| oz. | dwts. | grs. | |
| Fine silver | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Shot copper | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
Silver alloy No. 8, same as before.
| oz. | dwts. | grs. | |
| Fine silver | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shot copper | 0 | 13 | 12 |
| 1 | 13 | 12 |
The qualities of the silver alloys have been reduced in this list to various values, and the latter ones are as common as it is possible to make them, without a great and perceptible change of colour taking place in the prepared material. But if it be desired to work a still more inferior metal, then another ingredient must enter into its composition, in order to keep up the whiteness of the silver; and this other metal employed is nickel, the alloys with which we shall have occasion to refer to hereafter. Suffice it to say, however, that these inferior alloys of silver, prepared with nickel, are not now much employed by silversmiths in their art-manufactures. It will be observed that we have recommended the employment of shot copper in the manufacture of silver alloys: we do so for two reasons—first, because it can be purchased at a considerably cheaper rate than can the ordinary forms of copper, costing only one shilling per lb., whilst the ordinary prepared copper for alloying will cost double that amount; and, secondly, if proper attention has been given to the melting and casting process, the workable qualities of the metal will be found everything that could be desired. Therefore an excellent material in all respects can be produced by the means suggested at half the cost of alloy. A considerable saving to a large firm might thus be easily effected by its employment.
In France there are three silver standards—two to be employed by silversmiths, and one for the coinage, as follows:—
Fine silver per lb. troy.
| Silver ware, | 11 oz. | 8 dwts. | = 950 millims. |
| Coinage, | 10 oz. | 16 dwts. | = 900 millims. |
| Silver ware, | 9 oz. | 12 dwts. | = 800 millims. |
It will be seen from the above table that pre-war coinage in France did not represent the highest standard, and also that their principal one was inferior to our highest standard. French coinage contained 36-40ths of fine silver and 4-40ths of copper alloy, or millesimal fineness 900 parts of fine silver and 100 parts of copper per 1,000 parts of metal; the highest standard for silver wares contains 38-40ths of fine silver and 2-40ths of copper alloy, or millesimal fineness 950 parts of fine silver and 50 parts of copper per 1,000 parts of metal; the lowest French standard for silver wares contains 32-40ths of fine silver and 8-40ths of copper alloy, or millesimal fineness 800 parts of fine silver and 200 parts of copper per 1,000 parts of metal. The remedy is millesimal fineness 0·005.