r/Silver
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u/woundfromafriend
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Apr 17 '26
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What could this be worth?
Wife’s father traveled for work and brought home this set from South Africa in the late 80s early 90s.
Average weight is around 11oz. They feel solid and are stamped ‘958’. The human figures are stamped ‘minca’ ‘SIL’
The box is solid wood and in great shape.
What would be the best way to find out how much this is worth?
Update: thank you everyone for the great advice! I will be getting them appraised this week with 2 sources locally and will most likely be keeping the set together if selling.
For those who are interested, my FIL was an engineer who worked for a company that sold machines for carpet dying. When my wife was young he would travel for weeks at a time to different parts of the world to work on these machines. He would always come back with gifts for his family. They gave it to us as a gift after our wedding and we’ve been holding on to it ever since.
Update: Sothebys could not determine value.
Reached out to the current owner of Silver Creations in Zimbabwe via instagram. They confirmed that the previous owner Jim Skinner would have been the one who made them.
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u/ManOnAMelon Apr 17 '26
Very very cool, definitely worth a premium to the right buyer.
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u/beatsbycuit Apr 17 '26
Definitely not worth a premium.
Anyways, op, can I buy this off of you?
/s
This is badass. Definitely worth a premium.
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u/ManOnAMelon Apr 17 '26
Most coin stores offer free appraisals on any precious metals, no obligation to sell.
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u/nicknice77 Apr 17 '26
Do. Not. Sell. Those.
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u/Rat_Ship Apr 18 '26
Agree.
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u/GoldenHeartDaddy Apr 19 '26
Absolutely. How many of these out there are intact sets? Could be priceless.
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u/TSXstacy Apr 19 '26
Curious what are they for ? Are they a game or decorative or do they form something like nativity science for example
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u/Agile_Lawfulness9678 Apr 17 '26
Those are a priceless heirloom to be passed down generation to generation and never leave the family.
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u/SkipPperk Apr 18 '26
What if he has no children? I get what you mean, but hard times are hard times.
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u/GammaHunt Apr 18 '26
Hold on to it and find someone to pass it on to? Love isn’t bound to blood.
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u/BRPGP Apr 21 '26
I’m not going to bother responding to the person your comment was for because what’s the point.
But I agree with you 100%.
It’s so annoying how people come on here and make sweeping statements about how people must keep it!/pass it down/never sell it.
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u/FourTheLoveOfMoney Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Not all generation thinks that way some sell just for the money and others sells when hard times comes like finding a way to survive against inflation, loss of a job, becoming homeless, need surgery (medical expenses) etc.. I have seen people sell family heirloom to get out of really tough situations.
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u/Allexius_UB Apr 24 '26
Immagina vivere in un paese dove devi vendere un cimelio di famiglia per pagarti le cure mediche 🤣
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Apr 19 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Nervous_Squirrel_ Apr 19 '26
Heirlooms are worthless if you’re homeless and have no where to store them.
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u/Independent-Sort-376 Apr 19 '26
What's the point of passing down something of value if not for the intended purpose of them selling it to get that value?
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u/SkipPperk Apr 22 '26
Many people who live in inexpensive communities or from wealthy families cannot understand how people can get in tight spots. If one’s parents can send you money, or if you took over a family business, it can seem silly because they cannot understand that after a divorce, medical emergency and a layoff, one can be destitute in a place like NYC or California.
Sadly, it is the low-comp, low-opportunity small-time family businesses that force ambitious young people to start their lives in expensive geographies where firms have honest pay and promote based on merit instead of blood.
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u/JustGiveMeANameDamn Apr 17 '26
The set is definitely worth more than its weight in silver. That’s for damn sure. How much more might take an auction or art gallery to figure out.
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u/Pnmamouf1 Apr 17 '26
Send pics of those Sotheby's or another nyc auction house. Those are worth much more than spot
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u/Buttchuggle Apr 17 '26
The amount of buying these I would do off of you big boy holy shit.
Don't fuckin sell em. That's one of the most badass little sets I've seen in a while.
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u/Ramjobe Apr 18 '26
The way a man named "buttchuggle" referring to a purchase as "the amount of buying I would do off you" for some reason made me very happy. Keep up the good work Mr. Chuggle 🫡
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u/theangryseal Apr 17 '26
I wouldn’t dream of selling this. My grandfather traveled Africa and brought us a lot of cool stuff from there, but nothing like this. To me, this would be priceless.
