Silver plate means it is coated with a very thin layer of cheap silver, the base metal is most of the time brass and once in a while copper. The brass will sell as yellow brass 1.60-1.80# and the copper will sell for #2 copper 2.80#. If your looking for silver look at the bottom for 925 this is the mark for sterling. If I where you I would do as scrappy88 said and stay with the free stuff until you know what your doing and have some buyers lined up. That way you'll know what you can get for it and how much to pay. Hope this helps, good luck.