Silver has been called the “common man’s (precious) metal” because it’s a fraction of the cost of gold. The nickname “common man’s metal” has been cited in print since at least 1986, but became popularly used in 2010-2011.
 
Silver has also been nicknamed “the people’s money” (since 1885), “poor man’s gold” (popularized in the 1970s), “gold’s little brother” (since 2007) and the “devil’s metal” (since 2010).
         
 
Google Books
Bloodland
By William W. Johnstone
New York, NY: Kensington
1986
Pg. 103:
Silver is the common man’s metal; you use that.
 
Google Books
Gang Intelligence Manual:
Identifying and understanding modern-day violent gangs in the United States
By Bill Valentine
Boulder, CO: Paladin Press
1995
Pg. ?:
They shun banks, preferring to stockpile and barter with silver, the common man’s metal.
       
ANY
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Sterling Silver Gemstone Jewelry The gem of fashions
(...)
When the gem stone was placed in the surface of gold and platinum it was so far from the common man’s dictionary of beauty; but when it collide and stood firm with the surface of silver, called common man’s metal, it just came down to earth in its affordability.
 
CoinTalk
blsmothermon
07-15-2010 11:35 PM
Silver is the common man’s precious metal and historically was the primary basis of US coinage. I love silver for that!
   
Kitco Forums
HardlyPeeved 
10-01-2010, 10:33 AM
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I think in a Gold based economy…Silver will find its place as a more common “common man’s” metal.
   
Anti-Neocons
The_Big_Lebowski 
Post subject: Re: It’s not a political war, it’s financial… Crash JP Morgan
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 11:19 pm
Gold is the rich man’s metal. Silver is the common man’s metal, and it has quite literally become the new torch and pitch fork for the masses.
 
Money Morning
Silver Investing Strategies: The Outlook for the “Other” Precious Metal
April 13, 2011
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Finally, silver has become the “common man’s” metal - one clever moniker I’ve seen us use here in Money Morning says that silver is the “poor man’s precious metal” - so if you’re looking at $1,400-an-ounce gold versus silver at $40, most people are going to go to $40 ... because it appears to be a bargain.
   
Silver Price Chart
June 28, 2011
Silver Spot Price
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Silver coins have become popular as it is known as a common’s man’s metal.