Sterling silver

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The millesimal fineness is 925. Sterling silver objects are usually stamped with either the word "Sterling" or ".925", or the Lion Passant mark as part of the Hallmark.

Other Silver standards

Fine silver is 99.9% silver or better. This grade of silver is used to make bullion bars for international commodities trading. In the modern world Fine Silver is understood to be too soft for general use.

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Britannia silver is purer than sterling, at least 95.84% silver and up to 4.16% copper. Its marks were Britannia and a lion's head in profile.

Related Topics:
Britannia silver - Britannia

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The Britannia standard was a standard of plate obligatory in Britain between 1697 and 1720 to try to help prevent British sterling silver coins from being melted to make plate. It became an optional standard thereafter, and in the United Kingdom and Ireland is now denoted by the millesimal fineness hallmark "958", with the symbol of Britannia being applied optionally.

Related Topics:
1697 - 1720 - United Kingdom - Ireland

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Mexican silver is also purer than sterling, usually 95% Silver and 5% Copper. Mexico is the only country currently using silver in its circulating coinage, but these coins are not minted from 95% "Mexican" Silver.

Related Topics:
Mexican silver - Mexico

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Coin silver is 90% silver and 10% copper as dictated by United States FTC guidelines.

Related Topics:
Coin silver - United States - FTC

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Coin Silver is lower grade than sterling. The Coin Silver standard was established in the US in the 1820s. This grade of silver was used in the silver coinage of the US as well as other countries that used silver currency minted in the US, such as Panama and the Philippines.

Related Topics:
US - 1820s - Minted - Panama - Philippines

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For industrial uses, for example in electronics, alloys such as CuAg are favoured, which contains 72% silver and 28% copper and is known for its thermal conductivity.

Related Topics:
CuAg - Thermal conductivity

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