In these days of economic uncertainty, there is a lot of talk about owning or investing in precious metals. The question, 'How much is silver worth?' has several answers. The key to which answer will best fit your interests is the objective you have for investing money in this way.
Gold and other valuable metals rise and fall in value according to various economic and social conditions that exist worldwide. It's important to understand these forces and their effects, just as you would want to understand how the stock market operates and why stock prices move up and down. Metals are traded - bought and sold - on the commodities market; they are tangible assets rather than shares of ownership in corporate entities.
Silver and gold can be bought in bars, called ingots. They also can be made into coins. Ingots have a value according to their weight. The same is true for coins, although they may have added value if they are in mint condition, are rare, or have historical significance.
For centuries, silver has been counted in 'troy ounces' and 'troy pounds'. This was a system of measurement used in France in the Middle Ages and ever since. The system differs from the one we are familiar with for weighing things like sugar or flour. There are twelve troy ounces in a troy pound, and each ounce is slightly heavier than the one used for foodstuffs. Ingots are fashioned in differing weights, from 100 troy ounces to 5,000.
The commodities value of this metal changes from moment to moment. The price is influenced by supply and demand, changes in other commodities, and the relative prices of world currencies. When the dollar is 'weak', in that investors have less confidence in the world reserve currency, precious metals rise in price. Investors buy, hold until the price rises significantly, and then sell to make a profit.
Of course, there are other measures of worth than the commodity market. Some advisers say that, in times of emergency, people would have a hard time buying food or other necessities with ingots of gold, for instance. They say having a hoard of coins makes more sense, since they are a familiar form of exchange and merchants are more likely to accept them. If the main reason for having silver is for emergency use, 'junk-silver' might be the most valuable investment.
Junk-silver is simply American dollars, half-dollars, quarters, and dimes made before 1965. These coins are 90% pure. The coins have no other value, being neither in mint condition or rare. However, a 1964 dollar is worth more than $10 now and might be worth even more if paper money becomes devalued. Having a supply of junk-silver can mean added security for you and your family in hard times.
Investing in precious metal might be a good idea, depending on your objective. As an investment to be bought and sold, metals are more volatile and risky than stocks might be. However, economic conditions can make metals more attractive and less likely to drop in value. As an emergency asset, they might be even more valuable in hard times.
Gold and other valuable metals rise and fall in value according to various economic and social conditions that exist worldwide. It's important to understand these forces and their effects, just as you would want to understand how the stock market operates and why stock prices move up and down. Metals are traded - bought and sold - on the commodities market; they are tangible assets rather than shares of ownership in corporate entities.
Silver and gold can be bought in bars, called ingots. They also can be made into coins. Ingots have a value according to their weight. The same is true for coins, although they may have added value if they are in mint condition, are rare, or have historical significance.
For centuries, silver has been counted in 'troy ounces' and 'troy pounds'. This was a system of measurement used in France in the Middle Ages and ever since. The system differs from the one we are familiar with for weighing things like sugar or flour. There are twelve troy ounces in a troy pound, and each ounce is slightly heavier than the one used for foodstuffs. Ingots are fashioned in differing weights, from 100 troy ounces to 5,000.
The commodities value of this metal changes from moment to moment. The price is influenced by supply and demand, changes in other commodities, and the relative prices of world currencies. When the dollar is 'weak', in that investors have less confidence in the world reserve currency, precious metals rise in price. Investors buy, hold until the price rises significantly, and then sell to make a profit.
Of course, there are other measures of worth than the commodity market. Some advisers say that, in times of emergency, people would have a hard time buying food or other necessities with ingots of gold, for instance. They say having a hoard of coins makes more sense, since they are a familiar form of exchange and merchants are more likely to accept them. If the main reason for having silver is for emergency use, 'junk-silver' might be the most valuable investment.
Junk-silver is simply American dollars, half-dollars, quarters, and dimes made before 1965. These coins are 90% pure. The coins have no other value, being neither in mint condition or rare. However, a 1964 dollar is worth more than $10 now and might be worth even more if paper money becomes devalued. Having a supply of junk-silver can mean added security for you and your family in hard times.
Investing in precious metal might be a good idea, depending on your objective. As an investment to be bought and sold, metals are more volatile and risky than stocks might be. However, economic conditions can make metals more attractive and less likely to drop in value. As an emergency asset, they might be even more valuable in hard times.
About the Author:
Find out how much is silver worth and check out an incredible selection of ISN coins by visiting our web pages. To learn more about how much is silver worth, click the links on our homepage today.