Silver - The Basics

The Precious Superstars

We talk a lot about gold, but its not the only big hitter in the world of precious metals, silver should be recognized as a major player too.

Silver is on the Guestlist

Not worth as much as gold, the well known platinum metals or even the lesser known platinum metals, silver is still widely used and has immense value.

Learn about some of the special talents this precious metal displays (some might surprise you) and just how much we use silver in our daily lives.

Elemental Silver

Silver is the symbol of the 25th wedding anniversary and a close second place.

• Ag
• Atomic Number: 47
• Group Number: 11
• Period Number: 5

This precious metal displays a white metallic luster which polishes to a shine, and its worth has been recognized since ancient times.

Generally this precious metal is produced as a by-product of copper, gold, lead and zinc mining.

Silver Properties

Silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any element, and it is harder than gold, but still relatively easy to manipulate

The main drawback of this metal is the fact that it doesn’t handle the elements well and its tendency to oxidization and tarnish (which turns the metal a dull black color).

Although silver is imbued with high levels of conductivity, copper is often preferred for electrical use.

Practical Silver Uses

Many of us think of jewelry when we think of silver, but this metal is used in many practical applications as well.

• Making ornaments, tablewear and utensils
• Electrical contacts and conductors
• Mirrors reflection
• Used to develop photographic film
• Making solder, batteries, and coin

Principal sources of this precious metal are Peru, Mexico, China, Australia and Russia

Supernatural Silver Uses

Since ancient times silver has been known as a metal of purity, used by many unrelated cultures worldwide as a symbol of protection from evil and as a cure for many common ailments.

Use a silver bullet to down a werewolf and be sure to bring plenty of pure silver daggers and crucifixes to keep the vampires at bay.

Special Talents

Beyond the supernatural influence, silver possesses properties which set it apart from all of the other precious metals.

Places you wouldn’t expect to see silver

• Antiseptics because of inherent antimicrobial properties
• Seeding clouds (in the form of silver iodide) which artificially stimulates rain
• Food coloring and chocolate decoration because it is not toxic in small amounts
• Antibiotics because it kills bacteria affecting cells
• Germicides used to sterilize equipment due to its affect on bacteria

Silver Defined

Like gold alloys, there are different variations of silver quality, each one used for different purposes.

• Fine Silver 99.9% Silver
• Britannia Silver 95.8% Silver
• Mexican Silver 95% Silver
• Sterling Silver (standard silver) 92.5% Silver
• Coin Silver 90% Silver

Silver is Cool

Of course we love silver, it doesn’t just keep us safe from werewolves and vampires, but it kills those pesky germs too.

For those reasons alone we want to buy your silver jewelry and items.

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