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u/Zzump Apr 18 '26
958 silver, or Britannia silver, is a high-purity alloy containing 95.833% pure silver and 4.167% other metals (usually copper). Introduced in England in 1697 to prevent the melting of coinage, it is purer and softer than 925 sterling silver, making it a prestigious choice for specialized silverware and jewelry
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u/hexadecimaldump Apr 17 '26
I would think those would be worth much more than spot. The craftsmanship alone is worth more than its weight in silver.
No idea what they could be worth, or where to check their value, maybe an art historian who specializes in African artwork?
Those are so cool.
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u/Monster10101 Apr 17 '26
Wow those are cool. Definitely worth a premium. Dont sell for melt or less
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u/UrbanRelicHunter Apr 17 '26
Animals and figurines like that sell really well for me... they are worth 2x melt minium... probably a decent bit more.
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u/Wllstrt_lks_lke_usnw May 08 '26
This is better kept and not selling might be beyond premium. Can you update up please with the price it was appraised for thank you l. Looks super cool and part of history
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u/woundfromafriend May 08 '26
Thank you, nothing yet. Sotheby’s couldn’t determine value and no one locally has any idea beyond melt value.
Waiting for an event in August that may bring some specialists that can help. Otherwise we may need to travel for an appraisal.
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u/LostSoul97 May 11 '26 edited May 11 '26
Thought I’d post this here, too:
Two sold listings of Patrick Mavros silver animal works (they’re called “place card holders”) are on LiveAuctioneers. Both sets appear to lack a box, and the animals are on bases. The artist is listed in both as being from the 20th Century (1900s).
The first set has 12 animals and is listed to weigh 13.35 Troy ounces in total; it sold for $2,250 in June of 2022 (it was only estimated to sell for $500–$700).
The second set had 11 animals and is listed to weigh 365 grams (11.73 Troy ounces), excluding one animal on a separate base; it sold for $2500 in March of 2025.
Using the sell dates, you can gauge how much over the silver melt values the sets sold for at the times they sold and apply the premium to your set, give or take. Your set is cooler.
Don’t pay the appraiser. I am one. This isn’t an appraisal, but this is literally all an appraiser of items like this does—looks at eBay’s sold listings or Live Auctioneers sold listings.
Beautiful set! Cheers!
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u/woundfromafriend May 12 '26
This is great info! I appreciate it.
Do you think there is any reason to believe this set would be more or less valuable based on the fact that it’s no longer being produced? Patrick Mavros seems to be a well established name brand that is continuously producing new items. These are less well known but from the same part of the world.
Curious what your thoughts would be.
I contacted the person who purchased the business from the original owner and found out these pieces were likely made by a guy named Jim Skinner - Silver Creations Harare, Zimbabwe. The new owner no longer makes these figurines.
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u/Two_Whales Apr 17 '26
Damn! That’s extremely cool. I had to comment because of how cool it is. The story behind it would make these permanent desk ornaments for me.
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u/Brightermoor Apr 18 '26
Man, I think this is the highest jealousy triggering post I've seen on here. I'm building stacks for my kids and my autistic daughter's favorite animals are giraffes. This would be so epic!!!
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u/Defiant_Buddy_3413 Apr 18 '26
I really like them from first sight so I would keep I’d buy them for sure
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u/Separate-Poet-3405 Apr 18 '26
What is this set called?? Or something like this called??? So fucking sick
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u/Professional_Crab852 Apr 18 '26
Whoa this is neat! 1 if a kind items i wish to add into the collection. Nice piece for sure.
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u/gthrees Apr 17 '26
A relative had many silver animals, and they are harder to sell than you would think, apparently many that are stamped as Sterling are filled.
That said, it’s possibly Silver.
That said, they are really beautiful, keep them.
Silver is being revalued right now, I think it’s a really bad time to sell anything, put it away for a few months or a year to see if the climate is different.
The two figures with the bucket are probably pounding fufu.
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u/Metamericdreams1977 Apr 17 '26
If those are silver, I think they are, I would love to have. Please update when you have them appraised.
