Appearance of Low-level Radioactive Silver on the World Silver Market

WE have recently examined a number of bars of silver of East European origin for their radioactivity level. Out of a series of a hundred bars, we have radio-assayed seven bars picked at random. Engraved on the base of the bars are, among other engravings, the weight in grams (on the average 11,100 g); the number 999 (ref. 8), most probably indicating the purity; and the number 1971, presumably the year of manufacture.