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-   -   Why is Silver and GOld valuable??? (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=18196)

Spacecat 02-11-2005 01:45 AM

Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Perhaps this is a naive question but I do not understand why Silver and Gold are valuable.

I understand that it is mutually accepted that it valuable but why? Yes I do have Silver Coins, I love to hold them and get a nice feeling from them, they are nice to look at and strangely compelling. Historically Silver and Gold have been used as money but I realy do not understand.

Also , When the SHTF how and where do we go to use our silver? meaning that the System being set up now is for a Cashless Global Society, all Zero's and Ones, computerised and electronic, Where will gold and silver come in?

Halophyte 02-11-2005 02:22 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Where will gold and silver come in?

What came from underground will be used underground.

Think of it as your own personal monetary system.

Mr. Shiny 02-11-2005 08:39 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

why Silver and Gold are valuable.
Rarity,(primarily) identification, nobility.
In ancient times gold was extremly rare, easily indentified as gold (a soft yellow, dense metal), and even as a native alloy not attacked by nature (did not tarnish), so what better material than Au to be considered the "king" of metals.

a few side notes:

the only acid able to dissolve gold is aqua regia, latin for royal water.

although we now mine gold ore, the ancients only had access to placer deposits,which made gold a very rare element. in fact as recently as ~150 yrs. ago, aluminum was ranked between gold & silver in rarity and price, as it was rare to find it in metal form. it was only after the discovery of the process of extracting the metal from the ore that it became the common metal it is now, in fact even this process is costly which is why we now have Al recycling programs as it is much cheaper to melt the scrap than extract from the ore (bauxite), the Washington monument is topped with a pyramidical piece of Al that was so valuable, it was a secret up until it was actually in place.

jerry 02-11-2005 09:53 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Spacecat
Perhaps this is a naive question but I do not understand why Silver and Gold are valuable.

I understand that it is mutually accepted that it valuable but why? Yes I do have Silver Coins, I love to hold them and get a nice feeling from them, they are nice to look at and strangely compelling. Historically Silver and Gold have been used as money but I realy do not understand.

Also , When the SHTF how and where do we go to use our silver? meaning that the System being set up now is for a Cashless Global Society, all Zero's and Ones, computerised and electronic, Where will gold and silver come in?

By valuable I assume that you mean sought after.

And I further assume that you wish to make a market for something which will be sought after in the coming future.

Using these assumptions, silver is valuable (assuming there will be demand for silver after SHTF). Gold is not (assuming the existing quantity of gold in inventory is plenty to handle everyday useage).

Currently gold is in greater demand than silver due to the trend that has been in place for the last several hundreds of years.

If you have done much reading on the subject, though, you will understand that it has not always been the case that gold is in greater demand than silver.

We are about to enter another period where silver will be in greater demand than gold.

Since all things in the financial arena are based on comparisons (value being one of them) the relative value of silver is about to exceed that of the relative value of gold.

Mr. Shiny 02-11-2005 11:08 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Jerry, please elucidate, when in the history of man, has silver been more valuable than gold, or in your vernacular, more sought after?

since time immemorial, gold has been the KING of metals, always has, always will be. sludge will always be the jester in the court of precious metals.

Large Sarge 02-11-2005 11:10 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
I was curious on this as well Jerry....

PONCE 02-11-2005 11:35 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
People lime PM because they are pretty and shinny.

The Mayans just to call it "tears of the sun and the moon"

Mr. Shiny 02-11-2005 01:11 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Ponce,

Quote:

People like PM because they are pretty and shinny
If that were true, I will trade you the bumper off my old Lincoln for a bag of your 90%, it too is pretty and shiny.
I seriously hope your above statment was a joke.

Sequoia 02-11-2005 01:17 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
This question reminded me of the old joke of:
"Why does a dog lick his ****?"
"Because he can!"
*********************************
Why is gold and silver valuable?
Because it is!

