If you inherited silverware from a great aunt or grandmother, what kind of value does this legacy bring with it? Is there a potential return? The answer to that question depends greatly on the age of the silver and the way that it was made. If you are truly interested, you may want to have it professionally appraised by a jeweler. Silver flatware for dining came into use in 12th Century England, and was fashioned out of the same quality of silver being circulated in coins. As a result, for several centuries, only members of the royal families could afford such luxury items. While you could melt it down, silver flatware from this period in its original form would be highly valued for its historic, antique properties to museums and collectors. Two cultural changes led to widespread use of silverware. The Industrial Revolution opened the way for these formerly luxury items to be produced in mass quantities. At the same time, the resulting personal fortunes broadened the upper middle class...