Read on to learn 6 fun facts about silver that prove just how important a resource it is.

1.   Silver Is Linguistically Interesting

Silver is undeniably associated with money. The words “silver” and “money” are the same in at least 14 different languages. For example, “argent” means money and silver in French, and in Irish, “airgead” means “money” in modern-day English, but originally meant “silver.”

Another fun fact about silver in the English language is that it is one of the few words with no possible rhyme.

2.   Silver Is An Excellent Conductor

Of all the elements, silver is the best electric conductor. It’s the only metal that can score 100 percent conductivity, with the next closest competitor being copper at 97 percent. This makes silver incredibly important in making solar panels where it can account for 6 percent of the total cost of building each unit of a panel.

Silver is also the most effective thermal conductor of all the metals.

3.   Silver Is The Most Malleable Metal Alongside Gold

Silver is the most ductile (malleable metal) along with gold. For example, an ounce of silver can be formed into a wire that is eight thousand feet long. Its malleability is a critical reason why it is great for creating jewelry and silverware.

4.   Silver Is Incredibly Reflective

Silver is the most reflective metal as it can reflect 95 percent of the visible light spectrum. As a result, many mirrors are coated with silver. Its reflectivity also makes it popular for use in telescopes, solar panels, and microscopes.

5.   Mexico Leads The World In Silver Production

According to Investopedia, the country that produces the most silver in the world is Mexico. In 2019, they produced 6,300 metric tons of silver – an increase of 180 metric tons from the previous year. They haven’t hit their peak yet either, silver production in Mexico is expected to continue growing.

6.   Silver Is One Of The Oldest Known Metals

Silver holds a notable place in the history of the elements as it is one of the first five metals discovered by humans. The other four metals are copper, gold, lead, and iron.

Some silver objects date to before 4000 BC in Greece. Silver artifacts have also been found in the Sumerian city of Kish that date from around 3000 BC.

Silver’s Worth Extends Beyond Its Monetary Value

Though silver may not be the most expensive precious metal, it is still historically significant and has many important uses. As a result, silver scrap can be found in a lot of jewelry and industrial byproducts. If you have silver scrap you’d like to sell, consider selling it to a precious metals refiner like Manhattan Gold and Silver. We can help to quickly assess the value of your metals, so you get a quick and fair payout.

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Read on to learn how to sell your scrap gold (the right way) and the reasons why you should consider doing so.

Why Sell Your Gold Scrap?

While scrap like your broken jewelry might be useless for everyday wear, its precious metal content like gold, silver, or platinum can be immensely valuable. Not only could your scrap be taking up space in your home or office, but you’re also missing out on a great opportunity to make some quick, easy cash.

You’ll likely always have a market to sell your scrap gold as it consistently ranks as one of the most valued precious metals. The gold market tends to fluctuate, but the price of one ounce of gold has consistently been above $1,300 since the start of 2018.

But before you start making plans to become rich off your gold scrap, let’s get a basic understanding of the gold market so you can research current gold prices and get a better idea of what your scrap is worth.

Important Gold Market Elements to Understand 

1. The Price of Gold: The current price of gold is measured by how much gold costs per ounce. However, this price tends to fluctuate every day so be sure to check reliable online sources for the most accurate, up-to-date gold prices.
2. Factors Influencing the Price of Gold: Several factors exist that determine the price of gold, including:

• The value of national currencies
• Central bank reserves
• Economic situations
• Worldwide demand

3. The Spot Price of Gold: The spot price is the price that is quoted for immediate (on-the-spot) payment and delivery of a precious metal. Spot prices are typically based on the London Fixing price but are slightly adjusted by other factors like supply & demands, region, etc.

• • Remember, the spot price of gold is important because the higher the spot price, the more of a profit you can make when selling your gold scrap.

How To Determine The Value of Your Scrap Gold

The value of your gold scrap depends on its weight and purity, which is typically expressed as a karat or millesimal fineness.

Karats are measured as 24 times the pure gold mass divided by the total mass (gold and impurities.)

