1. Survey and long-term development
Even more than gold, silver was the most important of the precious metals in the early modern period. Its outstanding significance was due to its use as a basis for the most important types of currency. In addition, it was used for cultic purposes – after the Council of Trent (1545–1563), the Catholic Church stipulated the use of silver to decorate tabernacles and other furnishings of the church interior –…