Ten facts, bits of trivia and myth that I love about silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers, and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees;
One by one the casements catch
Her beams beneath the silvery thatch;
Couched in his kennel, like a log,
With paws of silver sleeps the dog;
From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep
Of doves in silver feathered sleep
A harvest mouse goes scampering by,
With silver claws, and silver eye;
And moveless fish in the water gleam,
By silver reeds in a silver stream.
Silver
Walter de la Mare

The name Silver originates from the Old English Anglo-Saxon word 'seolfor' meaning silver. The Symbol Origin (Ag) is from the Latin word 'argentum' meaning silver.

Silver is the metal most associated with the moon.  In Greek myth, the Goddess Artemis,  rode a silver chariot across the skies, shooting silver moonbeams to earth with her silver bow. Associated with the moon as well as the sea and various lunar Goddesses, the metal was referred to by alchemists by the name Lunar.

In ancient Egypt and Medieval Europe, silver was often more valuable than gold.

Silver was initally used to make monetary coins from around 700BC.

The term 'sterling silver' in reference to the grade .925 silver emerged in England in the 13th century.
Early Norman sterling silver pennies were typically imprinted with small stars, so many believe that that word "sterling" came from the Old English word "steorling," meaning "with a little star."

Sterling silver only became popular in jewellery making in the  mid-19th century , making its mark on Art Nouveau design and modern fashion.

Sterling Silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This is why sterling silver is stamped with 925 which indicates the amount of pure metal in the alloy (92.5 %). By adding copper to silver, craftsmen have managed to obtain a highly reliable alloy. The very small amount of copper in sterling gives the metal the perfect amount of malleability, durability and hardness to be used in making jewellery. The copper also causes the silver to tarnish over time but it can maintain it's lustre with proper care.

Fine silver is 99.9% or better silver content,( so if you want a sure fire weapon against werewolves this is a better option than sterling silver)... but is too soft for general use. Fine silver does not tarnish so it  is  sometimes used in jewellery  where tarnishing is best avoided e.g to make bezels.

Silver has the highest degree of optical reflectivity of all elements. A silver mirror can reflect about 95% of the visible light spectrum.  Besides vanity uses, mirrors are important components in telescopes, microscopes and solar panels.

"Silver has antimicrobial properties, but that doesn't make it a good option for home remedies. Homeopathy providers sometimes sell colloidal silver for a variety of health complaints, but drinking the stuff has a weird side effect: It turns the skin blue"*...aah that explains smurfs and the secret ingredient in smurfing beer!

http://chemistry.about.com/od/10elementfacts/fl/10-Silver-Facts.htm
http://blog.myjewelrydeals.com/2008/03/51-interesting-facts-about-silver.html
*http://www.livescience.com/37040-silver.html