silver as money

The industrial uses of silver are increasing in number and volume. Even the diminished use of silver in photography is not dramatic because most of the silver used was being recycled anyway, so fresh consumption of silver for that purpose wasn't the source of strong demand that it seemed.
Also I've read that digital photography not only didn't make the inroads on paper photography that many expected, it in itself created its own demand for silver coated paper images. That's because digital images were converted to album photos and so on.
The use of silver as coinage only discontinued after the second world war. We had a silver coin in Australia as late as 1966, with the issue of the round 50c piece, which was 80% silver. The use of silver coinage or currency goes right back. The silver balance is from the Isle of Man which suffered Viking invasion. The vikings were into trade and commerce as well as rape and pillage.

the National Heritage Agency Of The Isle Of Man


Bronze balance for weighing coin and silver bullion

"This carefully made bronze balance was used during the Viking period to weigh coins and silver, and is on display at the Manx Museum.

The bronze balance beam is decorated with bird’s head style terminals. The beam also has hooks for suspending the pans below.

The lead rider weight was suspended from the notched side of the balance beam. Depending how far along the beam the weight was hung, different weights could be calculated. The weight is equivalent to 16 Anglo-Saxon silver pennies, which was the same as the ounce used in Viking times. Accurately weighing silver coin and bullion was clearly important to Viking wealth and commerce"


Viking silver ingots (Norfolk)