Mr. Shiny 02-11-2005 01:25 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

Why is gold and silver valuable?
Because it is!
"Daddy, why can't I play in traffic?"
"Because I said so"
"Daddy, why do women get pregnant and no men?
"Because that's the way it is."
Geez, Sequoia, is that how you answer questions? "Because"

Sequoia 02-11-2005 02:19 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
The post was meant as a bit of humor, but now that you mention it, yes, that's what I used to tell my kids when they asked,
"Why, Dad?"
"When you get to be a Dad, you will understand. Until then, it's because I am bigger than you, that's why!"
Not one of my kids have been arrested, all are successful, all are involved with community service. Worked for me. Your mileage may vary!

Infidel 02-11-2005 02:27 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
<td valign="top"><font color="#996633" face="Times New Roman" size="5"><em><br>

The Lure of Gold</em></font><p><font color="#996633" size="5"><em><img src="http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/images/fever02-ngts.jpg" alt="California Gold Nuggets" align="right" height="103" hspace="10" vspace="10" width="150">G</em></font><font size="3">old! Gold fever! The

Golden State. Good as gold. Golden anniversary. Gold medal. The Golden years. Solid gold

Cadillac. Go for the gold . . . </font></p>

<p><font color="#996633" size="5"><em>I</em></font><font size="3">n almost all cultures

around the world throughout history, gold has been valued and sought as a precious metal:

gold as a mineral, gold as a commodity, gold as a precious object. </font></p>

<p align="center"><img src="http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/images/fever02-gold1.jpg" alt="Gold!" height="130" hspace="15" width="200"></p>

<p><font color="#996633" size="5"><em>I</em></font><font size="3">t has been a symbol of

power, wealth and success. It has provoked greed and lust. It has been hoarded. It has

launched expeditions and wars. </font></p>

<p><img src="http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/images/fever02-gold2.jpg" alt="Gold!" align="right" height="119" hspace="15" vspace="10" width="150"><font color="#996633" size="5"><em>G</em></font><font size="3">old

is soft, malleable, and easily crafted into beautiful decorative objects. It is resilient

and resistant to corrosives. It is valuable in industry and medicine. It is an enduring

symbol. </font></p>

<p><img src="http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/images/fever02-gold3.jpg" alt="Gold!" align="left" height="122" hspace="5" vspace="10" width="125"><font color="#996633" size="5"><em>A</em></font><font size="3">nd

gold is relatively scarce, making it all the more desirable and valuable. Gold is the

stuff of dreams. <br clear="all">
</td>

Spacecat 02-11-2005 02:34 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
hehehe, why does a dog lick his silver?heh

THis is very interesting and informative but I still do not fully get it,

The Financial Giants of the world, the Banks, the elite, the federal reserve, The city of London in London etc, they all have gold and silver , we have gold and silver, and we use a Fiat currency because there is not enough Silver and Gold to go around, so out of the Supply and Demand there is Value , ok but WHY? why is there demand for it? why has PM been deemed valuable?

Please forgive me for not being able to communicate what I am trying to ask,

Who is to say that at some point when the Value of the Dollar drops dramaticly and the Electronic currency is total, can not the Financial Giants not just manipulate the market so that Durring a major Depression when silver and Gold should be so high that they are in space that they will not make them worthless? Is this possable?

sort of like a War tactic?

you know, Drop the value of the dollar to worthless, people loose their assets, The more informed people who have Physical Gold and Silver think they are ok, but then the Market is flooded with PM from China, or Russia, or something and then Silver and Gold are near worthless as well. Or perhaps by some other manipulation, like the electronic voting where there is no reccord of how you voted, can they just electronicly say that gold is $1 dollar an oz, and silver is $ .005 an oz ?????


And to answer a point made by Jerry

Quote:

And I further assume that you wish to make a market for something which will be sought after in the coming future.
a market yes. some form of working market where Gold and Silver would be used, or traded. but this would be underground I assume because of the nature of the times........

ug,,,,,,,,

So is this something that should just be accepted then? that Silver has Value period and thats it? Like we breath Air and need to eat food to live, so to is silver the currancy that has been and always will be?

Am I making sense????:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Maple Leaf Steve 02-11-2005 03:09 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Why are Gold and Silver valuable?

Because the government isn't able to control these PM's completely like they are your house and property for example.

The government can come along and take your house and property away from you. It would be very hard for them to do this with your gold and silver.

