Silver is one of those metals that you probably encounter every single day, sometimes without even realising. From coins and jewlery, to electronics and cars, silver comes in many forms; but how much do you really know about this metallic element?
We’re bringing together six facts about silver that we think you may not know…
One of the earliest elements discovered.
Silver was among one of the first five elements known to humankind; silver, gold, copper, lead and iron. While silver objects are known to date back to around 4000BC, it is more likely that silver was actually discovered around 1,000 years before that.
Silver can be found in the Earth’s crust.
Much of the supply of silver is located within the top layers of the Earth’s crust. However, it really isn’t as simple as that, as to actually retrieve the precious white metal often requires heavy mining and refinement first.
Silver as money.
One of the most common occurrences of this metal is in money; silver coins in particular. It has been used for monetary purposes since around 700 BC, and has been used in coinage and other forms of money all over the world.
‘Silver’ is an old word.
Merriam-Webster’s dictionary states ‘silver’ has been part of the lexicon since before the 12th century. It derives from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘seolfor’. While it has many meanings as a verb, noun and adjective, it’s primary definition is: “A white element that is ductile, very malleable, and capable of a high degree of polish. It also has the highest electric conductivity of any substance.”
The anti-microbial element.
One of the most important properties of silver is its resistance to microbes; it essentially kills germs. Previously, it has been used for fine eating materials, while today, medical equipment is coated in silver to ensure the tools remain sterile.
World’s most electrically conductive element.
When it comes to conducting electricity, no other substance on Earth does this as well as silver, ranking above copper and gold slightly. It is also the best heat conductor of all metals.
You can view all of our silver coins HERE.