Gold | Silver | Financial

Barack Obama has greatly expanded the powers of the presidency during his time in the White House, but there is one institution that he simply will not mess with. There is one organization that is considered to be so sacred in Washington D.C. that Obama will not dare utter a single negative word against it. That organization is the Federal Reserve. Even though he has shown that he is unafraid to pick a fight with just about everyone else in Washington, Obama flat out refuses to criticize the Fed and he even reappointed Ben Bernanke for another term as Fed Chairman even though Bernanke has a track record of failure that would make the Chicago Cubs look good.
Federal Reserve Shows Barack Obama Who the Boss Is, 1/14/13

"Creates the Precious Metal Purchasing Act. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall obtain a proof of ownership, create a record of the sale, and verify the identity of the seller. Provides that a person who is in the business of purchasing precious metal shall not pay for the precious metal in cash and shall record the method of payment. Requires the purchaser to keep a record of the sale for one year or, if the purchase amount is over $500, for 5 years. Provides that a person who violates the Act is guilty of a petty offense and subject to a fine not exceeding $500. Provides that the Attorney General may inspect records, investigate an alleged violation, and take action to collect civil penalties."
Precious Metal Purchasing Act: A Bill to Register Buyers of Silver and Gold Coins & Eliminate Cash Transactions, 1/9/13

Within days of each other, two announcements concerning the future of U.S. currency appeared in the popular press, and each avoided any mention whatsoever of the primary driver of the changes.
Dollar's Decline Catches Up With U.S. Mint, 11/29/12

There are tremendous forces at work that will push silver over $100 an ounce. Very few precious metal analysts understand all the forces that are at work. Some analysts focus on specific areas such as the gold-silver ratio and technical analysis, while others write about future investment and industrial demand. And then of course, we have the more unorthodox analysts who delve into the ongoing manipulation of gold and silver -- a realization shared by the author of this article.
Forces That Will Push Silver Over $100, 11/23/12

For years I have cautioned that changes in the ownership of gold held in the vaults of key central banks around the globe may not have been accurately reported. A report issued last month in Germany has once again brought these issues to the fore. In today's environment of rampant money creation and questioning of central bank activities, such uncertainty is bound to spark the curiosity of an increasing number of investors.
Report Raises Questions About Central Bank Gold Holdings, 11/8/12

Are Central Banks Overstating their Gold Holdings?
Emperor Has No Gold, 11/4/12

On learning that French gold was being held by the U.S. Federal Reserve, French President Charles de Gaulle is reported to have said, “I could hardly sleep easily with such an arrangement.” So in 1965 he ordered French navy ships to cross the Atlantic to pick up $150 million in gold held in the Fed’s New York vaults and deliver it to the Banque de France in Paris.
Is a Central Bank Gold Run at Hand?, 11/3/12

With a seemingly endless stream of macroeconomic risks coming down the pipeline every day – whether it is the risk of currency devaluation, sovereign debt defaults, bond market collapses, or the ever-present "fiscal cliff" – it's no wonder that investors have turned to the safety of precious metals.
4 Facts Every GLD Investor Must Know, 10/15/12

It is one of the most secure structures in the world. Its name is synonymous with one of the most precious commodities in the history of the world – gold. But behind this building's stone exterior are secrets. This episode unlocks the secret contents, political controversy, and cutting edge security hidden behind the gates of the world's most famous vault. How did the US government amass this gold? What is the precious metal really worth? Who's allowed inside the vault? What else is stashed there? Could Fort Knox actually be empty?
What's Really in Fort Knox? and who owns it?, 10/3/12

On September 13th, the Fed announced QE3, a policy of open-ended bond purchases which would add $1 trillion annually to the Fed’s balance sheet. The Fed’s decision to provide liquidity ad infinitum, i.e. QE etc, was framed in reasonable and carefully chosen language..
Fed is Trapped, Gold is the Exit, 9/27/12

There is much discussion these days as to whether the price of gold is being manipulated. The answer is simply "yes." It is likely that most potential gold investors would agree that the major financial institutions have the ability to influence the gold price. They would also agree that to do so would be of benefit to those institutions. Yet, many investors still have difficulty making the final leap to agree that, if the institutions can manipulate the gold price and, by doing so, will profit from it, they will actually manipulate the price. Odd, as this would seem to me to be the easiest of the three premises to accept.
Manipulation of the Gold Price, 9/25/12

