Silver

Silver is a white, malleable metallic element, found in ores such as argentite. Silver will oxidize, although like verdigris on copper and bronze this black "tarnish" occurs only on exposed services and actually forms a protective barrier to further oxidization.

In Latin, silver's name is argentum, giving us its chemical symbol Ag. It is from the Anglo-Saxon name Seolfor that we get the modern English word.

Harder and less malleable than gold silver was, and still is, highly valued for jewelry, tableware, and other ornamental use; some believe that the Norse valued it more highly than gold itself. During period is was, along with gold, an important part of trade.

It was used widely in coinage.

In heraldry, silver is a metal is referred to as argent and is used interchangeably with the colour white.

See also

• Information about Medieval Gold and Silver, from the University of California, Davis