Sterling Silver Vs. Silver Bullion

Silver is a precious metal that has been used for centuries in jewelry and ornamentation. Different alloys of silver have different names that designate how much silver is in the alloy.

Definition of Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver that is at least 92.5 percent silver. The other 7.5 percent is usually copper.

Markings on Sterling Silver Objects

If an item is marked with "925", "sterling", or "925/1000" it must, under United States law, contain at least 92.5 percent silver.

Uses of Sterling Silver

Sterling silver is used in jewelry, tableware and decorative items.

Definition of Silver Bullion

Silver bullion is almost pure silver. It is at least 99.5 percent pure silver.

Types of Bullion

Bullion can be either monetized or nonmonetiezed. Monetized bullion is silver bullion that has been formed into coins. Nonmonetized bullion is silver bullion that has been formed into bars or ingots.

References

• usgs.gov: What is Sterling Silver
• silversmithing.com: Glossary
• portlandoregon.gov: Definition of Regulated Property

Resources

• boe.ca.gov: Sales and Use Regulations
• silverinstitute.com: Silver Uses