Guide to silver coins

Silver is popular because it is

• Common: Vast quantities of silver have been found in various parts of the world, including the United States, Mexico, and South America. Because it is common, silver is the perfect metal for creating lower-value coins for use by the general public.
• A naturally occurring element: Found deep within the Earth, silver is usually mixed with another great coinage metal — gold. Although native silver is perfectly good for casting into ingots and making into coins, most of it is processed to purify the silver and to separate out the more valuable gold.
• Beautiful: Pure silver has a bright, white luster and a deep brilliance. As it tarnishes, silver can acquire some lovely colors, including blues, reds, and purples; this is especially true for coins that have been stored near a source of sulfur, such as paper albums.