General Discussion
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doc03
(38,493 posts)I wish. I do have 11/2 ounces, it has gone up around 200% since I bought it. Silver is $48.
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)but do you remember those HUGE glass water containers that were on water coolers in offices? This was in the late 60's...
My parents had TWO of those things full of pre-1965 silver coins in the late 60's. It was just considered normal currency then.
Most of that was spent back then, but I retained a decent portion that I still hold. And I've continued to occasionally stack silver over the years.
Silver was under $2.00 an ounce back then!
Those two jugs would probably be over $1 million now.
MaeScott
(938 posts)Each month Id purchase a few of the fractional ounce gold coins. Because thats all I could do, but I wanted to have a litttle in my investment plan. Kept it up for months. Then life interrupted and didnt keep it up. But the coins I did get have appreciated nicely. Sad its because of the current mess.
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)of precious metals.
Not a good sign.
RazorbackExpat
(643 posts)They are the main drivers of the current market
usonian
(21,319 posts)But hear it now.
Back when we had cabs, the saying: "When the cabbie is talking about it, beware"
Not advising. Just observing.
Johonny
(24,852 posts)Trump driving dollar down, crypto up. Gold just along for the ride.
None of this is a sign of a good economy or a long term economic plan.
MineralMan
(149,918 posts)LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)Last edited Wed Oct 8, 2025, 06:19 PM - Edit history (1)
You could short gold funds, or buy puts.
Personally, I think it will go higher.
But I've been holding and stacking silver since I was a kid.
The reason people buy it in the first place is not to get rich, but rather, to hedge against inflation or a complete political meltdown.
Wise investors rarely hold more than 5% of their portfolios in precious metals.
MineralMan
(149,918 posts)to my wife. She keeps them safe and takes them out from time to time to wear.
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)Pre-1965 90% silver coins.
A lot of it is "junk" silver, meaning that the coins are only worth their silver value. For example, 10 dimes with a 1964 date have a $1.00 face value, but they can currently be sold for about $32 because they are 90% silver.
However, rare dates and specimens that are in uncirculated or proof-like condition also have numismatic (coin collecting) value, in addition to the inherent silver value.
So that's why I "stack" or collect these coins. Both for the silver value, and the pleasure obtained by collecting and looking at beautiful coins.
Marthe48
(22,055 posts)People buy precious metals and hang on to them, never selling if they don't have to. Are there any good times to sell, or just hang on in case the dollar loses all value? And how would a precious metal economy work?
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)I've been holding gold and silver for almost 60 years. I'll never sell it.
There are better investment vehicles out there, if you are looking to make money.
You can trade it and try to time prices if you choose to, like any other investment, but the main purpose people hold onto it forever is to hedge against a potential collapse of the dollar, inflation, or political meltdown.
If the value of the dollar collapses, or if crypto permanently crashes, something else will become valuable to use as currency. And that something is traditionally thought to be precious metals. However, it could be something as simple as bottled water and toilet paper too that will be used as currency.
Marthe48
(22,055 posts)But I have some jewelry and scraps I put away. When I see prices like that, I wonder what would be better to do. So far, I don't need the cash, and my stash stays put away.
I've lived under the shadow of economic disaster for as long as I remember. It doesn't worry me as much as it used to. I do wish that humans could look forward to Candyland instead of apocalypse.
I have toilet paper left over from the Covid shortage What a world!
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)No one really knows where prices for ANYTHING will go. That's very hard to predict, just like the stock market is hard to predict.
The reason metals are so highly priced right now is because everything is so messed up. Bad economy, bad political climate.
Will things get worse, therefore driving metal prices higher?
My opinion is yes, probably.
But who knows?
Marthe48
(22,055 posts)to further bankrupt the 98%. I might be hanging onto mine for spite!
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)I have a rare old roll from 1963 that has been personally signed by Mr. Whipple. I have it encased in a plexi-glass display cube that sits on my toilet tank with a sign for guests that says "PLEASE DO NOT USE - RARE SPECIMEN".
Just kidding, Marthe.
Marthe48
(22,055 posts)In case of emergency, break glass?
I was in Canada when I was a teen, with my uncle and Gram. We got to a landing area where we parked and a boat took us to the camp my aunt's family owned. There was an outhouse at the landing for us to use. I went in and saw a red metal box on the wall. I opened it and saw corncobs, red, white, red. labelled 1-2-3. I asked my uncle about it when I came out and he laughed. I found out later it was a joke about using corncobs instead of tp. First red, then white, then red if you needed it. My uncle had a corny sense of humor
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)Last edited Wed Oct 8, 2025, 06:17 PM - Edit history (1)
I've had the occasion to use those old out houses several times in my life.
Those things scared me!
Wednesdays
(20,968 posts)Hunt Brothers. Silver. 1980.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Thursday
Marthe48
(22,055 posts)I remember that since you mention it.
That might have influenced how I felt about saving things
RazorbackExpat
(643 posts)after I found out it really wasn't illegal to own gold. It was a deluxe 25 kurush coin from Turkey. I paid around $4 for it. The same coin would be worth around $200 today.
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)when I was 10 years old. Paid maybe $3.00?? I don't know. It can be sold for $35-$40 now.
Also, a ton of silver coins.
The only gold I own is in jewelry, which sits in a safe. Even my wedding ring is in there. I never wear it, because I use power tools frequently, and worry about getting my finger de-gloved from an accident!
I also have a lot of rings and necklaces that I never wear for the same reason.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,940 posts)
PeaceWave
(2,156 posts)._.
(1,627 posts)Silver ain't doing too bad either.. It's pushing fifty..
doc03
(38,493 posts)politics is uncertain. Politicly things probably haven't been this uncertain since the Civil War. I think we may already be in a civil war
yellowcanine
(36,636 posts)
LuckyCharms
(20,825 posts)wrecks the economy beyond the point of no return. Seems to be that is what the precious metals market is pricing in.