Today there’s a lot of interest in precious metals as a hedge against economic uncertainty. The answer to the question: ‘How much is silver worth?’ can help you decide if investing in coins or bars of this precious metal is right for you and those you must provide for.

Gold and other valuable metals rise and fall in value according to various economic and social conditions that exist worldwide. It’s important to understand these forces and their effects, just as you would want to understand how the stock market operates and why stock prices move up and down. Metals are traded – bought and sold – on the commodities market; they are tangible assets rather than shares of ownership in corporate entities.

Precious metals are marketed in the form of bars, called ingots, or in the form of coins. There are also jewelry and other items, like sterling silverware table settings. Ingots are valued according to weight, while coins and other items have intrinsic value – the weight of pure metal in them – and may also have added value because of their history, their rarity, or their condition.

For centuries, silver has been counted in ‘troy ounces’ and ‘troy pounds’. This was a system of measurement used in France in the Middle Ages and ever since. The system differs from the one we are familiar with for weighing things like sugar or flour. There are twelve troy ounces in a troy pound, and each ounce is slightly heavier than the one used for foodstuffs. Ingots are fashioned in differing weights, from 100 troy ounces to 5,000.

The value of commodities is very volatile. However, prices have been high in recent years, as the dollar weakens on the world market. In addition, silver is used in industry as well as in coinage, jewelry, tableware, and decorative items. This means that there is a steady demand for the metal, which is one thing that pushes prices higher.

Of course, there are other measures of worth than the commodity market. Some advisers say that, in times of emergency, people would have a hard time buying food or other necessities with ingots of gold, for instance. They say having a hoard of coins makes more sense, since they are a familiar form of exchange and merchants are more likely to accept them. If the main reason for having silver is for emergency use, ‘junk-silver’ might be the most valuable investment.

Junk-silver is the term for coins that have only intrinsic value by weight, with no extra worth because they are collectible, made of extremely pure metal, or rare. American dollars, half-dollars, quarters, and dimes made before 1965 are 90% pure. Based on troy weight alone, a dollar of this type is worth more than $10 today. Some survival experts advocate having a supply – about $1,500 – of junk-silver for every member of the family.

The value of this precious metal to you depends on what you want it for. As an investment, it’s worth is what a troy ounce sells for at any given moment. As a hedge against inflation or the collapse of paper money, having it may mean the difference between life and death, or at least having the means to get what you need in times of chaos.

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