In one of the most bullish gold calls since the Federal Reserve announced a new round of easing last week, one strategist sees a 36 percent jump in the metal's price [GCCV1 1775.60 7.80 (+0.44%) ], to $2,400 an ounce, by the end of 2014.
Fed’s 'QE-Infinity' Will Push Gold Up to $2,400, 9/18/12

While it’s perfectly legal to move precious metals in or out of the United States, you must understand the reporting rules before you begin. Otherwise, your risk confiscation of your metals along with possible civil and criminal sanctions. You’re much better off paying an armored security service such as Brinks or ViaMat to transport the metals for you.
Understand the Rules Before You Transport Precious Metals Overseas, 9/13/12

Our friends at Visual Capitalist have put together another knockout infographic, this time on how Nevada will soon witness a 21st century gold mining rush.
Nevada Will Be The Epicenter Of The Next American Gold Rush, 9/7/12

The many reasons to buy silver.
Top 14 Reasons To Buy Silver, 9/6/12

As gold has risen from ~$250 in the 1990s to $1697 today, you don't see readily see that the value of the US dollar has plummeted over this same time. I've added a chart at the bottom for you to compare. When the gold price rises, this means there is less purchasing power and confidence in paper money. Most Americans don't have enough money to buy gold. They spend every dollar they make.
Real Wealth, Gold, and Why Government May Want You on Food Stamps, 9/5/12

Even the hardiest investors have been lamenting that gold prices have been stuck in a rut for a long time. Others with less experience have watched the market waiting for something to happen...
Your Window to Buy Gold Below $1,700 is Closing, 8/31/12

One thing is for sure – if gold ever does get to $5000 than something very, very bad has happened and you’ll want to be holding this asset in your reserves, along with other key commodities and goods that become money when the system collapses. To get to those levels we would have to experience a serious shock to the system such as a currency crisis, hyperinflation, or widespread global conflict. If such an event were to occur, and you’re only holding paper currency and trading assets you’ll be in for the shock of a lifetime. It’s time to get physical. Gold, guns, food, essential skills and a well-laid preparedness plan is what you’re going to need to survive and thrive in coming years.
Major Development in Precious Metals: 'The Time to Buy Cheap Will Soon Be Gone', 8/27/12

It may feel like I'm out of touch with the precious metals markets to broach the subject of a mania today, but I think the table is being set now for a huge move into gold and silver.
There are, however, very valid reasons to reasonably expect a mania in our sector. For one thing, manias have occurred many times before, but the main issue is that a mania in gold and gold stocks is the likely result of the absolute balloon in government debt, deficit spending, and money printing. Saying all that profligacy will go away without inflationary consequences seems naïve or foolish. Inflation may not attract investors to gold and silver as much as force them to it.
Now, one could make the argument that any rush into gold and silver will be muted if no one has any savings, especially given that demographers say a quarter of the developed world will soon be retired. But even if individuals are wiped out, the world's money supply isn't getting any smaller, and all that cash has to go somewhere.
Is the Table Set for a Mania in Precious Metals?, 6/6/12

The arguments for suppression of gold make very little sense when you examine them. The arguments for silver make absolutely no sense at all; it's a tiny market that nobody cares about except for silver fanatics, who treat it like a religious icon. That said, I'm at least as bullish on silver as gold – but a discussion of that will have to wait.
If anyone could answer these questions, I'd appreciate it. I advise readers to buy gold – even at current levels – but I'd like to see them do it for the right reasons. And it seems to me the arguments about gold manipulation are more redolent of religious belief than economic reasoning.
Precious Metals Market Manipulation?, 5/18/12

Regardless of what you think will happen over the remainder of this decade, one thing seems virtually certain: the value of paper money will be affected, perhaps dramatically. Even if the economy slips into deflation, the deflation wouldn't last long. A panicked Fed would print to the max and set off a wild rise in prices. This is why we're convinced currency dilution will not only continue but accelerate.
Time to Accumulate Gold and Silver, 3/12/12

The American Open Currency Standard has been servicing the state of Missouri for a few years with gold, silver and copper rounds. And now the elected employees at the capitol will finally consider legislation to honor their Constitutional mandate to not “…make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts…”.
Missouri Moving to Constitutional Money, 1/10/12