God created a shovel for this very reason! :haha:

Think of it this way....

When the SHTF then if and when we come down off of it we could be back on the gold and silver standards again.

Which would make Ponce the Bill Gates of Oregon. :haha:

MLS

The Argent Dragon 02-11-2005 03:15 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Spacecat
Perhaps this is a naive question but I do not understand why Silver and Gold are valuable.

I understand that it is mutually accepted that it valuable but why? Yes I do have Silver Coins, I love to hold them and get a nice feeling from them, they are nice to look at and strangely compelling. Historically Silver and Gold have been used as money but I realy do not understand.

Also , When the SHTF how and where do we go to use our silver? meaning that the System being set up now is for a Cashless Global Society, all Zero's and Ones, computerised and electronic, Where will gold and silver come in?


Gotta lot of answers on GOLD so let me add a few points for Silver !

Silver is the ONLY precious metal that doubles as an industrial metal.

Silver is the most reflective metal in the world

Silver has been used in jewelry for centuries and is easy to work with.

Silver is quite maleable and can be made into sheets - it's only #2 in workability behind palladium.

Silver is good for the human body and is now being used in water treatment equipment to reduce odor and bacteria.

Silver just plain rocks and is a BARGAIN in the PM group ! ! !

silverback 02-11-2005 03:31 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
I'm surprised I get to be the first to say this.

Your confusion is rooted in a false premise.

You believe gold and silvers utility as money is based on "intrinsic value"

So you ask "whay is gold and silver intrinsically valuable?"

In fact the intrinsic value of gold and silver is it's utility as money.

So now ask "Why is gold and silver the best money?"

And the answers are legion.

Mr. Shiny 02-11-2005 03:36 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Spacecat,

i feel we need a bit of clarification, do you need an answer in regards to,

historic value?, monetary value?, investment value?, industrial value?

Quote:


1:Silver is the ONLY precious metal that doubles as an industrial metal.

2:Silver is the most reflective metal in the world

3:Silver has been used in jewelry for centuries and is easy to work with.

4:Silver is quite maleable and can be made into sheets - it's only #2 in workability behind palladium.

5:Silver is good for the human body and is now being used in water treatment equipment to reduce odor and bacteria.

6:Silver just plain rocks and is a BARGAIN in the PM group ! ! !
now for my answers,
1:wrong, Au, Pt, Pd, Os, all have industrial values.
2:ummm, visible light, yes, although nickel is a very, very, close second, which is why it is used in headlights, flashlights, etc., chrome plating.
gold is the best reflector of infrared radiation.
3:big deal, gold has been used in jewelry for millennia.
4:gold is by far more maleable than silver, as it can be beaten into sheets so thin as to be transparent.
5: the human body does not require silver, altho silver is microbicidal, it is not a nutrient, and does have side effects related to overdosage.
6:to each his own, me, gold bug.




Quote:

In fact the intrinsic value of gold and silver is it's utility as money.

if this were true explain why Pt is twice as "valuable" as gold, and rhodium twice platinum's "value", both have never been used as money.
why is a Monet worth so much moe-nee (money)?

The Argent Dragon 02-11-2005 05:05 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Shiny

now for my answers,
1:wrong, Au, Pt, Pd, Os, all have industrial values.
2:ummm, visible light, yes, although nickel is a very, very, close second, which is why it is used in headlights, flashlights, etc., chrome plating.
gold is the best reflector of infrared radiation.
3:big deal, gold has been used in jewelry for millennia.
4:gold is by far more maleable than silver, as it can be beaten into sheets so thin as to be transparent.
5: the human body does not require silver, altho silver is microbicidal, it is not a nutrient, and does have side effects related to overdosage.
6:to each his own, me, gold bug.

#1 - Name one 'industrial' use for GOLD. .....and the rest are so "minor" in comparisson to the extent of use silver has in our modern world. I will give you Pd since it's used in Denistry BUT.......let me qualify what I said also.

Rephrased (and I'm not wrong) : Silver is the only metal that is well-balanced as both Precious and valuable in industrial use. (I just knew that 'only' word would spark attention from a gold bug :aetsch: )

#2 - Mirrors are what I was talking about ~ Silver cannot be replaced.

