I should perform an inventory of the silver coins sitting in my collection. It would be interesting to learn how many ounces of 90% and 40% silver I have (many of which were pulled from circulation decades ago).
@privatecoin said:
The relative worth of $50 in 1980 is $197.14 today using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Long way to go.
Hard to justify using that as a valid point of comparison, given that the $50 was an artificially manipulated number. Based on $4200 gold, silver arguably has to get to around $100 to approach historical norms, rather than $200, based on an extreme price realized when a billionaire was actively manipulating the market in an attempt to corner it.
What ratio are you using to justify $100/ounce silver based on $4200/ounce gold.
if its 1:90 that's is a price of $46.
Llamas and alpacas are camels. They aren't like camels, or related. They are camels. When was anyone going to tell me this?! How long had Bill Nye been holding out on us?
@RiveraFamilyCollect said:
What ratio are you using to justify $100/ounce silver based on $4200/ounce gold.
if its 1:90 that's is a price of $46.
Right. So halve that to get to an approximate midpoint between 16:1 on the low end and 110:1 on the high end. Around 40:1 gets you $100 silver with $4000 gold. Maybe $80 if you want to go to 50:1. $100 at 50:1 as gold pushes toward $5K, which seems very plausible.
90:1 today is no more consistent with history than 16:1 was in 1980. My point was not to be precise to the penny. It was only to note that $50 in 1980 was a manipulated aberration, so saying silver needs to go all the way to $200 to reach that value in current dollars ignores the fact that the $50 was a manipulated price that is unlikely to ever be possible again.
I happen to think that the price of silver will be reasonable when it reaches a 40:1-50:1 ratio to gold. Not 16:1, not 90:1, and not 110:1
@privatecoin said:
The relative worth of $50 in 1980 is $197.14 today using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Long way to go.
Hard to justify using that as a valid point of comparison, given that the $50 was an artificially manipulated number. Based on $4200 gold, silver arguably has to get to around $100 to approach historical norms, rather than $200, based on an extreme price realized when a billionaire was actively manipulating the market in an attempt to corner it.
And you dont think the price isn't manipulated now?
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
@privatecoin said:
The relative worth of $50 in 1980 is $197.14 today using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Long way to go.
Hard to justify using that as a valid point of comparison, given that the $50 was an artificially manipulated number. Based on $4200 gold, silver arguably has to get to around $100 to approach historical norms, rather than $200, based on an extreme price realized when a billionaire was actively manipulating the market in an attempt to corner it.
And you dont think the price isn't manipulated now?
No. Certainly not like it was. Is one person trying to control all the supply?
Many have claimed it is being manipulated to keep it down. Is that what you are suggesting? If so, that is clearly not working.
As a coin collector, be careful what you wish to happen. Bullion and numismatic values are in the process of getting a divorce as bullion goes higher.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
@DisneyFan said:
Today I stopped at our local dealer, one of Coin World's Top 100 influential, to sell some 90% silver taken from circulation long ago .
If I had $1,000.00 face value to offer, their offer was $38 per $1. Otherwise, $30 per $1.
Guess I'll need to hold on a little longer.
Yes, just because prices are $60 an ounce that doesn’t mean that dealers have to pay that much. They can charge what they’re comfortable with to insulate themselves from the chaos.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
@DisneyFan said:
Today I stopped at our local dealer, one of Coin World's Top 100 influential, to sell some 90% silver taken from circulation long ago .
If I had $1,000.00 face value to offer, their offer was $38 per $1. Otherwise, $30 per $1.
Guess I'll need to hold on a little longer.
I was at a small local show Sunday. There was one dealer who was paying 35X.
@DisneyFan said:
Today I stopped at our local dealer, one of Coin World's Top 100 influential, to sell some 90% silver taken from circulation long ago .
If I had $1,000.00 face value to offer, their offer was $38 per $1. Otherwise, $30 per $1.
Guess I'll need to hold on a little longer.
