Silver is not a gemstone but a highly valued metallic chemical. It is considered to be the metal of the Goddess, the Moon, the night, the secret, the mysterious, the High Priestess, the female energy, the life force in its hidden aspect. Silver is second to gold in its electrical conductivity and it too harmonizes with most gemstones. Where Gold engenders self confidence, Silver encourages self containment and inward reflection. Where Gold blazes with fiery light, Silver is a mirror to the soul, the metal of moonlight.

Jewellery and silverware are traditionally made from sterling silver (standard silver), an alloy of 92.5% silver with 7.5% copper. In the US, only an alloy consisting of at least 92.5% fine silver can be marketed as “silver” (thus frequently stamped 925). Sterling silver is harder than pure silver, and has a lower melting point than either pure silver or pure copper.

The principal sources of silver are the ores of copper, copper-nickel, lead, and lead-zinc obtained from Peru, Mexico, China, Australia, Chile, Poland, Alaska and Serbia. Peru and Mexico have been mining silver since 1546 and are still major world producers.

Silver is thought to attune the emotional self. It can assist one in embracing mystery and surrendering to the unknown.

In terms of its physical attributes, Silver aids in cooling excess heat in the body. It is a good balancer for women experiencing hormonal imbalance. It is also an excellent antibacterial and anti-viral agent and can help bolster the immune system’s ability to fight infection.

Today, silver has thousands of modern industrial uses and is considered a store of wealth.  However, the story of this legendary precious metal begins with its use by ancient civilizations.

Silver has many attributes that made it so valuable to early peoples. It is malleable, ductile, lustrous, resilient, antibacterial, and rare.  It was used to purify water and for ornate artwork – but more importantly it was perfectly suited to be a currency.

For over two thousand years, silver was used everywhere from Ancient Greece to the Spanish Empire as currency.

By 1967, all silver coins were removed from circulation in the US.  And although no longer used, silver is the most widely used material for coinage in history.