#3 - Jewelry ~ if gold was cheaper, I'd buy a lot more of it as jewelry but I'm not comparing to gold - I'm comparing 'value' to other "base" metals.

#4 - Gold is also too soft in it's pure state for everyday use & wear. :aetsch:

#5 - You're right on body requirements, but can you say that your precious 'gold' has any medicinal value ??? - I think not. (unless psychological).

#6 - You're right - to each his own.....the Silver Dragon hath spoken.

:ARMS1: :banana: :ARMS1:

Libertarian_Guard 02-11-2005 09:40 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Crimes of the Comex ��..and other questionable activities.

http://www.usagold.com/gildedopinion...ayTheater.html

DrLLLong 02-11-2005 10:35 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
[QUOTE=The Argent Dragon
...snip
#5 - You're right on body requirements, but can you say that your precious 'gold' has any medicinal value ??? - I think not. (unless psychological).
snip...

Actually, gold injections are sometimes used in the treatment of arthritis.

(I'm more of a silver bug myself, but in medical school I witnessed a number of docs giving gold injections -- never heard about colloidal silver until I started reading misc.survivalism.)

Doc

Spacecat 02-11-2005 11:47 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Well it seems that there are many reasons why it is valuable and that is good, because if there are multiple reasons, be they health, industry, luxury, rareity, there are many and agreed apon by the majority of the world.

I think I have a better understanding of this but I need to sit with it for a while , think about it , digest it, then finally I will get it.

thanks :proud: :beer:

SilverStreak 02-12-2005 02:52 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
History is a wonderful teacher and some of us older folks just have to look back at the late 70's and early 80's to see in the small town of Forrest Lake Minnesota about 30 miles north of St. Paul Mn where I was a resident at that time you could buy anything in the area of necessities such as food or fuel or movies and furniture or resturants or any number services barbers etc that were advertised in the Minneapolis Star or the St. Paul Dispatch or even the local newspaper and even in the want adds of each paper ----I mean there was not a damn thing which that if I needed that the 90 % USA coins could not buy as every blessed supplier of these services listed the amount of cash needed in paper currency and in the 90 % USA coins and I truly believe that that day will come again as the Bible says in Eccleastics """"""""" there is nothing new under the sun """"""""""
Now here is the most prime example anyone can give as everyone and I mean just about everyone who was out and about knew the value of silver as there were thousands selling to dealers any thing made of silver or silver plate or anything they thought was silver ---even drive - ins were into the silver thing as A&W Root Beer in F.L. was priced in both currencies so I mean nothing was out of the reach for 90% silver coins ---I even remember buying some baby clothes with the oldest dinged up silver coins I could find and it made no difference --bullion was bullion and to heck with its condition ---I also remember paying for pizza with the old liberty quarters that the dates were worn off in place of paper currency------- What a wonderful time ----- and this will come again -----Mark me on this

SilverStreak 02-12-2005 03:04 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
One more thing of importance was that gold was never and I mean never mentioned once in any adds or any price conversions or any store adds or any pizza joints or drive-ins or any store that I remember ---only silver 90 % coins were the ones mentioned as it was silver that was the desired metal wanted ---but there were few bullion gold coins in existence and the bullion US gold eagles were only in the imaginations of some people ----Krugerrands were sold and bought by even some banks at that time and the big PM companies ran adds to buy and sell the many different gold coins in the full page adds by the major newspapers ---But it was the silver US coins that were sought after including the cartwheels of any quality ---even the culls were sought after

AuNuggets 02-12-2005 05:00 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Alot of inroads made in recent years where other metals are replacing silver in industrial usage. One example is in telescope mirrors, where aluminum is becoming the more desirable material, combined with certain types of chemical coatings to increase its reflectivity of light.

And there are industrial uses for any precious metal you care to name. Platinum and palladium are commonly used in the automotive industry as catalysts for catalytic converters, fuel cells, etc. Gold is used in many areas from medicines to architecture, glass coatings, electrical switches and other components, etc. The fact that silver is used in more applications than other precious metals does not necessarily make it the "more important" PM, but is rather more a sign of its lower price availability.