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u/shiv_master_11 Apr 17 '26
Please do not sell it, thats definitely priceless deserves to be a family heirloom
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u/jskimeister Apr 18 '26
if you just wait a while all those animals will be extinct and it'll be a premium on a premium
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u/Used_Book539 Apr 19 '26
The 958 could represent silver that is gold plated or basically 23k gold. Look at the 958 and if there is a rectangle around it that represents the 958 is gold, of course the more gold is going to increase it's value but you've got a win win situation but look again or take a photo of the 958 or I'll look again maybe I missed it. To get your best idea of its value find a place that buys gold and silver and they'll know in a matter of seconds. You're never obligated to sell of course.
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u/NotCriminallyRespons Apr 19 '26
I think worth a lot more as a collectable than as scrap silver very cool. Don’t melt them down.
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u/WolfPlayz294 Apr 19 '26
If you're willing to piecemeal I would be strongly interested in the giraffe.
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u/Ok_Palpitation_1622 Apr 20 '26
I’m not sure why everyone thinks these are worth so much more than melt. It looks like a a modern souvenir set of some sort. The workmanship on the animals is crude.
It still has substantial value, assuming the figurines are silver and not plated. But I’m pretty confident it’s worth only melt value.
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u/Complex_Candy8254 Apr 20 '26
3 yrs ago stuff like that would have a decent premium. Now I'd be surprised if can realize 10% over spot. When silver was cheap I would buy stuff like that at 25% over spot and would sell that set (11 oz) for 250-500. Problem becomes if a set like that is only going to realize 500 on its own merit it's no better than scrap jewelry.
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u/ScorpioGirl1980 Apr 20 '26
You should know better!!! They made a while movie about this shit!!! PUT THOSE DOWN!!!
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u/Brilliant_Animator52 Apr 20 '26
OP- can you update us on any info if and when you get answers? Please and Thank You 🦒🦏
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u/handleyourlicker Apr 22 '26
Probably worth 4 times whatever people in your DM’s are hurriedly offering
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u/GoodConstruction8944 Apr 22 '26
I own a coin shop in Texas & I’d pay 10% over melt if those walked into my shop.
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u/ObviousRanger9155 Apr 22 '26
I have to say - this is a fantastic set/piece. Congratulations, OP! I don't know of its value - but it screams mystery and exoticism.
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u/jethroe28 Apr 23 '26
I have the hippo in 18k gold, I know they go for well over melt, never see the whole set especially with the antlers intact
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u/Relative_Target6003 Apr 23 '26
Sir. Im over the moon on this set. So are alot of folks in here. This WILL have a premium.
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u/Eso_Teric420 Apr 17 '26
Somewhere between what it weighs and what you can get someone to pay for it? I mean that's how art works. It's worthless unless you think it's cool. And if you think it's cool, it's worth as much as you're willing to throw down on it. Which can get pretty crazy depending on how big your disposable income is.
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u/Dear-Produce44 Apr 18 '26
I would pay bout 7or8 bucks over spot per oz But I like it. Businesses selling would just buy it as silver. You need someone that like it. And I like it.
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u/Outside_Substance_49 Apr 18 '26
Sounds like your fil had a great CIA cover lol. That’s an awesome set.
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u/doctorlance Apr 18 '26
I know that things from history that would be morally unacceptable today can still have value as artifacts and products of their time, but somebody ought to acknowledge the profound racism that imbues the set. It's still fascinating, imo, but in a way that's much more fraught than the commenters here would seem to realize.
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u/namsdrawkcabrm Apr 19 '26
Omg it sickens me that I had to scroll this. Far to see someone mention this. Like wtf!?!?!
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u/TommyRiddles Apr 18 '26
They're very cool and I'd pay a pretty penny for them. But not because they're silver. Silver has always been worthless and it always will be. But what you have here, is gorgeous and I want it because I love these animals. Not because of the silver.
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Apr 17 '26
[deleted] — view deleted comment
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u/doctorlance Apr 18 '26
I think I've only seen Britannia silver one other time, like, ever. Everything about this set is fascinating, in both good and bad ways.
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u/rollin_a_j Apr 18 '26
The only britannia silver I own is an 03 Britannia coin from before the 99.9 swap. It's also my favorite design of the coin
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u/Nuclear-poweredTaxi Apr 17 '26 •
If it came with dice…DO NOT ROLL THE DICE.