The history of silver dates back thousands of years. Because silver occurs in its native state, it was already known around 5000 BC in regions such as Egypt and the area along the Euphrates River.
Recent research has revealed that as early as 4000–3500 BC, silver was separated from lead on islands in the Aegean Sea and in Anatolia. At that time, silver was often associated with the sea, the moon, and various gods, giving it a mythical aura. In alchemy, for instance, silver was symbolized by a crescent moon and referred to as "Luna." Mercury, or quicksilver, was also believed to be a type of silver, as evidenced by its old Dutch name kwikzilver and its English equivalent, "quicksilver." Only much later was it discovered that these were two entirely different elements.

The History of Silver Mines

Silver was the first precious metal known to humanity and was consumed in remarkable quantities in ancient times. Early silver mining locations were often the same as gold mining sites. Since the beginning of recorded history, silver has been used for ornaments and as a medium of exchange. In addition to the early separation of silver from lead around 4000–3500 BC on islands in the Aegean Sea and Anatolia, silver necklaces dating back to 4000 BC have been discovered in Egypt. The Egyptians mined silver in Nubia and Ethiopia, while the Athenians mined in Attica and Epirus, regions that contributed significantly to Athens’ political influence around the 6th century BC. A few hundred years later, Xenophon of Athens reported a decline in mining activity. When the mines were reopened in modern times, traces of approximately 2,000 shafts were found, suggesting that up to 20,000 people may have worked there.

The ancient Germanic tribes, on the other hand, had little silver. A few silver mines were known in Germany, such as those near Wiesbaden or Ems. Later, significant silver deposits were discovered in the Lebertal in Alsace. Silver ores in Saxony were uncovered in the 10th century. During the Middle Ages, most of the silver in circulation came from the Harz Mountains, the Ore Mountains, Tyrol, and Kongsberg. The wealthy Fugger bankers of Augsburg in the 15th and 16th centuries built their fortune on silver-rich ores from mines in Schwarz and Brixlegg. The famed Guadalcanal mine, which fell into the hands of the Fuggers, brought them immense wealth until it was flooded and abandoned.
Thirty years after the conquistador Cortés reached Mexico, numerous mines emerged in the region, yielding vast amounts of silver. In 1522, the first silver shipments from Mexico arrived in Europe. Peru, with its rich Cerro de Potosí mines, also produced large quantities of silver and gold. Later, California and Australia became major sources of silver. Discoveries of silver in the United States soon surpassed all earlier finds, while in Ontario, Canada, large silver nuggets were unearthed.