Its prominence in jewelry, cutlery, and other valuables over many centuries made it clear that something so beautiful must also be important-and worth money. Silver’s value has fluctuated over time but has always been precious. The Greek island was known for its massive silver deposits and quickly became the standard-bearer for precious metal coinage throughout the region. Some historians date the use of silver in coinage as far back as 600 B.C., when King Croesus first minted small amounts of silver into coins to be used by his people and others in the trade.
