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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Grades & Definitions of Silver






I've decided to compile a list of the grades of silver and their common names in one place as a handy reference.

Because silver is soft, it needs to be joined w/another metal, typically copper, to make it workable. The percentage of silver to the percentage of copper is what gives the silver its grade, as follows:


Fine.99999.9% silver to .1 % copper
Mexican.95095% silver to 5% copper
Sterling.92592.5% silver to 7.5% copper
Coin.90090% silver to 10% copper
German.80080% silver to 20% copper
Nickel and/or Alpaca Silvernot silver at all but an alloy of copper and nickel





Eilat & Sterling Pendant/Brooch
from Israel

Sterling Floral Brooch
by David Andersen