Precious Metal

Precious Metal, Precious Metals, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium, Coins

Selling Silver

Many people have decided to try and find alternative methods of investing their money so that they can avoid messing with a volatile stock market and rising inflation costs. However, the question is what type of investments can shield you from these types of risks? Well honestly there isn’t a single investment that is risk free; however there are certain investments that are less risky than others and provide more bang for the buck. One of these types of investments is precious metals, which can be a cheaper and safer alternative to stocks.

Silver Mines

Silver was discovered thousands of years ago as a viable from of monetization and as coinage. Many great societies, such as the Persian society, Greek society, and Roman society, were built upon natural stores of silver in their lands. As a result, there were vast sums of wealth that were created over time, which lead to an eventual devaluing of silver at some parts in history. Eventually though, as the silver levels began to diminish and balance out worldwide, silver reclaimed its original value and became a valuable asset once more.

Silver Mining

The process of silver mining has been around for thousands of years and was long recognized by the ancient societies as an important way to take advantage of natural stores of precious resources. Many ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman societies, were built on massive stores of silver and silver mining. Today, silver mining still exists, although the process has changed dramatically since its inception. Still, as more and more silver is extracted, even more advanced methods will be used to get silver deep from within the Earth’s surface. Here is a brief guide to modern day silver mining and future methods of silver extraction.

Buying Silver

We’ve all heard the doom and gloom stories about the great depression and the struggling world economies. Many people are running around saying that the world market will never be the same again and that it is time to bail out of all investments and start hoarding money. Well first of all, these people are just wrong, but second of all, there is a truth to part of their strategy. However, rather than simply getting out of the investment game all together, you can easily transition your wealth into other more stable assets, such as precious metals. Investing in silver is one of the cheapest and most secure ways you can transfer your money from stocks to other investments that will gradually increase in value over time. Although you probably don’t know it, silver has been increasing in value for over 18 years and has nearly quadrupled in value since 1990. Buying silver is a great way to store your money and turn it into a tangible asset that you can see, smell, touch, and feel.

Silver Refining

Did you know that you can find many ways to collect old silver and refine it in order to create silver bullion for sale or investment? Many people have heard of using Aqua Regia solution to refine gold, but I bet you didn’t know that you could use a similar process to refine silver. The great thing about silver refining is that it is much easier to find old and leftover silver since it is used in many forms of wiring and circuitry. In fact, silver is one of the most conductive metals which means that it is likely going to be found in many more places than you would expect. If you’ve got a collection of silver that you want to refine or maybe you know where you can find some, then read this guide and learn how you can start the process of silver refining for fun and/or profit.

Silver Coins

As far back as 612 BC, Persians were using silver coins as a method of money and coinage for buying and purchasing goods. For over 300 years, their society continued the use of silver in this manner along with many other thriving ancient civilizations. In the 1700’s, the British also used silver coins for monetary purposes. In fact, silver has been used for coinage longer than any other precious metal currency. Today, although silver has been replaced by cheaper metals, silver is still value as an investment similar to gold and silver coins are one way in which a person can begin investing in precious metals.

Silver Dealers

Investing in precious metals, like silver and gold, is one of the best ways to preserve your wealth and capital because unlike stocks and bonds, you will not risk your investment vanishing into thin air due to stock market fluctuations. Gold and silver have retained their value so well because they are rare and limited commodities that have been used for thousands of years as symbols of wealth, money, and coinage. Although sometimes the value of the investment in gold and silver can go down, over the long haul they are practically guaranteed to continue to increase in value. So the question becomes, where does someone interested in buying silver bars as an investment go to get started?

Silver Bars

As far as investment vehicles go, precious metals are a great way to get started. Many people talk a lot about using gold bars and gold bullion as investment tools for wealth and asset preservation, but you rarely hear anyone talk about investing in silver bars. Just like gold, silver is a precious and rare commodity that is limited and holds its value well. For over four thousand years silver was and still is used as a form of money and coinage, but why has it not been included in all the same conversations that gold has been?

What is Silver

Silver is a white, lustrous metallic element in the second series of transition elements in the periodic system with the symbol "Ag". Its chemical symbol "Ag" derives from the Latin word argentum meaning silver or money, while its Latin name is closely related to ancient Greek expression for silver - a[rguroß (argyros). However, both Latin and ancient Greek expressions are derived from Indo-European suffix arg-, meaning white, or shinning (metal). Its name in English, silver (in German silber and Slavic languages serebo, srebro) which was not used until the middle of the 14th century originates from ancient Germanic silabar or silbir, while the Anglo-Saxons spelled it seolfor or siolfur.

