Even though silver was stamped as coinage at a relatively late date, it has been used as a medium of exchange since Ancient times. One only needs to take a stroll through history to see that although the pursuit of power and development occurred among many peoples of differing cultures through time, one constant was the ever-growing indigenous need for more silver.

Silver did not sit still during ancient times. The need for silver – particularly for the flourishing Minoan (1600 B.C.) and later Mycenaean civilizations (1200 B.C.)- resulted in the manipulation of silver deposits in what is now Armenia. Soon after the citizens of the Laurium mines (near Athens) produced about 1 million troy ounces year after year, the Carthaginians exploited Spanish silver and then the Romans replaced the Carthaginians. While Spanish mines provided a substantial portion of the Roman Empire’s domestic needs, the substantial efforts of the Spaniards became a model for the creation of the silver mines of Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. In addition, the silver trade throughout Asia Minor and North Africa grew exponentially after the 8th century B.C. This succession of events led to a rapid increase in the annual world production of the shining white metal.

What can silver do?
Silver is a wonderful precious metal but it also serves many industrial purposes. For example, silver is used to make dental fillings, printed circuits, computer keyboards, photographic film, disinfectants, and mirrors, to name but a few. Silver, a great store of value, is also prized for all of the products for which it can be used.