Interesting question. So, let’s estimate what the silver would cost. May as well do the metal cost for copper and gold while we’re at it.
Current prices, per gram:
Gold $40.00
Silver $0.50
Copper $0.005
Density, grams per ml:
Gold 19.3
Silver 10.5
Copper 8.9
Lets assume we start with a block of metal the size of the BLF-348 AAA light, a somewhat large AAA light. The block would measure 9cm x 1cm x 1cm, or 9ml in total volume.
Assume we waste all the scrap metal after boring and shaving. (Ridiculous for gold, and probably for silver as well, but this gives an upper limit on the cost of the metal in the light.)
Total price of the light’s tube, after using the above figures, is:
Gold light: $6950.00
Silver light: $47.25
Copper light $0.40
So, a silver AAA light would add at most $47.25 to the price of the light, assuming it’s as easy to work with as steel, aluminum, or copper. That assumes no recycling.
I think the price would be pretty reasonable.
Gold, not so much.
Interestingly, the above 40 cent figure for copper, makes me wonder why there’s so much of a premium for copper lights. (The Astrolux A01 copper AAA light group buy is $11 more expensive than the aluminum version.) Is copper more difficult to work with, or is there no scale of economy for it?