Industry

Industry is one of the most important uses of silver. Most of us don't even realize where we encounter it in our daily lives. Silver is an important component in many electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers or televisions. This is because of its excellent conductive properties, silver conducts both electricity and heat better than any other metal. Thanks to this, it is also used in the production of solar panels, batteries or catalysts and many other components. For example, silver-zinc batteries can offer up to 40% more capacity than lithium-ion batteries (which are the most used batteries in consumer electronics).

Medicine

Another important area where silver is widely used is medicine. Silver has strong antimicrobial properties and has been used to disinfect wounds and treat infections since ancient times. Our ancient ancestors are also said to have used silver coins to put in beverage containers to prolong their freshness, or to use silver itself to make the containers. After all, water disinfection using silver is still a method used today, for example among so-called preppers or survival enthusiasts.

In the same way, silver cutlery and other dishes were not only used to demonstrate wealth and social status, their use also had purely practical reasons.

So-called colloidal silver is also widely used in medicine. It is a suspension (mixture of solid and liquid) of small particles of pure silver in deionized water. Colloidal silver began to be widely used from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and before the transition to traditional antibiotics, it was the main means of combating professional infection. In addition, it has also proven itself excellently against fungi and yeasts, accelerates wound healing and has a beneficial effect on the skin and its common ailments (excess sebum production, acne, psoriasis and other problems).

Be careful only about the internal use of colloidal silver (since 2010 it has even been banned within the EU). With long-term use, it can lead to so-called argyria, which is a gray or blue discoloration of the skin, especially in places that are more exposed to sunlight.

Silver is also used in medicine in medical devices such as plasters, masks or surgical instruments.

And although classic antibiotics have largely replaced it, it is silver that has proven to be effective when bacteria become resistant to them.

Disinfection

As we have already mentioned, the history of silver as a means of disinfecting (not only) water goes back a long way. And it is still used today, not only for classic drinking water. Silver is used to disinfect water in tanks and pools, or for pets.

You will also encounter silver content in a number of disinfectants for the body or surfaces.

Photo

Although most of us take digital photos today, silver also had its place in traditional photography and is still used today. Silver had its place in the production of films - classic film contains a layer of silver salt that turns into metallic silver when exposed to light. This then creates dark areas of the image on the film frame.

Clothes

Since we have already talked about the antibacterial properties of silver above, it is not so surprising that we can also find it in clothes. Especially for sports clothes or underwear that are in direct contact with the skin and absorb sweat. Nanosilver in clothing fights bacteria, helps prevent skin fungi, eczema or mycoses. A welcome bonus is the reduction of unpleasant odor after prolonged wear, even if you sweat a lot in the clothes.

Jewelry

Who among us does not have at least one silver earring, ring or bracelet at home? We learned to work with silver as far back as ancient Egypt, and because it is very malleable and castable, and also cheaper than gold, it has become one of the most popular materials for making jewelry. However, since silver is also very soft, you usually don't find it in its pure form in jewelry (such jewelry was very prone to bending or breaking even during normal activities, and those who wear these ornaments on a daily basis would not particularly appreciate that). The most common in jewelry is so-called sterling silver, which is an alloy with 92.5% silver and 7.5% impurities (usually copper), which is marked with the well-known hallmark 925 (this number refers to the proportion of silver in the alloy). Silver is also often treated with so-called rhodium plating in order to increase its resistance and not lose its luster and color. Silver jewelry is popular for its low price, you can usually buy it for just a few hundred crowns and with proper care it will last you a lifetime.

Ecology

In recent years, silver has also become an important element in the field of ecology. It is used, for example, to make contact connections for solar panels, which are an increasingly popular source of electricity. However, with the growing demand for photovoltaics, the demand for silver also rises, which has yet to be replaced in this area without reducing the efficiency of the panels. This also contributes to the ever-increasing price of silver on world markets.

Investment

The world's silver reserves are constantly being reduced by continuous mining, and it is estimated that it could be completely exhausted in the next 20 years. This makes it a great commodity to invest and protect your savings against inflation. Silver does not lose its value, on the contrary, it constantly increases and successfully keeps pace with consumer inflation. This is mainly because the consumption of silver exceeds its mining in the long term, 85% of all mined silver is also consumed by its industrial use (for example, the already mentioned solar panels - the demand of the photovoltaic industry accounts for approximately 18% of the total demand for silver). So he has only 15% of the total production left to invest.

You can buy investment silver in several forms and choose the one that suits you best:

Silver bars
Silver bricks
Silver coins
Silver medals

Collecting

Some forms of investment silver also have collector value. Silver coins and medals are issued in limited editions - sometimes only a few pieces - and with various motifs designed by top academic painters, sculptors and medalists. Each such piece is then a small work of art. Coins and medals are also usually not issued separately, but as part of a thematic series. If you manage to get it in its entirety, it has even more value as a set.

The range of uses for silver is really wide and we encounter it practically every day, although we often don't even know it. We at the Czech Mint do not offer it in all forms, but we are experts in silver investments. If you want to invest in silver with us, take a look at https://ceskamincovna.cz/zlate-sporeni/stribro. You can save in silver with us immediately, you can open an account from the comfort of your home in a few clicks and you yourself determine the amount you want to invest monthly. Everyone can really save in silver with us.