- Part I: The German Challenge
- Part II: The End of Splendid Isolation
- Part III: The Error of Euro and the Printing Pound
- Part IV: Britain and Germany: Politics and Growing Tension,2008-2018
- Part V: The Road to Armageddon 202?
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Discovered in 3000 BC, silver has made its mark through diverse usage in human societies across civilizations.
3000 BC – Discovery of silver
First major silver mines were discovered in Anatolia (Turkey in modern day).
2500 BC – More than gold
Silver first introduced into Egypt and was considered more valuable than gold.
1200 BC – A shift to Greece
Silver production shifted to Greece’s Laurie mines, where it continued to cater to the region’s empires.
475 BC – Silver as money
China was the first country to mounties silver.
100 AD – Emergence of Spain a major silver producer
Spain became the capital of silver production. Spanish mines were major supplier to the Roman Empire and an essential trading component, along the Asian spice routes.
750-1200 AD – Several silver mines discovered
After the Moorish invasion of Spain, silver mining migrated to Central Europe. Major silver mine discoveries occurred between 750 AD and 1200 AD, including Germany and Eastern Europe.
775 AD – British Pounds Sterling
The Saxon kingdoms issued silver coins known as ‘sterling’, 240 of them being minted out of one pound of silver. Large payments were reckoned in ‘pounds of sterling’ later shortened to ‘pounds sterling’.
1072 AD – Division of pound
Following the Norman Conquest, the pound was divided for simplicity of accounting into 20 shillings and 240 pence or pennies.
1000-1500 AD – Silver advancements
Silver production saw significant growth on account of increased number of mines and improved productivity and technological advancements.
1158 AD – First silver currency in England
King Henry II coined the first silver currency in England.
1300 AD – Sterling silver
The term 'sterling silver' (grade 0.925 silver) emerged in England.
1500 AD – Post Columbus era
After the new world expeditions of Christopher Columbus, the discovery of significant deposits in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia shifted the focus of silver mining and enriched the Spanish Empire for 300 years.
1500-1875 – Growing excavation
Over 1.5 billion ounces of silver was mined from Mexico; majority during the 18th century.
1600-1900 – An era of Mexican Peso
The Mexican Peso evolved as one of the world’s strongest and most widely accepted currencies for its silver content.
1700 – Silver a symbol of pride
Silver jewelry was a significant indicator of status until the very end of the 18th century, because it enjoyed limited access to a privileged few. Post Industrial Revolution, mass manufacture facilitated jewelry availability for general population.
1800s – Emergence of China
China through proactive trade activities was in possession of over 50% of the world’s silver. The British sold opium to China in exchange for tea, silk and silver – a factor in the Opium Wars between Great Britain and China during the mid seventeenth century.
1857 – Discovery of Comstock Lode
Silver mining became an important industry in the State of Nevada, USA (The Silver Sate), when the Comstock Lode deposits were discovered.
1900-1920 ¬– Growing global production
Global silver production saw 50% surge to about 190 million troy ounces annually by discoveries in several countries including Canada, the United States and Mexico.
1920-1946 – British silver coins
Coins minted before 1920 are made of sterling silver and those minted between 1920 and 1946 contain 50% silver.
1921 – Silver, a critical metal
Evolving techniques in ore separation allowed for the concentration of silver with lead, zinc and copper. The surge in production of various base metal sources has led to an increase in both silver output and usage.
1930 – End of silver currency in China
Silver was used as China’s official currency until the 1930s.
1965 – USA ends silver coin circulation
The U.S. mint continued to circulate silver coins until 1965.
3000 BC – Discovery of silver
First major silver mines were discovered in Anatolia (Turkey in modern day).
2500 BC – More than gold
Silver first introduced into Egypt and was considered more valuable than gold.
1200 BC – A shift to Greece
Silver production shifted to Greece’s Laurie mines, where it continued to cater to the region’s empires.
475 BC – Silver as money
China was the first country to mounties silver.
100 AD – Emergence of Spain a major silver producer
Spain became the capital of silver production. Spanish mines were major supplier to the Roman Empire and an essential trading component, along the Asian spice routes.
750-1200 AD – Several silver mines discovered
After the Moorish invasion of Spain, silver mining migrated to Central Europe. Major silver mine discoveries occurred between 750 AD and 1200 AD, including Germany and Eastern Europe.
775 AD – British Pounds Sterling
The Saxon kingdoms issued silver coins known as ‘sterling’, 240 of them being minted out of one pound of silver. Large payments were reckoned in ‘pounds of sterling’ later shortened to ‘pounds sterling’.
1072 AD – Division of pound
Following the Norman Conquest, the pound was divided for simplicity of accounting into 20 shillings and 240 pence or pennies.
1000-1500 AD – Silver advancements
Silver production saw significant growth on account of increased number of mines and improved productivity and technological advancements.
1158 AD – First silver currency in England
King Henry II coined the first silver currency in England.
1300 AD – Sterling silver
The term 'sterling silver' (grade 0.925 silver) emerged in England.
1500 AD – Post Columbus era
After the new world expeditions of Christopher Columbus, the discovery of significant deposits in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia shifted the focus of silver mining and enriched the Spanish Empire for 300 years.
1500-1875 – Growing excavation
Over 1.5 billion ounces of silver was mined from Mexico; majority during the 18th century.
1600-1900 – An era of Mexican Peso
The Mexican Peso evolved as one of the world’s strongest and most widely accepted currencies for its silver content.
1700 – Silver a symbol of pride
Silver jewelry was a significant indicator of status until the very end of the 18th century, because it enjoyed limited access to a privileged few. Post Industrial Revolution, mass manufacture facilitated jewelry availability for general population.
1800s – Emergence of China
China through proactive trade activities was in possession of over 50% of the world’s silver. The British sold opium to China in exchange for tea, silk and silver – a factor in the Opium Wars between Great Britain and China during the mid seventeenth century.
1857 – Discovery of Comstock Lode
Silver mining became an important industry in the State of Nevada, USA (The Silver Sate), when the Comstock Lode deposits were discovered.
1900-1920 – Growing global production
Global silver production saw 50% surge to about 190 million troy ounces annually by discoveries in several countries including Canada, the United States and Mexico.
1920-1946 – British silver coins
Coins minted before 1920 are made of sterling silver and those minted between 1920 and 1946 contain 50% silver.
1921 – Silver, a critical metal
Evolving techniques in ore separation allowed for the concentration of silver with lead, zinc and copper. The surge in production of various base metal sources has led to an increase in both silver output and usage.
1930 – End of silver currency in China
Silver was used as China’s official currency until the 1930s.
1965 – USA ends silver coin circulation
The U.S. mint continued to circulate silver coins until 1965.
