A simple way to determine if you jewelry is silver or sterling silver is to purchase a test kit. These kits are usually available from most jewelry supply companies. Some kits are designed for testing both silver and gold giving you even more of a reason to purchase them. Most kits contain solutions which have nitric acid in them so you need to be careful when handling the kit so that you do not accidentally get the solution on your hands. It is also very important to perform tests in a very well ventilated area (I suggest keeping your windows open). Usually there is a glass rod (which does not react to the acid) you can use for dropping the solution onto your jewelry.

If the kit does not come with directions, make sure that you ask for thorough directions! Test on a cleaned area of the jewelry. Some kits advise you to use a file to brighten the area. This will damage your jewelry and is not recommended!

After the solution has been applied to the jewelry it will change colors if there is any silver present. In kits that have a yellow colored solution (colors may vary between manufacturers of different kits), the solution will change from yellow to various shades of red when it comes into contact with silver. A deep burgundy color indicates "sterling silver" (92.5% silver). A cloudy pale reddish color means there is silver but less than sterling's 92.5% standard. If the solution does not change color it is a safe bet that your jewelry is not silver.

Always use the testing solution on an inconspicuous area of the jewelry because sometimes the solution may discolor the jewelry and leave a "testing mark". As soon as you see a color change wipe the solution off of the piece with a soft cloth to prevent a testing mark. Then, use a cloth to re-polish the tested area back to its original finish. The less time that you leave the solution on your jewelry, the less of a chance that a testing mark will appear.

Now get to testing your jewelry!

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The Morgan Silver Dollar - A Brief History
No other U. S. silver coin can compare with the rich history enjoyed by the Morgan silver dollar (also known as the Liberty Head silver dollar). Designed by George T. Morgan, the Morgan dollar remains a favorite of both casual and serious coin collectors.

A total of five U. S. Mints were involved in the production of Morgan silver dollars from 1878 thru 1921: Carson City; Denver (1921 only); New Orleans; Philadelphia; and San Francisco.

Minting of the Morgan dollar was suspended in 1904 due a government shortage of silver bullion. Only about 8,812,000 (a relatively small mintage) were produced that year. It was another 17 years before another Morgan silver dollar was minted. In 1921, production resumed but later that year the Morgan dollar was replaced by the Peace silver dollar.

The world would be awash in Morgan silver dollars except for two events: 1) the Pittman Act of 1918 permitted the melting of 270,232,722 Morgans for their silver content; and, 2) unknown millions more were turned in and melted when silver reached an all time high of $50.50 per ounce in 1980. So the number of Morgan dollars in existence are far less than the number minted.

The Morgan Silver Dollar - Facts and Details
The Morgan silver dollar features the head of Lady Liberty on the obverse side and a spread-winged eagle on the reverse. Several small variations were made to this coin over its mint life. The mint mark is toward the bottom on the reverse side (just below the ribbon loops). Mint marks are "CC" for Carson City, "D" for Denver, "O" for New Orleans and "S" for the San Francisco Mints. If no mint mark appears, it was minted in Philadelphia.

Morgan silver dollars are 90% silver and 10% copper. Uncirculated Morgans contain .7734 Troy ounces of pure silver (24.0566 grams) with a gross weight of .859 Troy ounces (26.728 grams). Circulated Morgans are considered to contain .7650 Troy ounces of pure silver due to the "wear factor" in handling these coins (sometimes referred to as trade content). Circulated silver coins (including Morgan silver dollars) have been given the unworthy name "junk" silver.

If you are looking for the least expensive way of owning Morgan silver dollars and still get good coins, stay with the circulated grades of Extremely Fine (EF or XF) or About Uncirculated (AU). Uncirculated coins begin with Mint State 60 (MS60) and go to top-of-the-line MS65s. Use caution when investing in MS63 and higher grades - they should be graded and "slabbed" by either NGC or PCGS.

Stay with reputable dealers. And be sure to shop around - don't buy from the first dealer you find that sells Morgan dollars. Prices can vary widely and you will want to compare prices from several dealers to get the maximum amount of silver for your money.

Disclaimer: I have made every reasonable effort to produce an informative and helpful article on Morgan silver dollars based on my research and experiences. However, I make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to its completeness, accuracy or suitability for any specific situation or purpose.

Copyright © 2008 Silver Investing Simplified - Morgan Silver Dollars

John Ausiman was a salesman of gold and silver for one of the oldest, most reputable precious metals dealers in the U.S. He no longer is actively selling precious metals but wants to share his expertise with would-be gold and silver investors. You will find this complete article (with pictures) and other useful articles on silver at his web site http://www.silverinvestingsimplified.com

You cannot forget to accessorize your look with the hottest item on the fashion scene these days - a silver heart necklace! There's a 'heart' out there to suit every look, every occasion and every personality. Here the top styles in a silver heart necklace that you need to check out:

• Sterling silver cubic Zircon curve heart necklace has a designer tilt, gleams as bright as your dreams and you can pick one up for as little as $25. They work best with the 16" necklace length.
• The Sterling silver cutout heart necklace is great for wearing with a plain black or red evening dress. Don't wear it to work though as it will make you appear unprofessional. If you do want to wear 'your heart' to work, choose a solid heart-shaped pendant. Cutout heart silver necklaces are trifle costlier due to the workmanship required and can cost up to $35.
• For an added touch of glamour you will love to wear the double silver heart necklace. These work best with shorter chains above the neckline so that the pendant can be highlighted. You can even pick choker-length silver necklaces with the double-heart motif if you're not overweight.
• The studded silver heart necklace is ideal for a light-hearted party or evening out. They are fun to wear to a picnic because of their multi-colored embellishments. You can choose one with pearls or a sterling silver necklace with a gemstone matching your zodiac sign. These can cost up to $26.
• Also, check out the locket heart-shaped pendant for a romantic look or the glass heart silver necklace for a sporty look.

You can find a good jeweler online for picking up a stylish and elegant silver heart necklace to suit your individual style. Some of the best jewelers, even with a brick and mortar shop, have an online presence and you can look at the entire range of sterling silver heart necklaces in the comfort of your home. Top jewelers offer solid heart-shaped pendants with an engraving of your choice. You can order a name or personal message or motif to be etched into your silver heart necklace at no extra cost.

When buying online check out the privacy policy, guarantee provisions, secure payment gateway, and manufacturer's credibility before placing your order. Look out for discount coupons, discount offers, and holiday season offers too before buying sterling silver jewelry. You can even get free shipping for purchasing silver jewelry of more than a particular amount at some sites. So, go on, tie up with a group of friends and shop away to your heart's content.

Sarah Carnagie is a silver jewelry lover, and DreamlandJewelry.com's head of quality assurance for Silver Heart Necklaces. You can find more info on sterling silver Jewelry Sterling Silver Necklaces