_Silver is known by the
mankind since Pre-History, and its discovery is estimated happened to
shortly after that of copper and gold. The oldest reference to the
element appears in the book of Genesis. The Egyptians considered gold to
be a perfect metal, and gave it the symbol of a circle. Since silver
was the closest to gold in perfection, it was given the symbol of a
semi-circle. Later this semi-circle led to a growing moon symbol,
probably due to the likeness between the shining metal and the moon
glow. The Romans called silver argentum, keeping this as the
international name of the element, from where its chemical symbol
derives.