The Many Uses of Silver: From Medicine to Space Exploration

 

Silver mining dates as far back as 3000 BC. Today, silver is one of the most versatile metals around. It’s used in everything from dental implants to photography equipment and smartphones. Below, we go over some of the more common and interesting uses for silver over the years.



Silver in Medicine

Silver has antibacterial properties that make it useful in medicine. It’s often used for internal components such as knee replacements, artificial hip joints, and pacemakers. It’s even used for bandages in the form of silver threads. Silver was once carried in water barrels in the Middle Ages to keep water safe and clean. In the 1800s, silver was used to address infections and calm postoperative inflammation. Silver is also used to treat warts, ulcers, and burn wounds. In the 1800s, silver was used to fight postoperative infections.

Silver in Industrial Products

Just in this century alone, more than half a million tons of silver have been produced. Approximately 50 percent of all the silver mined is used for industrial purposes. This list includes photography equipment and smartphones. Silver is also used in smart televisions, electronic components, roofing materials, air conditioning components, laundry detergents, jet and helicopter engines, plastic, toys, missile technology, and solar panels.

Silver in the Military

Silver is widely used in the military. Silver is used for missiles and torpedoes to help with electronic conversions and connections. Silver is also used in military vehicles and aircraft components. Silver is useful in military laboratories as well for the creation of alloys to lower energy usage and for energy-harvesting devices and more powerful optical sensors.

Silver in the Middle Ages

Silver was used in the Middle Ages for numerous purposes. It was used for money in the form of silver slices, ingots, and coins. Silver was also placed in water barrels and food containers on long boat trips to prevent infections and spoilage. Silver was also popular for various adornments and jewelry during the Middle Ages.

Silver in Space

Silver is widely used in space vehicles and space telescopes and on the thousands of satellites that circle the planet. It’s also believed that asteroids contain tons of silver. And silver is also found on many rocky planets, according to various observations and educated guesses based on what’s common on known and researched planets.

Silver in Coins and Bars

Silver is widely used for coins and bars as well. Silver coins date back to at least 600 BC and come in a variety of shapes and sizes and values, as is the case with silver bars. The first silver coin is believed to be the Lydian Lion, made of an alloy of gold and silver called electrum in what is now modern-day Turkey. Silver bars are often used for investment purposes and as a hedge against inflation, although, as the premier San Diego gold coin dealers at First National Bullion will tell you, this is more common with gold. Silver was once commonly used in coins in the United States until 1964. After that time, silver was replaced with cheaper metals. Today, almost no silver is found in coins in current circulation in the United States.

 

Whether they’re looking for information on the various uses of precious metals or they want to buy silver bars, San Diego residents should reach out to trustworthy precious metal dealers who offer high-quality service and have years of experience. Call on the industry-leading professionals at First National Bullion when you’re ready to invest in precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Give us a call today.

 

The statements made in this blog are opinions, and past performance is not indicative of future returns. Precious metals, like all investments, carry risk. Precious metals and coins may appreciate, depreciate, or stay the same in cash value depending on a variety of factors. First National Bullion does not guarantee, and its website and employees make no representation, that any metals for sale will appreciate sufficiently to earn the customers a profit. The decision to buy, sell, or borrow precious metals and which precious metals to purchase, borrow, or sell are made at the customer’s sole discretion.