Yes, just because prices are $60 an ounce that doesn’t mean that dealers have to pay that much. They can charge what they’re comfortable with to insulate themselves from the chaos.
That's where also owning the SLV ETF is worthwhile for short term trading.
@DisneyFan said:
Today I stopped at our local dealer, one of Coin World's Top 100 influential, to sell some 90% silver taken from circulation long ago .
If I had $1,000.00 face value to offer, their offer was $38 per $1. Otherwise, $30 per $1.
Guess I'll need to hold on a little longer.
I was at a small local show Sunday. There was one dealer who was paying 35X.
Wholesalers (upstate) are at NEGATIVE $5.50 on 90%. Even at $60, that is only 39x
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Many have claimed it is being manipulated to keep it down. Is that what you are suggesting? If so, that is clearly not working.
This is the threat. The short sellers are still deep into silver and will either cover or go bankrupt if prices head higher. Either way this will work like throwing gasoline on the fire because covering means they have to buy vast amounts of silver and going bankrupt means silver people believed existed never did because these are naked shorts: not covered by actual silver. There is a limited supply of silver and the only sellers have 90% US coin.
I had a local guy call me with around 20# of silver last week, probably $15K worth or so at the 38.25 I was quoted by a major area buyer on Friday morning. I told him that JM Bullion, Provident or Apmex would give him more and he needed to ship.
It is $62.26 as I am typing this. This is insane. I dumped a lot of my silver when it hit $56.00.
I wonder what is driving it to this level. Can this price be sustained? Anyone who has hoarded silver or gold even for a few years has made a windfall if they decide to sell now.
@rec78 said:
I wonder what is driving it to this level.
Demand is high as a lot of countries are moving their money out of US Treasuries, the dollar is losing value against other currencies, and manufacturing that requires silver is increasing. Meanwhile it takes a long time to build up supply.
@rec78 said:
I wonder what is driving it to this level.
Demand is high as a lot of countries are moving their money out of US Treasuries, the dollar is losing value against other currencies, and manufacturing that requires silver is increasing. Meanwhile it takes a long time to build up supply.
I doubt very money countries are replacing treasuries with silver. Gold, yes. Silver, no. It takes up far too much space.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
@RiveraFamilyCollect said:
What ratio are you using to justify $100/ounce silver based on $4200/ounce gold.
if its 1:90 that's is a price of $46.
Right. So halve that to get to an approximate midpoint between 16:1 on the low end and 110:1 on the high end. Around 40:1 gets you $100 silver with $4000 gold. Maybe $80 if you want to go to 50:1. $100 at 50:1 as gold pushes toward $5K, which seems very plausible.
90:1 today is no more consistent with history than 16:1 was in 1980. My point was not to be precise to the penny. It was only to note that $50 in 1980 was a manipulated aberration, so saying silver needs to go all the way to $200 to reach that value in current dollars ignores the fact that the $50 was a manipulated price that is unlikely to ever be possible again.
I happen to think that the price of silver will be reasonable when it reaches a 40:1-50:1 ratio to gold. Not 16:1, not 90:1, and not 110:1
I seem to remember $50 or thereabouts circa late summer 2011. I think the gutter is headed somewhere about $75ish. Keep in mind no dealers/refiners are paying anywhere close to spot regardless of .999, .925, .900 etc. Some offers are just outright comical. RGDS!
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
@RandomSchmoe said:
Demand is high as a lot of countries are moving their money out of US Treasuries, the dollar is losing value against other currencies, and manufacturing that requires silver is increasing. Meanwhile it takes a long time to build up supply.
What other currencies is the dollar losing value against?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@RandomSchmoe said:
Demand is high as a lot of countries are moving their money out of US Treasuries, the dollar is losing value against other currencies, and manufacturing that requires silver is increasing. Meanwhile it takes a long time to build up supply.
What other currencies is the dollar losing value against?
