A wedding ring or wedding band is a metal ring indicating the wearer is married. Depending on the local culture, it is on the base of the right or the left ring finger. The custom of wearing such a ring has spread widely beyond its origin in Europe. Originally worn by wives only, wedding rings became customary for both husbands and wives during the 20th century. According to some customs, the wedding ring forms the last in a series of gifts, which also may include the engagement ring, traditionally given as a betrothal present. This tradition was already in use in Ancient Rome and is possibly much older. Historically, the wedding ring connected to the exchange of valuables at the moment of the wedding rather than a symbol of eternal love and devotion. It is from the times when marriage was a contract between families. After marriage, the ring worn on the hand placed on during the ceremony. By wearing rings on the fourth finger, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. This has now become a matter of tradition and etiquette. One interpretation states that the woman wears the wedding ring below the engagement ring, thus making it closer to the heart. Another practice holds that the woman should wear the wedding ring above the engagement ring, thus sealing the atmosphere of the engagement into the marriage. Still others prefer that the wedding ring worn alone. Further, modern ring sets in the United States are often as a three-piece set, including the man's wedding band, the woman's engagement ring, and a slender band that mounted to the engagement ring before the wedding, converting it into a single, permanent wedding ring. Some cultures exchange additional rings: In some parts of India, Hindus may use a toe ring worn instead of a ring on a finger, although this is only for women, and increasingly worn along with a finger ring. In Romania, spouses celebrate their silver wedding anniversary by exchanging silver wedding rings, which worn on the fourth finger of the left hand along with the original wedding ring. The wedding ring removed for comfort or safety. It is common for those who have professions that forbid the wearing of jewelry, such as police officers or electrical workers. In some jurisdictions, those in the food service industry may be required to remove all jewelry while handling ready-to-eat food, including wedding rings, unless they are simple, smooth rings. Physicians known to prefer smooth, simple designs, some may even autoclave their rings on a regular basis. Many times these people say they wear a "ring around their heart" not around their finger. Some will wear it on a chain around their neck to compensate for the inability to wear it on a finger.

American Silver Eagle

The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States of America. The United States Mint first released it in November 1986. It struck only in the one-troy ounce size, which has a face value of 1 dollar and guaranteed to contain one troy ounce of 99.9% pure silver. The United States Mint certifies its content, purity, and weight. Silver Eagle bullion coins, along with American Gold Eagle bullion coins are viable investment alternatives to the gold and silver bullion coins produced by other countries. To ensure wide distribution of the coins, the United States Mint awarded a contract to Grey Advertising to assist in marketing and publicizing the coins domestically and internationally. The design on the coin's obverse taken from the "Walking Liberty" design by Adolph A. Weinman, which originally had been used on the Walking Liberty Half Dollar coin of the United States from 1916 to 1947. As this iconic design had been a public favorite—and indeed one of the most beloved designs of any United States coinage of modern times, silver or otherwise—it revived for the Silver Eagle decades later. The obverse inscribed with the year of minting or issuance, the word LIBERTY, and the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST. The reverse is by John Mercanti and portrays a heraldic eagle behind a shield; the eagle grasps an olive branch in its right talon and arrows in its left talon, echoing the Great Seal of the United States; above the eagle are thirteen five-pointed stars representing the Thirteen Colonies. The reverse inscribed with the phrases UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER ONE DOLLAR, and E PLURIBUS UNUM as well as the applicable mintmark. Like the American Gold Eagle and American Platinum Eagle bullion coins, the United States Mint does not sell Silver Eagle bullion coins directly to the public. In order to provide "effective and efficient distribution, which maximizes the availability of the coins in retail markets as well as major investment markets" the Mint utilizes a network of authorized purchasers to distribute the coins. The coins sold in bulk at a premium over the spot price of silver. The coins sold to banks, brokerage companies, coin dealers, precious metal firms, and wholesalers that meet the following requirements. Be an experienced and established market maker in silver bullion coins. Provide a liquid two-way market for the coins. Be audited annually by an internationally accepted accounting firm. Have an established broad base of retail customers to which to distribute the coins. Have a tangible net worth of $5 million. Authorized purchasers must order a minimum of 25,000 coins, which they sell to secondary retailers that sell them, in turn, to the public.