Losing a loved one is never easy, and settling an estate can feel overwhelming — especially when you are left with boxes of jewellery, coins, and silverware that youare not sure how to handle. You may not know what any of it is worth, whether its real gold or silver, or where to even start.
At Five Star Gold Exchange in Coquitlam, we work with families throughout the Lower Mainland who are navigating exactly this situation. This guide is designed to give you a clear, practical path through the process — so you can feel confident, informed, and get the best possible value from the items youve inherited.
This is the most important thing we can tell you before you do anything else. Many people instinctively want to clean jewellery before having it evaluated. Please dont. Cleaning can remove patina that helps identify age and origin, damage delicate markings, and in some cases actually reduce the value of older or antique pieces. Bring everything exactly as you found it.
Even broken, bent, or badly tarnished items can have significant precious metal value. A snapped 18K gold chain is worth the same per gram as an intact one. Tarnished sterling silver flatware that looks worthless can yield hundreds of dollars. A jumbled pile of old coins could contain rare key dates worth far more than their silver content. Bag everything separately and bring it all to your evaluation.
Before your appointment, make a rough distinction between items you want to keep for sentimental or other reasons, and items you are open to selling. You dont have to make final decisions before your appointment — thats what the evaluation is for. But having a general sense of what you would like to preserve helps the appointment run smoothly.
Gold Jewellery
Most gold jewellery in Canadian estates will be 10K, 14K, or 18K gold. Items from European, South Asian, or Middle Eastern family backgrounds are often higher karat — 22K or 24K. Look inside rings and on clasps of necklaces for small stamps: 10K, 14K, 585, 750, 916, etc. Unmarked pieces are tested professionally.
Silver Coins
Canadian coins minted before 1968 contain silver. Dimes, quarters, fifty-cent pieces, and dollar coins from that era are worth several times their face value at todays silver prices. A pre-1968 Canadian dollar coin currently carries approximately $14–$18 in silver value. Do not spend these — bring them for evaluation.
Sterling Silver Flatware
Silverware, tea sets, serving trays, and candlesticks marked STERLING or 925 are solid silver and have meaningful value by weight. Silver-plated items (marked EPNS, EP, or Sheffield) do not contain pure silver, but if you are unsure, bring them and we will identify them.
Coins and Numismatic Items
Some coins have collector value far above their silver content — particularly rare key date Canadian coins. We will flag any pieces that might warrant further numismatic evaluation.
Once you have gathered the items, call Five Star Gold Exchange at 604-779-2755 to book an appointment. We are by appointment only, which means your session is private and focused. You wont be rushed, and theres no lineup.
During your appointment, we sit down with you and go through everything together. We identify each piece, test and weigh it, and explain exactly what its worth at todays prices. The evaluation is completely free. There is no pressure to sell anything, and you can take any or all items home with you.
Our offers are based on the current live spot price of gold or silver, adjusted for karat purity and weight. We show you the calculation for every category of items. There are no hidden fees, no processing charges, and no deductions that arent explained in full.
If you accept the offer for some or all items, we pay the same day — cash and e-transfer whichever you prefer.
many families in the Lower Mainland who are balancing the practicalities of an estate with deep personal feelings about the items involved. There is never any pressure from our side. If you want to think about a piece, take it home, and come back — that is completely fine. Our evaluation is always free, regardless of outcome.
Laszlo and Colton at Five Star Gold Exchange bring over 20 years of experience in the precious metals trade. We have helped dozens of Lower Mainland families evaluate and sell estate gold and silver. We are BBB-accredited, locally owned, and committed to transparent, honest dealings. When you visit us, you meet the actual owners — not a staff member following a script.
We serve clients from Coquitlam, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Abbotsford, and all surrounding communities.
Five Star Gold Exchange — Coquitlam, BC | By Appointment Only
#230 – 1140 Austin Ave, Coquitlam, BC | View Live Prices at fsge.ca