Euro, lately, although that comes after a period of rising against the Euro so the current price is within historical norms. It is inevitable when interest rates are decreased.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
At what point do the major mints either increase their silver pricing or suspend production? $91 is the cheapest US Mint 1 ounce numismatic silver product currently. Not in a position to know what the AP’s are paying for silver eagles, but the squeeze must be in progress there too.
@rec78 said:
It is $62.26 as I am typing this. This is insane. I dumped a lot of my silver when it hit $56.00.
I wonder what is driving it to this level. Can this price be sustained? Anyone who has hoarded silver or gold even for a few years has made a windfall if they decide to sell now.
People are finally coming to realize there might not be enough silver to prevent our extinction as a species. It is highly improbable there will be any significant new sources for silver within 15 years. We've been living hand to mouth and now with the price rising more and more industries and nations are gathering up what's left.
There is no going back; we charge forward or we die and silver might be in too short supply to continue the race.
Don't panic or you'll get burned. Just adapt. We aren't going to run out this week or next though it might seem like it. There's plenty of silver for about 15 years if all current trends continue. Any real shortage will come later.
We've been short sighted with silver for a very long time and the bankers have suppressed the price so that vast amounts have been wasted. This is all that's coming undone. Nobody is adding to short positions and the world is seeking physical anyway so even massive increases in shorting would have only a brief effect and assure they fail economically. If you keep your wits and aren't buried in shorts you'll do fine.
But every collector reading this should start looking at their collections for coins to prune and moving into coins that are worth a little more than melt. If we do this job we'll be able to keep0 the nice coins for no real cost but if we let dealers do it we'll be melting our heritage because they tend to ship just about everything that isn't easily sold.
Copilot suggests-
_ Shard: Silver Survival
Price spikes aren’t insanity—they’re scarcity signals. Adapt, prune, and preserve heritage before melt erases it._
People are finally coming to realize there might not be enough silver to prevent our extinction as a species.
Out of all of the nutty and esoteric things you post, this is by far the most unhinged. This type of comment should stay in the Precious Metals forum.
EDIT: Oh, this makes more sense, you're regurgitating AI crap.
Don't blame the AI. I'm quite sure he believes it.
RECYCLING, @cladking . As the price goes up, so does the rate of recycling.
ChatGPT says...quite reasonably...
Short answer: No — losing all the silver on Earth would not lead to human extinction.
But it would cause major technological, medical, and economic disruptions.
Here’s the clear breakdown:
✅ 1. Humans do not biologically depend on silver
Silver is not an essential nutrient and plays no biological role in human survival.
So from a purely physiological standpoint:
You can live without ingesting silver.
You can live without using silver-containing objects.
So extinction is not a biological inevitability.
✅ 2. But silver is deeply embedded in technology
Silver is important because of its physical properties:
best electrical conductor of all metals
highly reflective
antimicrobial
extremely useful in electronics and solar cells
Losing all silver instantly would cripple industries like:
electronics manufacturing
solar energy
medical equipment
photography (less of an issue today)
chemical catalysts
high-end batteries
RF and satellite components
precision solder and contacts
This would cause massive infrastructure collapse, especially in electronics-heavy societies.
But would humans go extinct?
Still no — we would find substitutes.
✅ 3. Substitutes exist (though they are worse)
Almost all critical silver uses have less efficient but workable alternatives:
Copper → decent conductor (used already)
Aluminum → widely used conductor in power lines
Gold → corrosion-resistant alternative for contacts
Stainless steel → medical tools
Titanium / plastics → medical implants
Aluminum mirrors → instead of silver-coated mirrors
Graphite or emerging conductive materials → electronics workarounds
Things would become more expensive, bulkier, or less efficient, but not impossible.
Humans survive just fine with less efficient gadgets.
✅ 4. Biggest impact: collapse of electronic supply chains
If silver vanished suddenly:
Phones, computers, servers stop working as they break and cannot be replaced
Solar installations fail or cannot be manufactured
Medical electronics (imaging, pacemakers) suffer
Satellites degrade as silver-bearing components fail
Banking, communication, GPS disruption cascades
This would cause a global humanitarian crisis, possibly a prolonged depression…
…but not human extinction.
