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Silver Decoplata, also known as 720 silver, is an alloy containing 72% pure silver and 28% copper. The name derives from Spanish “de plata” meaning “of silver.”
This alloy was primarily used for coinage in Mexico, Netherlands, and Egypt during the mid-20th century as a debasement measure to reduce silver content while maintaining coin size. It’s diamagnetic but allergenic due to copper content.
The hallmark is typically “720” or “0.720.” Its value equals 72% of current silver spot price. Bullion isn’t made from this alloy, though some jewelry pieces use repurposed 720 silver coins.
Learn more below!
- What is Silver Decoplata (Definition and Meaning)? Why is it Called “Decoplata”?
- Is Silver Decoplata Magnetic?
- Is Silver Decoplata Hypoallergenic?
- Is There Bullion Made From Silver Decoplata?
- Is There Jewelry Made From Silver Decoplata?
- What is the Hallmark for Silver Decoplata?
- How Much is Silver Decoplata Worth?
Table of Contents
What is Silver Decoplata (Definition and Meaning)? Why is it Called “Decoplata”?
Silver Decoplata (also known as 720 silver) is an alloy of 72% pure silver and 28% copper.
This alloy is primarily associated with coinage, particularly in Mexico and the Netherlands during the mid-20th century, where it was used as a debasement measure to reduce the silver content in coins while maintaining their size.
Silver Decoplata got its name from the Spanish word “de plata,” meaning “of silver,” combined with a sense of “deco-” suggesting a decorative or applied use, perhaps due to its historical use in coinage.
Is Silver Decoplata Magnetic?
No, Silver Decoplata isn’t magnetic. it’s diamagnetic.
Silver Decoplata contains 72% pure silver and 28% copper. It was commonly used in coins, particularly those from Mexico and the Netherlands, during the mid-20th century, but has also been used by other countries at various times
Both pure silver and copper within the alloy are diamagnetic making Silver Decoplata diamagnetic as well.
Is Silver Decoplata Hypoallergenic?
No, Silver Decoplata isn’t hypoallergenic. It’s allergenic.
Silver Decoplata is likely to cause skin allergies in sensitive individuals because it has relatively high pure silver content (silver is mostly hypoallergenic with some edge cases) and a substantial amount of copper which is a common allergenic metal for a decent percentage of population.
Is There Bullion Made From Silver Decoplata?
No, bullion is not typically made from Silver Decoplata.
Silver bullion is generally made from either fine silver (99.9% pure silver) or Sterling silver (92.5% silver).
Fine silver bullion is also called “IRA approved silver” and it’s the coins and bars of extreme purity you can have as part of your silver IRA account.
You can buy IRA-approved silver coins and bars at Augusta Precious Metals, the best gold investment company in the United States.
Note: 720 silver was used to create many silver coins from the countries like Mexico, Netherlands and Egypt. I list some of these below.
Silver Decoplata coins from the Netherlands:
- 1 Guilder coins (1922-1945, 1954-1967) – Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana portraits.
- 2½ Guilder coins (Rijksdaalder) (1922-1945) – Queen Wilhelmina portrait.
- ½ Guilder coins – Part of the .720 silver series.
- 25 Cents coins (1922-1945) – Silver 25 cent coins were minted during Queen Wilhelmina’s reign.
- 10 Cents coins (1922-1945) – Silver 10 cent coins were also part of the Wilhelmina .720 silver.
Silver Decoplata coins from Mexico:
- 5 Peso coins (1950-1971) – 720 fineness 5 pesos One guilder coin (Netherlands) – featuring Miguel Hidalgo portrait.
- 1 Peso coins (1920-1945) – by 1920 the 1 Peso was .720 fine Items from Netherlands – featuring the Liberty Cap design.
- 50 Centavos coins (1920-1945) – Part of the 720 silver series during this period.
- 20 Centavos coins (1920-1943) – Mexican 20 Centavos silver coin with Liberty Cap design.
- 10 Centavos coins (1925-1935) – Small denomination 720 silver coins.
Silver Decoplata coins from Egypt:
- 1 Pound coins (1970) – 1970 Egyptian 1 Pound silver coin featuring President Gamal Abdel Nasser. This gem BU coin is composed of 0.72 fineness silver Silver Age Coins.
- 20 Qirsh/Piastres coins (1956) – Egyptian 20 Qirsh Coin from 1956. The coin features the Sphinx and has a denomination of 20 Piastres. It is made of silver with a fineness of 0.72 Dutch guilder.
- 50 Piastres coins (1970) – Egypt 1 Pound – 50 Piastres coin set contains three silver commemorative coins from 1970- Paper Money Fair featuring President Nasser.
Is There Jewelry Made From Silver Decoplata?
There’s no jewelry made from Silver Decoplata.
This silver standard was almost exclusively used to create silver coins for circulation.
People are getting creative though and I found an example on Etsy of someone offering a necklace made from 720 Silver Decoplata Mexican coins.
What is the Hallmark for Silver Decoplata?
The hallmark for Silver Decoplata is typically just “720” or “0.720”engraved on the 720 silver item.
See example below of this silver hallmark. I used a red arrow to show you the nearly invisible hallmark on this particular silver coin.
How Much is Silver Decoplata Worth?
Silver Decoplata is 72% pure, and is therefore worth 72% of the current silver spot price.
Silver spot price changes multiple times during the day because of the interplay of supply and demand so the value of your Silver Decoplata items changes with it.
What is Silver Decoplata? Conclusion
Silver Decoplata, also known as 720 silver, is an alloy containing 72% pure silver and 28% copper. The name derives from Spanish “de plata” meaning “of silver.”
This alloy was primarily used for coinage in Mexico, Netherlands, and Egypt during the mid-20th century as a debasement measure to reduce silver content while maintaining coin size. It’s diamagnetic but allergenic due to copper content. The hallmark is typically “720” or “0.720.”
Its value equals 72% of current silver spot price. Bullion isn’t made from this alloy, though some jewelry pieces use repurposed 720 silver coins.
References:
- Decoplata: The History of .720 Silver in World Coinage- https://coinweek.com/decoplata-the-history-of-720-silver-in-world-coinage/
- My first “junk” silver! Saw this beautiful 25 Mexican pesos .720 coin in my LCS and bought it on a whim! Hope I didn’t overpaid..- https://www.reddit.com/r/Silverbugs/comments/143k0ev/my_first_junk_silver_saw_this_beautiful_25/
- Unique 7.5″in Vintage Mexico .720 Silver Coin Bracelet Peso 20 Centavos- https://www.ebay.com/itm/394074962530
Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.