In roughly two weeks time, unit-holders can add a new risk to their list of worries: the potential for virtually unlimited dilution of any gold actually being held on behalf of those shareholders. When we couple that with the fact that the more that unit-holders lose the more HSBC wins, then the combination of a blatant conflict of interest and the potential for unlimited “dilution” (in HSBC’s favor) represents an intolerable level of risk for any prudent investor.
The mainstream media loves to discourage the holding of “physical” bullion by pointing out that gold (and silver) “costs money” to hold. However, the one-time expense of a home safe, or the monthly fee for a safety-deposit box are trivial amounts, in return for completely eliminating both the massive counterparty risk and the enormous potential for dilution to which all GLD-holders are subjecting themselves. Beyond November 11th, this appears to be a lesson which those unit-holders are about to learn “the hard way”.
'D-Day' Near For GLD, 10/27/11

Just remember that you buy physical gold and silver for prudence. For speculative upside, you buy gold and silver stocks. And while the precious metals have corrected, the stocks have overcorrected. There are some bargains out there, and that’s excellent news given the still-high prices of the underlying commodities. Gold and silver could correct another 20%, and the kind of profitable producers Jeff Clark tracks in BIG GOLD would still make a lot of money.
But let me emphasize this as strongly as possible: We’re headed into perhaps the most tumultuous time in modern history. It’s critical to own a good amount of physical gold. If you, out there reading this, don’t have a sufficient stash, your very next action should be to get on the phone and order some.
Doug Casey: Buying Physical Gold and Silver, 9/30/11

With gold a stone’s throw away from $2,000 and already up 27% on the year, the objective investor might begin wondering how much higher both it and silver can climb. After all, gold is nearing its inflation-adjusted 1980 high – and that peak was a spike that lasted only one day.
So, how much return can we realistically expect in each metal at this point? And is one a better buy than the other? There are dozens of ways to calculate price projections, but I’m going to use data based strictly on past price behavior from the 1970s bull market.
How Far Can Gold and Silver Climb?, 9/19/11

Whenever gold and silver hit a correction, those are the times that try men’s souls. But they are also a classic case of making volatility our friend.
And there should be terrific bargains ahead on great stocks, if the market corrects from recent highs. It enables you to go long at prices as low as, or sometimes even lower than, those paid by speculators who picked winning plays early – but with the advantage of hindsight about the results of those companies’ exploration and development efforts. You get a combination of lower risk and lower prices.
How cool is that?
Zen of Resource Speculation, 8/19/11

Reporting obligations and customs duties on imports of precious metals into a foreign country may be based on face value or spot value. There is no consistency. In many cases, you’ll pay whatever VAT would apply if you purchased the metals in that country. Silver and platinum are subject to VAT by more countries than gold, and VAT on coins is imposed more often than on bars.
Moving Precious Metals Internationally - the Essentials, 8/9/11

Over the past 50 years, the US debt ceiling has been raised over 70 times. In other words, there is no ceiling at all – it is as fictitious as the idea that central planning works, or that the US has anything resembling a "free market."
So, I guess it stands to reason that regardless of the debt ceiling increase, it is likely that the US will be downgraded by one or more ratings agencies. The effect will be massive because the world's largest pension, mutual, and sovereign wealth funds typically mandate investment only in AAA-rated securities. A downgrade of US debt means those funds must immediately sell off their primary reserve asset. The effect of this cannot be overstated, and gold would be the first and best refuge for an onslaught of orphaned capital.
Despite gold once again hitting new highs, I can only recommend my readers continue to keep a healthy portion of their portfolio in precious metals. Given the sad realities of the US fiscal and monetary situation, it's prudent to assume that nothing will be solved by August 2nd.
Peter Schiff: Gold & Silver Beyond the Limit, 8/1/11

Gold and silver are threatening to break new ground driven by one simple fact: Nearly all wealthy nations are labouring under one form of debt/monetary inflation issue or another. Ireland and Greek bonds have now been reduced to junk, Japanese bonds became safer than Chinese as reports of China’s massive deficits internally offset the rosy picture supported by 9.5% performance in the Chinese economy. Italy is looming large as the next bailout candidate, and the United States prioritize political brinkmanship over problem solving. Gold and silver are seeking new highs and threaten to break out strongly – especially now that the Fed has acknowledged a willingness to launch QE3.
Gold & Silver Poised to Surge on Ticking Debt Bombs, 7/15/11

