Silver coin 3749317 223176665 2008-07-02T22:19:52Z Miguel.mateo 4503907 /* Wrong link */ {{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}} '''Silver coins''' are possibly the oldest mass form of [[coin]]age. Silver has been used as a coinage [[metal]] since the times of the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]]s. Their silver [[Greek drachma|drachma]]s were popular trade coins. Many factors determine the value of a silver coin, such as its rarity, age, condition and the number originally minted. Silver coins coveted by collectors include the [[Denarius]] and [[Miliarense]]. Other than collector's [[silver]] coins, silver bullion coins are popular among people who desire a "hedge" against currency [[inflation]] or [[store of value]]. Silver has an international [[currency]] symbol of XAG under [[ISO 4217]]. Before 1797, British pennies used to be made out of silver while the ancient Persians used silver coins between 612-330BC. <gallery> Image:American Silver Eagle, obverse, 2004.jpg|'''[[American Silver Eagle]]''' Image:Coin_ca_2001_maple_cl_r.jpg|'''[[Canadian Silver Maple Leaf]]''' Image:Coin_cn_1996_panda_p_o.jpg|'''[[Chinese Silver Panda]]''' Image:Briannia.jpg|'''[[Britannia_coin|British Silver Britannia]]''' </gallery> Most common silver bullion coins, preceded by minimum guaranteed purity, and the year of introduction: *99.99% 1988 [[Canadian Silver Maple Leaf]] *99.90% 1982 [[Mexican Silver Libertad]] *99.90% 1983 [[Chinese Silver Panda]] *99.90% 1986 [[American Silver Eagle]] *99.90% 1990 [[Australian Silver Kookaburra]] (minted by the [[Perth Mint]]) *99.90% 1993 [[Australian Silver Kangaroo]] (minted by the [[Royal Australian Mint]]) *99.90% 2008 [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Austria)#Vienna Philharmonic Coin|Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic]] *95.80% 1997 [[Britannia_coin|British Silver Britannia]] (from 1997, proof version only. Public issue from 1998) Minor silver bullion coins, or [[commemorative coin]]s, include: *99.95% 1991 [[Gibraltar Silver Dogs]] (last year produced: 1997) *99.90% 2004 [[New Zealand Silver Kiwi]] *??.??% 1988 [[Isle of Man Silver Cats]] *??.??% 1999 [[Zambia Silver Elephant]] (last year produced: 2003) *??.??% ???? [[Russian Sable]] ==Silver rounds== Privately minted silver coins are known as silver "rounds" and silver "bars", which usually have a set weight of 1 troy ounce of silver (31.103 grams of 99.9% silver). These carry all sorts of designs, from assayer/mine backed bullion to engravable gifts, automobiles, firearms, armed forces commemorative, holidays, etc. ==See also== {{portalpar|Numismatics|United States penny, obverse, 2002.jpg}} * [[Euro gold and silver commemorative coins]] * [[Gold coin]] * [[Millesimal fineness]] * [[Silver as an investment]] * [[Store of value]] * [[Precious metal]] == External links == {{commons|Silver coin|Silver coin}} * [http://www.coinpage.com/silver-pictures.html Silver Coin Pictures] *[http://www.silver-coins.org Counterfeit silver coins and how to detect them]. [[Category:Bullion coins]] [[Category:Coins]] [[Category:Silver coins| ]] [[ko:은화]] [[de:Silbermünze]] [[ja:銀貨]]