Silver melts at 961.8 °C (or 1,234.9 K). This precise value is a central reference point in precious-metals metallurgy: it governs the casting of bars, the striking of coins and the jeweller’s work. Here’s what it means concretely.
The melting point of silver in figures
- Melting: 961.8 °C — silver passes from solid to liquid.
- Boiling: about 2,162 °C — the temperature at which silver vaporises.
- For comparison, gold melts at 1,064 °C and copper at 1,085 °C.
Silver therefore has a relatively low melting point among precious metals, which explains why it is historically one of the first metals worked by humans: it is easy to melt and shape.
Why this precise temperature
The melting point of a metal depends on the strength of the bonds between its atoms. For pure silver (Ag), these metallic bonds give way at 961.8 °C. Any impurity or alloy changes this value: 925 (sterling) silver, alloyed with 7.5% copper, begins to melt slightly below, around 893 °C — this is the very principle of alloys, used to lower or adjust the working temperature.
This is also why the purity of a bar matters: 999 silver melts sharply at 961.8 °C, a sign of its quality.
How silver is melted in a foundry
In a foundry, refined silver is brought to melting in a crucible (graphite or ceramic) heated by induction or furnace. Once liquid, the metal is:
- homogenised to distribute the heat and eliminate gases;
- checked for purity (spectrometry);
- cast in a mould (cast bar) or directed to rolling and then minting (minted bar).
Controlling the temperature avoids defects: too cold, and the metal sets before filling the mould; too hot, and it captures gases that form bubbles. We describe the whole process in how silver bars are made.
Melting and authentication
The melting temperature is also, indirectly, an indicator of authenticity. Many counterfeits use core metals (tungsten, lead, copper) coated with silver. But these metals have very different melting points and densities. Combined with the density of silver (10.49 g/cm³), knowing silver’s physical properties helps spot a fake — see how to recognise a fake silver bar.
What it changes for the investor
You’ll obviously never have to melt your bars — that would destroy their numismatic value and their seal. But understanding melting sheds light on two things:
- The finish of a minted bar (clean surfaces) results from precise control of melting and striking: it’s a mark of quality.
- Remelting is what happens to bought-back silver: a dealer appraises your metal at its remelt value, i.e. the weight of fine silver it contains, less a margin. Hence the importance of fineness (999 vs 925).
In summary
- Pure silver melts at 961.8 °C, boils around 2,162 °C.
- A low melting point that has made silver an easy metal to work since Antiquity.
- Alloys (925) melt a little lower; 999 purity is the investment standard.
- Physical properties (melting, density) = authentication tools.
To know the value of your silver at its real weight, check the silver price today and request a free estimate.
This article is informational and does not constitute investment advice.