History of Silver

Silver was known already in prehistoric times, while the oldest silver and gold treasures were found at Varna, Bulgaria, dating from 4,000 BC. The earliest mine production of silver appeared in Anatolia (today's eastern Turkey), while greater efforts to mine silver started after 3,000 BC. The silver mines in Asia Minor were predominantly supplying ancient civilizations in Middle East, Egypt, Crete (Minoan civilization) and mainland Greece (Mycenaean civilization). However, after the collapse of Minoan civilization around 1450 BC and decline of Mycenaean civilization after 1100 BC the center of silver production was transferred to Laurium (or Laureion) near Athens which provided silver and its products to the Greek city-states.

Silver Uses

In ancient and medieval times silver was most frequently used for currency coins, however, next to gold, silver was the most popular material for making jewelry and variety of ornaments. Besides for jewelry, silver was also used for making tableware and utensils (silverware) because it is stable in the air and water, and has also antimicrobial properties.

Silver is also known for having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of all metals as well as the highest optical reflectivity. For that reason silver is also used in electrical, electrotechnical and optical industries. Although silver has the highest electrical conductivity the electrical industry prefers copper because of silver's high prices and tarnish ability, however, it is very desired by electronic industry, especially by computer industry. For its high optical reflectivity silver in ancient times was also used for mirrors, while silver halides which are extremely photosensitive form a basis of modern photography.

Silver Investment

Silver offers a great investment option, especially for all who believe that investment funds, banks or keeping cash under the pillow is an option. Silver has been and still is highly prized precious metal although it is important to mention that it is highly underestimated in compare to gold. However, increasing demands for silver in industry and considering that the stacks of silver since 1991 decreased for 95%, and that 90% of used silver is not economically to recycle, silver's prices will probably significantly arise over the next few years. Some experts even foretell that if the current trend will continue stacks of silver will run out in a decade or two.

Saving in Silver

It might be wiser to purchase silver for saving purposes instead for investments. If you are saving in silver you are not interested in daily falls and ups of silver prices on the global market because the main purpose of saving is not profit but safety and reliability.

Unlike saving at the bank or keeping cash in a safe which can loss its value due eventual recession or crisis, one ounce of silver stays one ounce of silver. Although its prices greatly vary it is very unlikely that it would fall in such matter that you would suffer any greater losses. In contrary, there is greater possibility that you would eventually get more for one ounce of silver than you have paid for it.

Advantages of Silver Investment

When comparing silver to other investments, silver investment has certain advantages which are worth of considering before making final decision of your future investment.

One of the greatest advantages of silver investment is definitely greater security of your investment in compare to variety of investment funds or stock investments which can result great profit but eventually also great loss. Firms and corporations which today perhaps seem strong, powerful and reliable may collapse tomorrow, in the next year or in the next century, while investing in silver represent much lower risks.

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Advantages of Saving in Silver

Saving in silver provides incomparable greater security than saving at a bank or some sort of saving funds. You do not have to worry that inflation, eventual recession or crisis will eat up your savings because one ounce of silver stays one ounce of silver and is even more valuable in hard times what is already historically proven. Having silver or any other precious metal when paper money was just worthless paper could get people food, shelter, ticket to a better place and even saved their lives.

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Disadvantages of Silver Investment

Like any other investment, silver investment also has its disadvantages. One of the most frequent mentioned disadvantages is storing of greater amounts of silver. You must realize that for will need about sixty times bigger safe for storing silver of the same nominal value of gold what can after certain period cause serious difficulties. For that reason silver is a lot less popular investment option than other more expensive precious metals.

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Disadvantages of Saving in Silver

The greatest disadvantage of saving in silver is the same as in the silver investment: its storing. After few years of saving in silver you might have serious difficulties with its storing, especially if you keep it in your home. It might be convenient to be able to see and get it when ever you feel like it, however, keeping silver at home requires a great amount of space as well as good organization.

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Silver Investment - Savings Options

Best known and popular options of both silver investment and saving are silver bullion bars and silver bullion coins. Both silver bullion bars and coins can be bought or sold at major banks or specialized stores which sell and purchase precious metals. Silver can be also bought from individuals, however, you must be careful on eventual frauds and that you do not pay more than purchasing the same bullion bar or coin at the bank.

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