Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper . The fineness is therefore 925/1000.
The name refers to the British pound sterling , sterling silver was the coin material of the early English silver pennies, the so-called "sterling".
The term “sterling” is derived from “e (a) sterling” (coming from the east) and denoted early penny coins that were imported from mainland Europe to England. Before 1200, the term was also used in France.
Sterling silver is used today for silver jewelry , - coins - medals - trophies - stamps , - cutlery , flutes and painting of alloy wheels used. It is harder compared to pure silver. The color is a little redder compared to pure silver. Melted pure silver can absorb up to 20 times its own volume of oxygen , which when it solidifies suddenly escapes with a "crackling" noise and tears the surface open. The copper content reduces the risk of splattering and increases the hardness of the silver.
Vickers hardness HV 5:
- Fine silver, soft annealed 35, 60% cold worked 85
- Sterling silver annealed 75, 60% cold worked 140
Web links
- Information from the Allgemeine Gold- und Silberscheideanstalt - see page 4 (PDF 556 kB)
literature
- Heinz Fengler: Lexicon Numismatics. transpress publishing house for traffic, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-344-00220-1 .