Imagine a day when you go to buy a quart of milk, ask the price, and the cashier says, "that'll be a tenth ounce silver." As the US dollar's decline accelerates, several efforts around the country are trying to make this vision a reality.
Historically, paying for items in silver or gold was actually quite common. We happen to live in an unusual time and place where generations have grown up trading exclusively in paper. While my parents still used dimes made of silver, we have now gone several decades with no precious metals in any of our official coinage. But this system of money by government fiat is unsustainable.
While the practice of bartering precious metals directly for goods and services has continued on a small-scale over the last few decades, the 2000s saw the beginning of organized efforts to revive gold and silver as money.
Rise of the Barter Economy, 7/6/11

This report lays out an investment thesis for gold and one for silver. Various factors lead me to conclude that gold is one investment that you can park for the next ten or twenty years, confident that it will perform well. My timing and logic for both entering and finally exiting gold (and silver) as investments are laid out in the full report.
The punch line is this: Gold and silver are not (yet) in bubble territory, and large gains remain, especially if monetary, fiscal, and fundamental supply-and-demand trends remain in play.
Screaming Fundamentals for Owning Gold & Silver, 6/29/11

While there are many reasons that gold and silver are going to keep moving higher as the fiat currencies trend lower, at our recent Casey Research Summit in Boca Raton, faculty member Mike Maloney pointed out a fact that, while obvious in hindsight, I had never heard mentioned previously.
Namely that during the last major precious metals bull market in the 1970s, only about 10% of the world could own gold – either due to legal restrictions or a lack of liquid capital.
Today, few countries prohibit gold ownership, and a far higher percentage of the world’s population has transitioned out of poverty.
Why Gold (and Silver) Is Going Higher, 5/26/11

The Liberty Dollar case has had a huge impact on the world of gold and silver trading, investing, ownership and use. I covered a lot of ground in Part I and Part II, but there is another important aspect of that case that leaves the legal landscape partly shrouded in ominous and threatening clouds. What is the risk of criminal prosecution or criminal conviction to those who make or use gold and silver rounds of “original design”?
Can You Be Prosecuted for Using Gold or Silver? – Liberty Dollar, 5/11/11

Legendary global investor and chairman of Singapore-based Rogers Holdings, Jim Rogers warned that if silver continues to go up like it has been over the past 2 or 3 weeks and reaches triple digits in 2011, he will probably start to think about selling because then 'you've got a bubble'.
Jim Rogers: All parabolic moves end badly, gold & silver not yet in a bubble, 4/20/11

The latest LBMA clearing statistics (Feb 2011) reveal that the LBMA bullion bank members traded a total average net daily gold volume of 18.1 million ounces with a value of $24.8 billion. Some analysts have in the past estimated that the gross volume is likely to be 3-4 times the net volume giving potentially over 70 million ounces of gross gold trading worth 100 billion dollars. This would be equivalent to trading all the gold that is mined in world each year each and every day! Clearly the majority of this trading is unbacked by physical gold. The bullion banks only make a ledger entry for gold sold or bought and as long as the client never asks for delivery the bank never has to have the gold. I have through my studies indicated that probably 45 ounces of gold have been sold for each one that exists.
Bullion Bank Trading – A Closely Guarded Secret, 4/7/11

Two-thousand miles away from Washington, Utah sent a strong message yesterday that the nation’s monetary system is dysfunctional. A bill authorizing gold and silver as legal tender passed the statehouse and with the governor’s signature will become law. This pushback against the Federal Reserve was truly a bottom-up effort, initiated by a group of activists and two freshman legislators keenly aware that the debt-based dollar is a significant drag on the U.S. economy. And it paves the way for more grassroots efforts to challenge the status quo and Ben Bernanke, something previously unthinkable.
Utah passes a bill authorizing gold and silver as legal tender, 3/11/11

Is there any rhyme or reason to the millennial old relationship between gold and silver? For centuries it was decreed that about sixteen ounces of silver had the purchasing power of one ounce of gold. This was set by way of acknowledgement to the supply and demand fundamentals of the time as well as an attempt to impose some stability on the situation. It got me thinking in this almost freely floating market of today as to what the various types of gold to silver ratios are saying today. Do they say anything at all or nothing at all in regard to that old monetary ratio?
Mystery of the Gold Silver Ratio, 8/3/6

