Silver was one of the first metals known to humans. It was used for jewelry and ornaments in the Near East as early as 3500 B.C. The metal was first used in coins about 600 B.C. The silver mines at Laurium, Greece, were worked for several centuries after 1000 B.C., and their output provided much of the wealth of Athens. Silver was mined extensively by the Romans. Production was relatively small during the Middle Ages.

World silver production increased greatly after the discovery of the New World. During the 16th century rich deposits were mined in Bolivia, Peru, and Mexico. Bolivia was the largest producer until the beginning of the 18th century. Silver production in the United States was small until the discovery of the Comstock Lode in Nevada in 1859.

Symbol: Ag (from argentum, Latin for silver). Atomic number: 47, Atomic weight: 107.8682. Specific gravity: 10.5 Melting point: 1,7634 F. (961.9 C.). Boiling point: 4,013.6 F. (2,212 C.) Silver has two stable isotopes: Ag-107 and Ag-109. It belongs to Group IB of the Periodic Table and may have a valence of +1, +2, +3.