Gold also, as has been mentioned, is by far the "most workable", and can more easily be alloyed to specific uses than many of the other PMs. True, it is too soft in its pure state to be used for some uses, but that applies to silver as well. Platinum also HAS been used in coinage, most notably in Russia in years past. It also saw alot of use in counterfeiting gold coins in the 1800s because of its high specific gravity, making a good substitute for making fake gold coins back then because of its relative low value compared to gold.

Silver, in fact, is of itself NOT good for the human body. What IS good is the effects it has on bacteria that are BAD for the human body. Silver itself can be very toxic to the body in larger quantities.

Will have to agree though, silver is definately still a relative bargain <b>IF</b> taken under the assumption that all of the hype about above ground supplies is actually true. But when you read those claims, notice that they are all qualified with such phrases as "<u>KNOWN</u>above ground supplies", with "known" being the real key word. How many multiples of "unknown" above ground supplies are there in existance that simply cannot be quantified by the technical gurus ?

How many ever stop to wonder if just perhaps all of the silver hype is being presented as another avenue of taking revenues (and attention) off of the one true monetary metal, i.e. GOLD ? The claims about silver "supplies" is always.... ALWAYS.... presented in such a manner as to be vague, with numbers that can never be substaniated beyond "published figures" that tell only one very small percentage of the story. And in the past few years, the "manipulation" bit has spilled over into the silver story, again as a possible ploy in taking attention off the real battle raging between government fiat producers and gold. Anyone who spends ANY amount of time in the metals markets, whether retail, wholesale, COMEX, or etc. can tell you that the claims of "more above ground gold than silver" is nonsense. Obviously gold, being the more valuable, is better accounted for in official records than is silver, which may also help explain the apparent discrepencies we are constantly fed by the "gurus". Gold too is admittedly the greater "monetary" metal of the two, so is less likely to be used for "other" things due simply to its greater perceived value.

There are alot of holes in the silver vs. gold debates that either go overlooked and unconsidered, or are simply avoided by those who don't wish to admit to their inability to complile all of the facts, whether due to their own neglect or the fact that some of those facts are simply not know or available, for whatever the reason(s).

For the most part, those hyping certain investments, whether silver or otherwise, generally have more to gain in the sale than in the completeness of their information. "Tell 'em just what you want 'em to know", and avoid the rest.

AuNuggets 02-12-2005 06:29 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Back to the original question......

Gold and silver are "valuable" by concensus, just like any other commodity, loaf of bread, "rare rock", numismatic coin, or whatever. Once those controlling or making the "price" abandon that item as anything special or valuable, and especially once the masses stop "believing" that something is valuable, then it ceases to have value. Humans are the only creatures on earth that place trading value on things beyond the necessities of food and shelter, with the possible exception of "infatuation" value that certain animals place on non-necessities, such as pack-rats and crows taking a liking to shiney objects. But let those animals choose between food and "pretty", and they will choose the food. Just like paper money, gold and silver have no real inherent or intrinsic value in and of themselves. Man bestows that value on them, and can just as easily take it away on a whim. What makes them "more valuable" than some other things is the difficulty in obtaining (mining) them compared to running off reams of paper and bottles of ink through a printing press and "proclaiming" that such script has "value". Paper money (currency) only has value as perceived credit because enough people believe or agree that it does. Look at the vast number of currency experiments through history that no longer carry any significant "value", and you soon understand how quickly ANY item can be abandoned as a standard or representation of value or exchange. Silver and gold have been the most successful representation of value through (past) history, but that is really no guarantee for the future. But betting on gold or silver over other nonsenseical forms of paper credit or trade value is still a better bet than not, if for no other reason than the difficulty involved in producing and obtaining the physical commodity over the "imaginary" fiat.

