Ordered aggregates including nanosized silver particles (d = 6.0 +/- 1.5 nm and d = 2.5 +/- 0.5 nm) stabilized by cholesterol and thiocholesterol forming from metal sols and by cooling from the isotropic state are obtained. The composition, morphology and structure of the aggregates are determined by FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electronic diffraction. The optical properties of the silver-thiocholesterol and silver-cholesterol systems are studied.