Humans survived 300,000 years without microchips.
✅ 5. Serious but non-extinction consequences
The world would experience:
major economic collapse
political instability
technological regression
hard reset on renewable energy production
severe supply chain stress
reduced lifespan for some people due to loss of advanced medical tech
But the species would continue.
Human extinction requires elimination of:
food
water
atmosphere
reproduction
or widespread lethal agents
The loss of silver doesn’t threaten any of these.
🟩 Final Verdict
❌ Losing all silver = NOT human extinction
✔ But yes, severe global disruption
✔ Massive technological and economic setbacks
✔ Decades of recovery and redesign using alternative materials
✔ No permanent existential threat to the species
Humans are extremely adaptable — losing silver is a crisis, not an apocalypse.
If you want, I can also answer:
“What metal would cause extinction if it vanished?”
“How would society rebuild after losing all silver?”
“What is the economic impact of a world with no silver?”
Just let me know!
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
People are finally coming to realize there might not be enough silver to prevent our extinction as a species.
Out of all of the nutty and esoteric things you post, this is by far the most unhinged. This type of comment should stay in the Precious Metals forum.
EDIT: Oh, this makes more sense, you're regurgitating AI crap.
But we must save the IRON
This is a fantastic question, and the answer is surprisingly specific.
Most metals humans rely on — silver, gold, copper, aluminum, even lithium — are technologically important but not biologically essential to the species’ survival.
But a few metals are critical to the function of life itself.
So let’s walk down the list:
🟥 The one metal whose disappearance would cause human extinction: IRON
Here’s why:
1. Earth’s core is mostly iron — it creates the magnetic field
If all iron vanished:
Earth’s magnetic field collapses instantly
Solar wind begins stripping the atmosphere
Radiation at the surface skyrockets
Satellites fry
Climate destabilizes
Within years to decades → Earth becomes uninhabitable.
2. Hemoglobin contains iron — no iron = no oxygen transport
Humans (and all vertebrates) need iron in hemoglobin to carry oxygen.
If iron ceased to exist:
Hemoglobin stops working
Every human suffocates at the cellular level
Most complex life dies almost immediately
Even plants and microbes rely on iron for respiration and photosynthesis.
Remove iron → biosphere collapse.
3. Iron is essential to hundreds of enzymes
Iron is at the core of:
electron transport chains
metabolic pathways
nitrogen cycling
photosynthesis
DNA synthesis
No iron = no metabolism, no replication = no life as we know it.
🟧 Two other metals would also collapse human biology, but not instantly
Zinc
Essential for:
DNA repair
immune function
enzyme catalysis
Loss of zinc = rapid biological failure
→ species extinction within a few generations.
Magnesium
At the center of ATP biology and required by:
ribosomes
ATP stabilization
DNA/RNA enzymes
Remove magnesium → no energy metabolism → instant biological death.
But unlike iron, losing magnesium or zinc would NOT collapse the planetary system, just life.
🟨 Other metals that humans need but whose loss wouldn’t necessarily cause extinction:
Copper — important for enzymes, but theoretically replaceable in synthetic biology
Cobalt — needed only because of vitamin B₁₂; extinction avoided with engineered pathways
Molybdenum — essential for nitrogen metabolism, but alternative pathways might evolve
These are biologically essential but not planet-controlling the way iron is.
🟦 Metals whose loss would cause societal collapse but not extinction:
Silver
Gold
Aluminum
Lithium
Nickel
Rare earth elements
Tin
Lead
Mercury
Uranium
Titanium
Losing any of these would cause technological catastrophe, but humans physically survive.
🟩 Final Answer: The metal whose disappearance would absolutely cause human extinction is…
🟥 IRON
Because removing iron:
destroys Earth’s magnetic field
eliminates oxygen transport in blood
shuts down metabolism
ends photosynthesis
destabilizes planetary systems
kills nearly all life within days to years
It is the single metal humans (and most life) cannot exist without in any meaningful biological, geological, or atmospheric sense.
