The collectors like the bigger spoons and will pay a higher rate accordingly.
3-Dimensional High Relief - If the spoon is 3 dimensional in detail and is not flat looking, the spoon will be worth a lot more than just one that is not so. Raised up details on the handle and bowl that pop up more are very appealing to collectors.
Figural Depictions - If the spoon has a full figural depiction both front and back, you can almost be assured that the value will be at least double or more of just scrap silver value. The values will depend on how detailed the figure is and on the subject matter. U.S. presidents, native americans and miners are especially worth more money and are popular with collectors.
Native American Themes - Just about any souvenir spoon with a Native American depiction will be worth a premium. How much just depends on the detail work and aesthetics of the item.
Mint Condition Pieces - Souvenir spoons are more like coins than they are flatware. Although souvenir spoons were buffed and polished off the assembly line by their manufacturers (unlike coins) the collectors still like a good patina and preserved detail work and pieces that are over polished and show heavy wear are typically going to be valued for their scrap value only. A souvenir spoon in poor condition has to be something really rare to be worth more money. Monograms can affect the value, but if it is a super high end piece, it may only devalue it slightly or maybe not al all.
African American Themes - Souvenir spoons with African American depictions of black boys in the South eating watermelon are generally going to worth more money. Full sized spoons can retail between $100-$300 each. If they are enameled they will be on the higher end of that range.
Salem Witch Spoons - Salem witch spoon made by Daniel Lowe are going to be worth between $75- $400 depending on their size, amount of decoration and condition.
Architectural Spoons - Spoons that have any kind of structure be it a building, obelisk, bridge, monument, city hall, state capitol or other structures are typically going to be worth more than scrap silver. How ornate they are and how important they are historically will determine the price.
Better Makers - Most of the makers are pretty standard, however, spoons made by Tiffany & Co., George Shiebler, Gorham and Whiting are usually going to be more desirable and worth more money than other makers.
United States Made versus European Makers - There can be some European Souvenir Spoons that go for a premium or even big money. However, the core group of collectors of silver souvenir spoons are in the vast majority of favoring U.S. American made spoons over ones made in England, German, Italy or other European made pieces. Often, the European made spoons appear to be more elaborate and if enamaled more intricately painted and detailed. Unfortunately, the demand is largely in favor of U.S. made makers and themes. Because of this, the prices are reflected lower for most European made souvenir spoons as a result.
George Washington and other Americana - Any George Washington spoons are going to be worth more money than just scrap. There are buyers from all around the world that want to have a silver spoon that depicts George Washington. Flags, other presidents, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, famous patriots and most other famous Americana will definitely fetch usually a premium more than just scrap silver.
Military Figures - If the souvenir spoon depicts a military figure of any sort from either The U.S. Army, Confederency or any major named leaders from the Navajo Nation or other Native American Tribes, then the spoon will be highly sought after and worth considerably more money. There is a huge collectors' contingent out there that wants all militaria items and they especially love antique sterling souvenir spoons that depict anything to do with the military, famous battles or historical events involving wars.
City Skylines - Any souvenir spoon with a jagged 3 dimensional looking skyline that spreads across the end of the handle to the beginning of the bowl of the spoon will be worth at least double melt silver value or more. New York skylines are perhaps the most collectible of these.
The Statue of Liberty - This is also a very popular subject matter and ones with full figural depictions of lady liberty are very desirable and sought after.
Bowl Embellishment - To have an extremely rare and collectible souvenir spoon, it is usually not enough to just have an elaborate or unusual spoon handle decorated. The bowl needs also to be fully decorated with a desirable and aesthetically pleasing theme that is complimentary the subject matter of the handle. If ou have a super ornate handle, but then have a plain bowl or a bowl that just has an etched engraving, it will likely be worth less than one that has both areas completed embellished.
Both Sides Decorated - It usually helps resale and collectors value when both sides of the spoon handle are decorated. In example, if you have figural spoon of a Native American with a flat back with no decoration, it will worth less than its counterpart that has both sides fully crafted. The back of the spool bowl is 99.99% virtually almost always plain, so this is not a factor. There will sometime be a monogram on the back of a spoon bowl, and this will likely not detract from the spoon's value by much or even not at all depending on the rarity of the spoon.
Lower to Midland Scrap Value Spoons - As we began the article in saying, the vast majority of all souvenir spoons are worth just scrap silver value. Most souvenir spoons are of subject matters for specific small towns, small cities and other lesser known commemorative events. These are also often of modest decoration with the bowls only having an etched or engraved date or city name. There is little demand from collectors to own every actual souvenir spoon every manufactured. They just want the rare ones. Perhaps 10-20 years ago, these types of more common spoons could fetch a premium more than just silver price when spot was between $5-$10 per troy ounce. However, in today's market in the $20-$40 per troy ounce range, the value of the silver far exceeds the customer demand value of the more common spoons, which is why right now these more common ones and more plainly decoarated ones are being melted in vast quantities at the refineries.

Conclusion: Collecting souvenir spoons is a great way to own little pieces of sterling silver art works as well as collect historical commemoratives of interesting places, cultures and architecture. Most are just worth scrap silver, but the ones that are better are fun to collect and typically won't break the bank. People of all incomes levels can collect these and it is not just a collecting passion restricted only for the rich. Over time, you can put together a very nice collection. There are some spoons that might take you years to acquire, but just be patient and eventually you will achieve your collector's goals.