SilverStreak 02-12-2005 06:55 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
New use for silver in this area of the world is in treated wood for docks and boat lifts etc as the old wood was treated with arsenic not the push is to use a silver based bactercide to kill the rotting organisms

SilverNuts@Bolts 02-12-2005 07:43 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Silver WAS more valuable then gold in the past. You would have to go all the way back to early times of the Egyptian Faros. It was a time, when silver was unknown and so scarce, that only the "Gods" could have it. The Egyptian writings on some tombs confirm that.
I read lately, that gold will be used in the future as an "industrial" metal. It is to appear in public places in the ventilation system, where it is far superior in [somehow] cleaning the air of pollutants and bacteria. I know, that silver gets rid of bacteria's fast, so how gold is better, I have no idea. All I can say is, that they better have well secured "public places" or someone will not care, about the air safety of the public, when it comes to pm's.
:cool1:

Mr. Shiny 02-14-2005 07:59 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:


History is a wonderful �..snippity snip snip��.and this will come again -----Mark me on this<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I lived in the city at that time and the afore mentioned didn�t happen, perhaps in a small Midwestern town this was an occurrence, but not in the big city.

<o:p></o:p>

One more thing of importance was that gold was never and I mean never mentioned once in any adds or any price conversions or any store adds or any pizza joints or drive-ins or any store that I remember ---only silver 90 % coins were the ones mentioned as it was silver that was the desired metal wanted ---but there were few bullion gold coins in existence and the bullion US gold eagles were only in the imaginations of some people ----Krugerrands were sold and bought by even some banks at that time and the big PM companies ran adds to buy and sell the many different gold coins in the full page adds by the major newspapers ---But it was the silver US coins that were sought after including the cartwheels of any quality ---even the culls were sought after<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Well , I�m pretty sure a pizza was a lot less expensive than a ~$800/oz gold piece, even a wink would be worth ~80 bucks, less premium. Add to that the fact that gold just became legal ~4 to 5 years previous, and I�m sure even you wouldn�t part with something you weren�t able to possess until recently, or the fact not many people were in possession of gold. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Quote:


A lot of inroads�. It pains me to edit such an eloquent post, but in the interest of time�snippity snip snip�.. of its lower price availability.

Gold also�snip,��. silver as well. Platinum also HAS been used in coinage, most notably in
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region> in years past. It also saw alot of use in counterfeiting gold coins in the 1800s because of its high specific gravity, making a good substitute for making fake gold coins back then because of its relative low value compared to gold.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

You learn something new every day.

Quote:

Silver, in fact, is of itself NOT good for the human body. What IS good is the effects it has on bacteria that are BAD for the human body. Silver itself can be very toxic to the body in larger quantities.<o:p></o:p>

Toxic is a real strong word, silver will cause argyria, which is a gray discoloration of the skin and sclera (white) of the eye, isn�t all that bad, unsightly, yes.<o:p></o:p>


Quote:

Will have to agree though, ��snippity snip�.. There are alot of holes in the silver vs. gold debates that either go overlooked and unconsidered, or are simply avoided by those who don't wish to admit to their inability to complile all of the facts, whether due to their own neglect or the fact that some of those facts are simply not know or available, for whatever the reason(s).

For the most part, those hyping certain investments, whether silver or otherwise, generally have more to gain in the sale than in the completeness of their information. "Tell 'em just what you want 'em to know", and avoid the rest.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Amen to that!

<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Quote:


Silver WAS more valuable then gold in the past. You would have to go all the way back to early times of the Egyptian Faros. It was a time, when silver was unknown and so scarce, that only the "Gods" could have it. The Egyptian writings on some tombs confirm that.
I read lately, that gold will be used in the future as an "industrial" metal. It is to appear in public places in the ventilation system, where it is far superior in [somehow] cleaning the air of pollutants and bacteria. I know, that silver gets rid of bacteria's fast, so how gold is better, I have no idea. All I can say is, that they better have well secured "public places" or someone will not care, about the air safety of the public, when it comes to pm's.<o:p></o:p>


<o:p></o:p>

I hate to once again break a silver bug�s bubble, but, silver was discovered and mined as early as ~3500 BC, the first Egyptian dynasty started 3050BC approx, 500 years after Ag�s discovery, the Egyptian Pharaoh King Tut (Tutankhamun) was of the 18<SUP>th</SUP> dynasty (1539-1295) long after silver�s discovery, and quite well known. The ancient Egyptians are also credited with the first large scale refinement of gold (hence silver, as gold is never pure in its native state, but always alloyed with silver).<o:p></o:p>