If you want, I can also answer:
What if iron disappeared gradually instead of instantly?
What would a world without iron look like?
Could life evolve without iron?
What element disappearance would cause the fastest extinction?
Just let me know!
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
People are finally coming to realize there might not be enough silver to prevent our extinction as a species.
Out of all of the nutty and esoteric things you post, this is by far the most unhinged. This type of comment should stay in the Precious Metals forum.
EDIT: Oh, this makes more sense, you're regurgitating AI crap.
Thank you. I'd love to respond but this is something for the Precious Metals Forum. I'm sure you'd be welcomed.
But in the meantime the fact is the refineries are backed up with many millions of US coins being destroyed almost indiscriminately. If we want to preserve our coins it's a job better done by collectors than dealers.
There are as many buyers as sellers for 90% silver coins. Not necessarily being melted. But grannie’s tea set and silverware not so lucky. We can fall back on Tupperware and plastic sporks for all of our earthly needs.
One thing that should be on the radar for human survival is drinking water. Water that is not loaded with salt, benzine, roundup, microplastics, etc. Most families pay more for a gallon of drinking water than gas for the F150. Only going to get worse in the future. Unobtanium.
“But every collector reading this should start looking at their collections for coins to prune and moving into coins that are worth a little more than melt. If we do this job we'll be able to keep0 the nice coins for no real cost but if we let dealers do it we'll be melting our heritage because they tend to ship just about everything that isn't easily sold.”
It’s not my responsibility or obligation to preserve silver coins and prevent them from being melted. People have been melting gold and silver coins since the founding of our country if it’s profitable. Whoever buys it can do whatever they so desire. Pruning coins (whatever type of coins you’re referring to) from our collection and then buying coins worth slightly more than melt doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There are selling expenses and if we sell 90% we’re getting a 15% discount today. If silver continues to rise these slightly above melt coins will eventually be worth close to melt.
@Custerlost said:
There are as many buyers as sellers for 90% silver coins. Not necessarily being melted. But grannie’s tea set and silverware not so lucky. We can fall back on Tupperware and plastic sporks for all of our earthly needs.
One thing that should be on the radar for human survival is drinking water. Water that is not loaded with salt, benzine, roundup, microplastics, etc. Most families pay more for a gallon of drinking water than gas for the F150. Only going to get worse in the future. Unobtanium.
What is your source for this assertion? I see no evidence that there are a many buyers as sellers at these prices. If there were, the refineries would not be backed up with it to the point that they stopped buying it at one point.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Local dealers say so.
UTube dealers say so.
Many say it is the best investment opportunity out there with lower premiums.
Damaged and colorized stuff, yeah…melt it.
Comments
merry christmas for the time being
Not surprising, I sold some last week.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Yep, the price is discussed actively in the PM forum. https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/14016250#Comment_14016250
http://ProofCollection.Net
It is wild to see war nickels melt at $3.25+ and silver dollars melt at $45+
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
OK guys. It's time to trade junk for nice attractive 90% silver. In a few years everything will be gone but 90% if we try to conserve it.
kitco is showing 60.70 right now
I'll be glad when all the 1901-s quarters in AG are gone.
Still not much of a jump in MS63 and MS64 common date Morgans, etc..
Dang, and I sold a bunch when it was around $50. Oh well.
Collector, occasional seller
Closed at 61.20 today
To the moon Alice?
I should perform an inventory of the silver coins sitting in my collection. It would be interesting to learn how many ounces of 90% and 40% silver I have (many of which were pulled from circulation decades ago).
In real (disinflated) dollars, its got a way to go before ATH!
The relative worth of $50 in 1980 is $197.14 today using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Long way to go.
