The first major silver mines were recorded around 4000 BC located in Anatolia (which is now Turkey). This was mostly the main source of silver for many of the growing cultures in that area of the world and others that would trade for silver. Around 3000 BC there are records of more intense efforts to mine silver as its value expanded worldwide. The Chinese are said to have improved on refining the silver around 2500 BC to make it even more alluring and sought after as well as easier to excavate. Throughout the passing years, mines in Greece became the main producers of silver for the rest of the world. This continued for many centuries till Spain came into power with it’s own deposits of silver that brought them power in trading. Spain became a main supplier of silver for most of the main countries in the area and used it’s silver to trade for valuable spices and other goods.

Silver began to accelerate throughout the world when North America and South America were discovered. Mexico and Peru were discovered to hold silver mines which dwarfed the silver deposits that had recently been mined to the east. Soon it was said that more than three quarters of silver in the world was mined from Peru and Mexico.

With new technology came new ways to mine silver along with new refinement processes to enhance it’s value to an even new extent with its uses as well as beauty. Today, Mexico and Peru still produce the most silver in the world today. Australia comes in a distant third. It’s said that 1/5 of all the silver in the world comes from Mexico alone. With all the mining of silver throughout the world came different styles and different ways to wear silver. Silver has always been known to enhance the beauty of precious stones such as diamonds when they’re set into a ring or necklace. Many powerful men and women throughout the ages would wear magnificent silver jewelry items to show off their power.Silver has attracted man’s fascination for many thousands of years. Ancient civilizations found silver deposits plentiful on or near the earth’s surface. Relics of these civilizations, include jewelry, religious artifacts, and food vessels formed from the durable, malleable metal. This metal took on near mystical qualities in marking important historical milestones throughout the ages, and served as a medium of exchange. The Mesopotamian merchants were doing just that as early as 700 BC.

In 1792, silver assumed a key role in the United States monetary system when Congress based the currency on the silver dollar, and its fixed relationship to gold. Silver was used for the nation’s coinage until its use was discontinued in 1965. The dawn of the 20th century marked an important economic function for silver, that of an industrial raw material.

Today, silver is sought as a valuable and practical industrial commodity, as well as an appealing investment precious metal. Many countries now issue silver bullion coins, among them the Unites States, Canada and Mexico. Private issue silver bullion is also available from select private mints.

Although silver is relatively scarce, it is the most plentiful and least expensive of the precious metals. The largest silver producing countries are Mexico, Peru, the United States, Australia and Chile. Sources of silver include; silver mined directly, silver mined as a by-product of gold, copper, lead and zinc mining, and silver extracted from recycled materials, primarily used photographic materials. Today, silver bullion stocks make up a significant component of silver supply.

The American Eagle Bullion program was launched in 1986 with the sale of gold and silver bullion coins. Platinum was added to the American Eagle Bullion family in 1997. A bullion coin is a coin that is valued by its weight in a specific precious metal. 

Silver has always been a valuable metal every since it was discovered long ago before 4000 BC. Its popularity has done nothing but grow steadily throughout the ages as it possesses a unique ability to be able to keep with the current fashions of the times. The uses of silver range widely from being used in film and computers to an invisible coating on thermal windows. Silver has been used in the currency of many countries and powers of the world. However, the basic most notable use of silver is its beauty and appeal as an item of jewelry. However, the history of silver carries it’s own allure.

Silver jewelry comes in a different variety of styles and textures. The usual silver that is seen on jewelry is usually highly polished and reflects the light beautifully. However, silver also comes in a different variety of different finishes such as rhodium. It gives silver the characteristic of white gold with it’s silver but slightly darker finish.

One of the main drawbacks to silver jewelry is its tendency to tarnish. This is caused from the slightest impurities in the silver which react with the air. Silver polish and other remedies have been created through to the ages to keep silver looking its best.
The most popular silver today is sterling silver which is actually 92.5% silver. The other make up percentage is either copper, zinc, or nickel. This silver is popular because it’s more durable than pure silver yet still maintains its beauty.

Today, silver jewelry is a big market that has many suppliers and consumers that constantly control the flux and shift of silver prices.

Silver can be hammered into sheets so thin that it would take 100,000 of them to stack an inch high.It can be drawn into a wire finer than a human hair.It is this ductility (or ability to be formed) that makes silver the wonderful art form that it is.

Silver can be shaped by hammering, spinning, or drawing - it can be decorated with etching, chasing, or engraving - sterling silver is the queen of metals. There is no substitute.

Through the centuries, the silversmith or goldsmith has, by a process of elimination, become the most highly skilled craftsman in the world today. Articles of sterling silver are solid silver through and through. Sterling is 925 parts out of a thousand pure. We have a federal law which requires that all silver stamped "sterling" must be 925 parts of pure silver in every thousand parts of metal. The additional 75 parts out of a thousand are to add stiffness and durability as pure silver is quite soft.

The word "sterling" has been used to mean high-quality silver since the 1200's. At that time, the coins of England had decreased in value and contained only a little silver.The only European coins that contained large proportions of silver, were those made by the merchants of the Hanseatic League, a group of trading cities in Northern Germany.These coins were called "Easterlings" to distinguish them from the low-silver alloy coins of England.  English speech contracted "Easterling" to "Sterling".

Sterling is the most hygienic metal known to man. It has actual germ killing properties. It is also a very durable art form and the most economical purchase that can be made for the home. Sterling silver grows more beautiful with the passing years, never wears out, and can be passed along as part of a heritage that grows stronger with passing generations.