Gold is now an industrial metal, the computer you are reading this on has gold circuitry,<o:p></o:p>

My dental fillings are gold alloy, the connectors on my TV/stereo/computer are gold plated, gold is used in the manufacture of ruby glass, as mentioned previously gold is also used medicinally as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in the treatment of cancers. The use of gold in air treatment is in the removal of carbon monoxide, although at this point it is rarely used outside of mining escape respirators, but new nano-particle technology will afford it�s wide spread use, the amount of gold used would not be of considerable value in regards to theft, no one is stealing catalytic converters are they?<o:p></o:p>

(They contain small amounts of platinum and palladium.)

LeadBrick 02-14-2005 08:12 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Here's something that applies to anything, not just gold and silver, but also to stocks, bonds, currencies, Beenie Babies: an item is worth exactly what someone else is willing to pay for it.

I believe gold is money, but agnostic to silver as money. A few of the general requirements for money are:
1) it must be relatively rare and its supply can not be easily expanded
2) it must be divisible
3) it must be of uniform quality or refinable to uniform quality
4) it must be durable
5) it must be portable

If you think of the above requirements, nothing else fulfills these requirements except gold. For example:
1) paper money is not rare (its supply can be expanded at minimal cost)
2) Beenie Babies are not divisible into quarters of Beenies
3) diamonds have different levels of brilliance and can not be melted down to a uniform quality
4) copper corrodes easily
5) barrels of oil are not portable

LeadBrick 02-14-2005 08:14 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Mr. Shiny: we seem to be bumping into each other a lot here! I send you and AuNuggets encouragement on your cynicism and skepticism towards silver - a welcome foil to the other voices here.


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Gold & Silver Forum - Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
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Mr. Shiny 02-14-2005 08:48 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Leadbrick,
you're welcome
although i am hardly complimented here (o.k. you are the first), i am susceptible to flattery.
truth be known, i came to this site expecting to be greeted by like minded people, the name is gold is money, what i find are staunch "silver bugs", wackos, and doomsayers. and a few true gold bugs.
i have nothing against silver or any other precious metal, but to me, gold is the only way to go. and i will dispell the myths of silver every step of the way, i have never in all my years been subjected to this much false pride in a metal that clearly will never attain the status of any other PM, it is as if the "silver bugs" need to justify their choice of investment in their minds by touting these fallicies to others.
GO GOLD, GATA GO!

SilverStreak 02-14-2005 08:57 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
And I sir have absolutely nothing against gold in fact I have a sizeable stash of gold coins also Krugerrands and Gold Eagles in small denominations ----I was only giving the reality of what happened in the 70's and 80's run in both metals which I am giving you an eyewitness account of those events ---I certainly have no axe to grind or to promote a certain idea and if it came across that way i apologize and you are right as i said there were few gold coins in general distribution but silver was the metal to be sought after as the old say is that """"""silver is the poor mans gold""""" which in that time was very true ----- in either case of the metals we all will do very well but as in the past silver may just edge out gold in performance ----------

lr777g62d 02-14-2005 09:09 AM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
I am hoping that the Gold/Silver price ratio will be restored to something more sensible like 20 to 30oz of silver to one once of gold. If this is the only thing to happen in the near future, then current owners of silver will be in good shape. Silver need not go to the moon to make it a good investment, just a restoration of a sensible ratio.

The Argent Dragon 02-14-2005 04:52 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by littleomar
I am hoping that the Gold/Silver price ratio will be restored to something more sensible like 20 to 30oz of silver to one once of gold.......Silver need not go to the moon to make it a good investment, just a restoration of a sensible ratio.

:clap2: :elefant: :clap2: :elefant: :clap2: :elefant: .......YES, this would be quite nice !

Obolus 02-14-2005 04:55 PM

Re: Why is Silver and GOld valuable???
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by The Argent Dragon
:clap2: :elefant: :clap2: :elefant: :clap2: :elefant: .......YES, this would be quite nice !

As long as it doesn't mean that silver is $8.00 and gold is $200 :eek:


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