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Hard to justify using that as a valid point of comparison, given that the $50 was an artificially manipulated number. Based on $4200 gold, silver arguably has to get to around $100 to approach historical norms, rather than $200, based on an extreme price realized when a billionaire was actively manipulating the market in an attempt to corner it.
What ratio are you using to justify $100/ounce silver based on $4200/ounce gold.
if its 1:90 that's is a price of $46.
Llamas and alpacas are camels. They aren't like camels, or related. They are camels. When was anyone going to tell me this?! How long had Bill Nye been holding out on us?
Right. So halve that to get to an approximate midpoint between 16:1 on the low end and 110:1 on the high end. Around 40:1 gets you $100 silver with $4000 gold. Maybe $80 if you want to go to 50:1. $100 at 50:1 as gold pushes toward $5K, which seems very plausible.
90:1 today is no more consistent with history than 16:1 was in 1980. My point was not to be precise to the penny. It was only to note that $50 in 1980 was a manipulated aberration, so saying silver needs to go all the way to $200 to reach that value in current dollars ignores the fact that the $50 was a manipulated price that is unlikely to ever be possible again.
I happen to think that the price of silver will be reasonable when it reaches a 40:1-50:1 ratio to gold. Not 16:1, not 90:1, and not 110:1
And you dont think the price isn't manipulated now?
Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value. Zero. Voltaire. Ebay coinbowlllc
Chaos continues.
No. Certainly not like it was. Is one person trying to control all the supply?
Many have claimed it is being manipulated to keep it down. Is that what you are suggesting? If so, that is clearly not working.
As a coin collector, be careful what you wish to happen. Bullion and numismatic values are in the process of getting a divorce as bullion goes higher.
Today I stopped at our local dealer, one of Coin World's Top 100 influential, to sell some 90% silver taken from circulation long ago .
If I had $1,000.00 face value to offer, their offer was $38 per $1. Otherwise, $30 per $1.
Guess I'll need to hold on a little longer.
Yes, just because prices are $60 an ounce that doesn’t mean that dealers have to pay that much. They can charge what they’re comfortable with to insulate themselves from the chaos.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
I was at a small local show Sunday. There was one dealer who was paying 35X.
That's where also owning the SLV ETF is worthwhile for short term trading.
Silver stocks are acting like 1999 tech boom. I like HL, PAAS, CDE, SLV as a counter to the dollar devalue.
GLTA
100% Positive BST transactions
I am new to this site,what is meant by $38.00 per dollar or 35x when it comes to selling 90% silver coins.
That means “times face value “…..10 silver dimes = $1 in face value, so 35x means someone is paying $35 for 10 silver dimes, or $3.50 each.
There is also a Precious Metals forum where topics like this are exclusively discussed.
Wholesalers (upstate) are at NEGATIVE $5.50 on 90%. Even at $60, that is only 39x
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
This is the threat. The short sellers are still deep into silver and will either cover or go bankrupt if prices head higher. Either way this will work like throwing gasoline on the fire because covering means they have to buy vast amounts of silver and going bankrupt means silver people believed existed never did because these are naked shorts: not covered by actual silver. There is a limited supply of silver and the only sellers have 90% US coin.
I'm beginning to think that common date XF and AU morgans would get more money selling at melt than gambling on ebay at this point.
My Original Song Written to my late wife-"Plus other original music by me"
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U.S. Army Veteran 1/11 ACR Fulda, Germany
I had a local guy call me with around 20# of silver last week, probably $15K worth or so at the 38.25 I was quoted by a major area buyer on Friday morning. I told him that JM Bullion, Provident or Apmex would give him more and he needed to ship.
“Sixty seventy” ….

``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
It is $62.26 as I am typing this. This is insane. I dumped a lot of my silver when it hit $56.00.
I wonder what is driving it to this level. Can this price be sustained? Anyone who has hoarded silver or gold even for a few years has made a windfall if they decide to sell now.
Demand is high as a lot of countries are moving their money out of US Treasuries, the dollar is losing value against other currencies, and manufacturing that requires silver is increasing. Meanwhile it takes a long time to build up supply.
