What Does The “Sterling” In Sterling Silver Mean?
The term “sterling silver” refers to an alloy that is made up of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of other metals, most often copper. Sterling silver is the most common form of silver and is used in the manufacture of functional items like cutlery. Pure silver is far too soft and ductile to for many applications, except for jewelry and electronics.
The terms sterling has come to mean good or pure as in a reference to a person’s “sterling qualities.” The origins of this phrase are obviously from the valuable and decorative alloy. But how exactly the term “sterling silver” came into being has been lost in time. However, there are three theories about its origin, none proven and each having its own adherents.
The first, and perhaps most plausible, theory is that the terms comes from “Easterling Silver” which was the currency of a part of Germany in the 13th century. This region, known as the Easterling was engaged in a great deal of trade with Britain. The payment for British produce was made in the German currency of 92.5% pure silver coins. The purity and the accurate size and value of these coins were greatly respected by the British who soon adopted the standards of the currency of the Easterlings as their own. Easterlings soon became Sterling with local use.
The second theory is that the name comes from a bird. Ancient British coins often had images of birds engraved on them. It is thought that a popular silver coin could have borne the image of a Starling. It is possible that the coins were know by the names of the images they carried and so this coin would have been known as a Starling or Sterling since the origin British spelling of starling was “Stearling.”
The last theory is based on the fact that in the early 18th century, a rich deposit of silver was discovered in a part of Scotland then known as “Sterlingshire.” This was the largest deposit of silver in the British Isles and contained more mercury than silver found in other places. It is thought that it became known as Sterling Silver to differentiate it from silver with different compositions.
Whatever its origins, the term sterling silver; today stands for metal of strength, purity and value.
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