What does 999 silver mean?

The number stamped on silver tells you how much of it is pure silver, in parts per thousand.

Last updated 05/11/2026

Common silver stamps

999 means 99.9% pure, and 9999 means 99.99% pure. Most silver bullion is one of these. 925 is sterling silver, 800 is 80% silver and 500 is 50% silver.

How to work out the pure silver

Multiply the weight by the purity. A 100 gram item stamped 925 holds 92.5 grams of pure silver.

Why purity matters when you buy

We sell silver of at least 99.9% purity without GST. Lower-purity items, such as pre-decimal silver coins, include GST in the price.

General information only. It is not financial or tax advice.