Rare-Change.com - Low listing fee
I doubt very money countries are replacing treasuries with silver. Gold, yes. Silver, no. It takes up far too much space.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
I seem to remember $50 or thereabouts circa late summer 2011. I think the gutter is headed somewhere about $75ish. Keep in mind no dealers/refiners are paying anywhere close to spot regardless of .999, .925, .900 etc. Some offers are just outright comical. RGDS!
The whole worlds off its rocker, buy Gold™.
BOOMIN!™
Wooooha! Did someone just say it's officially "TACO™" Tuesday????
What other currencies is the dollar losing value against?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Euro, lately, although that comes after a period of rising against the Euro so the current price is within historical norms. It is inevitable when interest rates are decreased.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
At what point do the major mints either increase their silver pricing or suspend production? $91 is the cheapest US Mint 1 ounce numismatic silver product currently. Not in a position to know what the AP’s are paying for silver eagles, but the squeeze must be in progress there too.
People are finally coming to realize there might not be enough silver to prevent our extinction as a species. It is highly improbable there will be any significant new sources for silver within 15 years. We've been living hand to mouth and now with the price rising more and more industries and nations are gathering up what's left.
There is no going back; we charge forward or we die and silver might be in too short supply to continue the race.
Don't panic or you'll get burned. Just adapt. We aren't going to run out this week or next though it might seem like it. There's plenty of silver for about 15 years if all current trends continue. Any real shortage will come later.
We've been short sighted with silver for a very long time and the bankers have suppressed the price so that vast amounts have been wasted. This is all that's coming undone. Nobody is adding to short positions and the world is seeking physical anyway so even massive increases in shorting would have only a brief effect and assure they fail economically. If you keep your wits and aren't buried in shorts you'll do fine.
But every collector reading this should start looking at their collections for coins to prune and moving into coins that are worth a little more than melt. If we do this job we'll be able to keep0 the nice coins for no real cost but if we let dealers do it we'll be melting our heritage because they tend to ship just about everything that isn't easily sold.
Copilot suggests-
_ Shard: Silver Survival
Price spikes aren’t insanity—they’re scarcity signals. Adapt, prune, and preserve heritage before melt erases it._
I would put the ratios aside for now.
This is a demand supply issue that needs to play out. One thing is certain there are more players in silver bullion than previously.
Out of all of the nutty and esoteric things you post, this is by far the most unhinged. This type of comment should stay in the Precious Metals forum.
EDIT: Oh, this makes more sense, you're regurgitating AI crap.

chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Don't blame the AI. I'm quite sure he believes it.
RECYCLING, @cladking . As the price goes up, so does the rate of recycling.
ChatGPT says...quite reasonably...
Short answer: No — losing all the silver on Earth would not lead to human extinction.
But it would cause major technological, medical, and economic disruptions.
Here’s the clear breakdown:
✅ 1. Humans do not biologically depend on silver
Silver is not an essential nutrient and plays no biological role in human survival.
So from a purely physiological standpoint:
So extinction is not a biological inevitability.
✅ 2. But silver is deeply embedded in technology
Silver is important because of its physical properties:
Losing all silver instantly would cripple industries like:
This would cause massive infrastructure collapse, especially in electronics-heavy societies.
But would humans go extinct?
Still no — we would find substitutes.
✅ 3. Substitutes exist (though they are worse)
Almost all critical silver uses have less efficient but workable alternatives:
Things would become more expensive, bulkier, or less efficient, but not impossible.
Humans survive just fine with less efficient gadgets.
✅ 4. Biggest impact: collapse of electronic supply chains
If silver vanished suddenly:
This would cause a global humanitarian crisis, possibly a prolonged depression…
…but not human extinction.
Humans survived 300,000 years without microchips.
✅ 5. Serious but non-extinction consequences
The world would experience:
But the species would continue.
Human extinction requires elimination of:
The loss of silver doesn’t threaten any of these.
