In the electrochemical environment, Ni shows poor response to surface-sensitive optical tools like enhanced Raman and second harmonic generation. This limits the surface characterization capability of this technologically important electrode metal. To overcome this difficulty, a new technique is now being attempted, where the optical response of Ni is enhanced by electrodeposited islands of Ag. The success of this technique relies on the criterion that the optical role of the deposited Ag would be predominantly macroscopic (electromagnetic) in nature. We test this criterion with second harmonic generation from a polycrystalline Ni electrode containing electrochemically grown Ag islands. We observe an enhanced second harmonic signal that is reversible with respect to the formation and removal of the Ag islands. We show that the optical signature of these Ag islands on Ni is indeed strongly electromagnetic. The results demonstrate a promising role of the Pig-coating technique in optical surface studies of spectroscopically inefficient iron group metals.