On the other hand, millesimal fineness denotes the purity of a precious metal by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy. For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as “750”.

Here’s a handy guide to help you understand how weight and purity come together to help you estimate the value of your gold.

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Although rhodium is not as well-known as precious metals like gold and silver, recent developments have earned it some press. Rhodium surged in price at the beginning of 2020, igniting a renewed interest in the precious metal. It has proven to be a particularly tricky metal to invest in, but one that can certainly be worth the price of admission with the right strategy.

To give this precious metal its long overdue recognition, we’ve created this infographic to highlight some of its most notable characteristics. We hope you enjoy learning about this potential “metal of the future.”

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Here’s a breakdown of the most popular items pawned by state compared to the national average:

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One of the common questions first-time investors ask when they see all of the ingots, bars, coins, grains, rounds, and other types of bullion available is “what’s the difference?” Since the inherent value is the same, there is no strategic advantage to owning, say, coins instead of bars. But, there are some reasons why investors may prefer one form factor over others.

For example, bullion coins’ smaller sizes and difficult-to-counterfeit designs give them better liquidity compared to ingots, bars, or rounds. However, seigniorage fees typically push the cost of bullion coins over the spot price for their metal content. So if you can afford to purchase more metal at once, and you have a secure space to store that amount, you’d save some money upfront by purchasing bars instead of coins.

In the infographic above, we’ve outlined the key differentiators for the most popular bullion products: bars, coins, and fractional.

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But how long exactly do they last?

Check out the infographic below to find out.

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The idea of “space gold” may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. Precious metals have been observed in extraterrestrial objects numerous times. Plus, the idea that gold has always been on earth doesn’t really mesh with the leading theories about the planet’s formation.

Billions of years ago, the earth started as a shifting, molten mass drifting through the cosmos. In this state of fluidity and extreme heat, the process of planetary differentiation would have caused high-density elements (such as gold and other precious metals) to drift into the earth’s core. If gold were native to earth, it all would have drifted closer to the earth’s core and away from its crust – thousands of miles out of reach for even the deepest mines. Following that logic, the only reason gold could be so close to earth’s surface is because it came from outside the planet, rather than from within it.

So, if gold is from outer space, how did it get there? Believe it or not, the particle physics explaining the formation of extraterrestrial gold are pretty straightforward. Below, our infographic explains the process.

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However, it’s worth noting that pure silver is not the only useful form of the metal. There are many types of silver alloys that have enhanced properties for specific applications. For example, Argentium sterling silver is an alloy containing copper and germanium that, unlike pure silver, is completely resistant to firescale (discoloration caused by heating). When Argentium silver is heated, the germanium oxidizes creating a transparent layer that protects the copper in the alloy from oxygen exposure. Without that exposure, copper oxide never forms and firescale never appears.  
    
In the below infographic we’ll look at some popular silver alloys, what they’re made of, and how they are used.

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“Synthetic” or lab-grown gemstones actually have the exact same chemical composition as mined gemstones (e.g. a synthetic diamond and natural diamond are both crystalized carbon). The major difference between the two is their market value – with lab-grown gems going for an average of 50% less than natural gems of similar size and grading. There’s nothing wrong with buying or selling lab-created gemstones as long as there is full disclosure. However, it’s not hard to imagine overpaying for a synthetic gemstone that is advertised as “natural.”

Fortunately, it is possible to tell the difference between synthetic and natural gems if you know what to look for. Natural gemstones often form in the presence of other minerals and gases, which cause color variations, inclusions, fissures, and other flaws. In the laboratory, gems are formed in a regulated environment that excludes the extraneous minerals and gases found in nature. In a phrase, natural gemstones tend to have more “character” than synthetic gems.

Unfortunately, there is no way to identify a gemstone’s origin with 100% accuracy. To help, we created this “cheat sheet” of tips you can use to tell the difference between natural and synthetic gems. Of course, you should always ask for a certificate of authenticity or origin as part of any deal. Also, remember that dealers are mandated by the FTC to disclose whether the gemstone is natural, lab-grown, and/or treated.

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