🟩 Final Verdict
❌ Losing all silver = NOT human extinction
✔ But yes, severe global disruption
✔ Massive technological and economic setbacks
✔ Decades of recovery and redesign using alternative materials
✔ No permanent existential threat to the species
Humans are extremely adaptable — losing silver is a crisis, not an apocalypse.
If you want, I can also answer:
Just let me know!
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
But we must save the IRON
This is a fantastic question, and the answer is surprisingly specific.
Most metals humans rely on — silver, gold, copper, aluminum, even lithium — are technologically important but not biologically essential to the species’ survival.
But a few metals are critical to the function of life itself.
So let’s walk down the list:
🟥 The one metal whose disappearance would cause human extinction: IRON
Here’s why:
1. Earth’s core is mostly iron — it creates the magnetic field
If all iron vanished:
Within years to decades → Earth becomes uninhabitable.
2. Hemoglobin contains iron — no iron = no oxygen transport
Humans (and all vertebrates) need iron in hemoglobin to carry oxygen.
If iron ceased to exist:
Even plants and microbes rely on iron for respiration and photosynthesis.
Remove iron → biosphere collapse.
3. Iron is essential to hundreds of enzymes
Iron is at the core of:
No iron = no metabolism, no replication = no life as we know it.
🟧 Two other metals would also collapse human biology, but not instantly
Zinc
Essential for:
Loss of zinc = rapid biological failure
→ species extinction within a few generations.
Magnesium
At the center of ATP biology and required by:
Remove magnesium → no energy metabolism → instant biological death.
But unlike iron, losing magnesium or zinc would NOT collapse the planetary system, just life.
🟨 Other metals that humans need but whose loss wouldn’t necessarily cause extinction:
These are biologically essential but not planet-controlling the way iron is.
🟦 Metals whose loss would cause societal collapse but not extinction:
Losing any of these would cause technological catastrophe, but humans physically survive.
🟩 Final Answer: The metal whose disappearance would absolutely cause human extinction is…
🟥 IRON
Because removing iron:
It is the single metal humans (and most life) cannot exist without in any meaningful biological, geological, or atmospheric sense.
If you want, I can also answer:
Just let me know!
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Thank you. I'd love to respond but this is something for the Precious Metals Forum. I'm sure you'd be welcomed.
But in the meantime the fact is the refineries are backed up with many millions of US coins being destroyed almost indiscriminately. If we want to preserve our coins it's a job better done by collectors than dealers.
There are as many buyers as sellers for 90% silver coins. Not necessarily being melted. But grannie’s tea set and silverware not so lucky. We can fall back on Tupperware and plastic sporks for all of our earthly needs.
One thing that should be on the radar for human survival is drinking water. Water that is not loaded with salt, benzine, roundup, microplastics, etc. Most families pay more for a gallon of drinking water than gas for the F150. Only going to get worse in the future. Unobtanium.
@cladking said
“But every collector reading this should start looking at their collections for coins to prune and moving into coins that are worth a little more than melt. If we do this job we'll be able to keep0 the nice coins for no real cost but if we let dealers do it we'll be melting our heritage because they tend to ship just about everything that isn't easily sold.”
It’s not my responsibility or obligation to preserve silver coins and prevent them from being melted. People have been melting gold and silver coins since the founding of our country if it’s profitable. Whoever buys it can do whatever they so desire. Pruning coins (whatever type of coins you’re referring to) from our collection and then buying coins worth slightly more than melt doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There are selling expenses and if we sell 90% we’re getting a 15% discount today. If silver continues to rise these slightly above melt coins will eventually be worth close to melt.
What is your source for this assertion? I see no evidence that there are a many buyers as sellers at these prices. If there were, the refineries would not be backed up with it to the point that they stopped buying it at one point.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Local dealers say so.
UTube dealers say so.
Many say it is the best investment opportunity out there with lower premiums.
Damaged and colorized stuff, yeah…melt it.