Like gold, silver is very malleable and must be mixed with other metals to make objects. Generally we use copper as other metal. Generally, the best silver contains 92.5% of pure silver. It's what is called 925 silver or 925 sterling silver.
1. Take care
- Massive silver : we don't know the percentage of silver.
- Bali silver : generally less than 92,5% of silver
- Tibetan silver : silver-colored metal with very little or without silver
- German silver : alloy of copper and nickel or zinc with very little or without silver
- New silver : alloy of copper and nickel or zinc with very little or without silver
2. The mint marks
It's the same than for gold. All objects in silver must have a mint mark with the origin of the object : a diamond for silver, a square for plated silver.
All objects in silver of more than 30 g must have a mint mark with the percentage of silver (guarantee of the State.)
- 99.9% : amphora
- 92.5% : Minerva head or 925.
- 80% : In France only, Minerva head with 2.
- > 50% : a swan with an oblique lign
- < 50% : a swan with 2 oblique ligns
- 50% silver and 50% 18K gold (1919 to 1993) : a wild boar and an eagle