Silver. Like gold, it played an early monetary role from 3500 B.C. with the Egyptians, and its presence has been largely found around the Mediterranean (Lydia 700 B.C, Greece with the silver mines at Laurium...). The ratio between gold and silver (1 to 10/13) has varied for centuries, and its content in the coins was variable (2/10 in the 'billon' for 8/10 of copper). Charlemagne established the standard of 240 parts of a denier for a 403 gr. (1 pound) ingot. Currency in silver disappeared during the 19th century, and it became mainly used in jewellery. The main consumers are the industries of photography, film and radiography (the Kodak company consumes a thousand ton/year), and also dentistry, IT...

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