You are here
Another analyst doesn't get it but at least silver coin premiums astound him
There's an Interesting Situation Playing Out in the Silver Markets
By Jonathan Heller
TheStreet.com, New York
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
https://realmoney.thestreet.com/investing/there-s-an-interesting-situati...
Asset repricing is in full swing as uncertainty pushes Treasuries higher and stocks lower. In this environment, precious metals are getting crushed -- it's not the type of "uncertainty" that bodes well for metals.
Yet there's an interesting situation playing out in the silver markets, as the spot price of "poor man's gold" has fallen 34% since topping out at $18.99/ounce on February 24. Currently trading at $12.57 as I write this, that's an 11-year low that occurred during the 2008/2009 market meltdown.
... Dispatch continues below ...
Buy, Sell, or Store Precious Metals with Money Metals Exchange
Money Metals Exchange, a national bullion dealer recently voted "Best in the USA" by a worldwide ratings group --
https://www.moneymetals.com/news/2015/02/03/worldwide-ratings-organizati...
-- is a great low-cost source for precious metals coins, rounds, and bars. Money Metals also pays handsomely when you wish to sell your precious metals.
Shop online with Money Metals Exchange here --
https://www.moneymetals.com/buy
-- or by calling 1-800-800-1865.
Meanwhile, Money Metals Depository will store your precious metals in a segregated account at low cost:
https://www.moneymetals.com/depository
Seems like it could be an interesting entry point, especially if you believe that the "correction" in the spot price has gone too far to the downside.
However, if it's physical silver you wish to purchase, good luck finding it anywhere near the spot price. At two renowned precious metals dealers I surveyed this morning, physical silver is selling at massive premiums to the spot price.
What is known as "junk silver," primarily 90% pure silver coins minted in the U.S. prior to 1965, with no numismatic value, can be had for about $20.62/an ounce ($1,475 for a $100 face value bag of junk silver that contains 71.5 ounces of silver). That's a premium of nearly $8, or a whopping 63% above silver's current spot price.
One-ounce Silver American Eagle coins have even higher spreads to the spot price. In lower quantities it can be $12/ounce, a 95% premium to spot.
Business is brisk and inventories are low or empty, as consumers clamor for physical metal they can hold in their hand. I've never seen premiums this high, which is an indicator of the fear that is so prevalent.
Silver is especially popular because it can be purchased in very small increments. In the doomsday scenario, silver dimes, quarters, half dollars, silver dollars, and even nickels minted between 1942 and 1945, which contained 35% silver are small enough that they could be exchanged for smaller goods.
That's one of the draws here, but the disconnect between the spot price and physical silver is astounding.
There are other ways to get exposure to silver. The iShares Silver Trust (SLV), for instance, somewhat closely tracks the price of an ounce of silver. While the trust does hold physical silver, it has continued to follow the spot price lower.
Clearly there's a huge disconnect between the price of spot silver and physical silver, the latter in high demand as fear runs rampant. It's a good representation of the adage that "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
When the fear subsides, however, I'd expect the premium over spot to decline sharply and the price of spot silver to rise, closing the gap between the two. When that could happen is up in the air, however.
-----
Jonathan Heller is president of KEJ Financial Advisors.
* * *
Toast to a free gold market
with great GATA-label wine
Wine carrying the label of the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee, cases of which were awarded to three lucky donors in GATA's recent fundraising campaign, are now available for purchase by the case from Fay J Winery LLC in Texarkana, Texas. Each case has 12 bottles and the cost is $240, which includes shipping via Federal Express.
Here's what the bottles look like:
http://www.gata.org/files/GATA-4-wine-bottles.jpg
Buyers can compose their case by choosing as many as four varietals from the list here:
http://www.gata.org/files/FayJWineryVarietals.jpg
GATA will receive a commission on each case of GATA-label wine sold. So if you like wine and buy it anyway, why not buy it in a way that supports our work to achieve free and transparent markets in the monetary metals?
To order a case of GATA-label wine, please e-mail Fay J Winery at bagman1236@aol.com.
* * *
Support GATA by purchasing
Stuart Englert's "Rigged"
"Rigged" is a concise explanation of government's currency market rigging policy and extensively credits GATA's work exposing it. Ten percent of sales proceeds are contributed to GATA. Buy a copy for $14.99 through Amazon --
https://www.amazon.com/Rigged-Exposing-Largest-Financial-History/dp/1651...
-- or for an additional $3 and a penny buy an autographed copy from Englert himself by contacting him at srenglert@comcast.net.
* * *
Help keep GATA going:
GATA is a civil rights and educational organization based in the United States and tax-exempt under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Its e-mail dispatches are free, and you can subscribe at:
To contribute to GATA, please visit:
