STERLING SILVER

Art Nouveau era antique repoussé sterling silver match safe, circa 1909, with original matches!
Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Sterling silver is a metal alloy consisting of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper.

Fine silver is a relatively soft metal, so silver is usually alloyed with copper to increase its strength.

Sterling silver is used to create flatware, hollowware, coins, bullion, jewelry, accessories and other trinkets.

Sterling silver dates back as far as the 1200s, when Germans would use silver coins, known as Easterlings, to pay for English cattle.  Later, Easterling would be shortened to sterling​.