Government Control/ Confiscation

So it seems clear to me that FDR confiscated American’s gold for the same reason Lenin confiscated it in Russia and Hitler confiscated it in Germany, namely, to get it out of the hands of the people. This point is made clear in a wonderful speech given in 1948 by Howard Buffett, the father of Wall Street legend Warren Buffett, entitled “Human Freedom Rests on Gold Redeemable Money”. A thorough reading of Buffett’s thoughtful speech will help clear the myths and explain the reality of gold confiscation.
Myths and Reality of Gold Confiscation, 11/28/11

A couple of weeks ago our report that some Austrian banks had begun restricting the sale of gold and silver to 15,000 Euro (~$20,000 USD) reportedly because of money laundering issues was met with disbelief by many readers of financial news and information web sites. As we mentioned in that commentary, it is our view that governments, namely in Western nations, are making it more difficult for individuals to make gold purchases, as well as to do so anonymously.
It looks like this trend of restricting the peoples’ ability to acquire assets of real monetary value is expanding. If a recent report from France is accurate, and based on the French governments official web site it looks like it is, then as of September 1, 2011, anyone attempting to sell or purchase ferrous or non-ferrous metals, which includes gold and silver, will be required to pay for their purchase via a credit card or bank wire transfer if it exceeds 450€ (~ $600 USD.
France Bans Cash Sales of Gold/Silver Over $600, 9/26/11

It's an interesting thought that the greatest threat to gold and silver investment might not be the possibility of losing on the speculation, but the government taking it away from you. It's a thought that I've found few want to even think about, let alone discuss.
If you fall into this camp, you're in good company. Some of those forecasters whom I respect most highly also treat it either as "unlikely" or, at best, "something we may need to look at in the future." To date, in conversing with top advisors worldwide, the two primary reasons they believe gold will not be confiscated:
1. "Confiscation would mean the government acknowledges the reality of the value of gold."
Yes, this is quite so. They would be changing their official view… which, of course, they do all the time. But I submit that all that they need to do is put the proper spin on it.
2. "They would meet greater resistance than they did back in '33."
I expect that this is also true, but that a plan will be put in place to deal with that resistance.
The advisers he consulted are correct. There are lots of other arguments that support them. I shall cover some of these arguments in greater detail here.
Gold Confiscation: A Highly Unlikely Threat, 9/21/11

This week we returned from a trip to the Eurozone where we met with a host of different people across many countries and several industries. All of the indicators we’re seeing – construction starts, bank lending, personal borrowing habits, economic growth, and even the (lack of) items in grocery store carts – suggest that Europe is on the brink, though as is generally the case, the average European has no clue what’s coming their way.
The most alarming situation we identified is one relating to the purchase of gold coins and bullion – specifically in the country of Austria – but one that will likely make its way across the EU if it hasn’t already. Unlike the United States, where gold and silver can be purchased through traditional methods like visiting a local dealer directly, or even placing an order on the internet, it is much more difficult to find a gold/silver dealer outside of Germany or Switzerland. As a result, those individuals interested in acquiring gold are left with purchasing directly from local bank branches.
Banks, Governments Move To Restrict Personal Gold Bullion Purchases, 9/9/11

It is a sad indictment of the dictatorial policies of the U.S. government when an honest citizen has to fear confiscation of his or her private property, but that is today’s reality in Police State America.
An official policy continues of wanton confiscation of gold and gold coins by U.S. government agents, not only from innocent travelers, but in lawsuits against legitimate gold coin owners.
With the gold price nearing $1900 an ounce today (Aug. 22) it appears that the feds will go right on grabbing all they can.
In spite of the fact that ownership and possession of gold is fully legal for Americans government agents are seizing gold from innocent people, offering no justification and with no complaints from Obama administration officials. The bureaucrats even refuse to explain what Americans must do to avoid their attacks on private property.
Government Takes Away Gold and Our Rights, 9/8/11

You may remember Bernard von NotHaus, purveyor of the gold/silver backed “Liberty Dollar,” who was convicted of making, possessing, and selling his own coins, as well as conspiracy against the United States. The lead attorney on the case made it a point to refer to Mr. NotHaus’ dealing as a special form of domestic terrorism.
Since the coins NotHaus was selling have been deemed to violate Federal counterfeiting statutes, they are now considered contraband by the US Attorney and Secret Service.
Hide Your Liberty Dollars, Secret Service Is Coming To Confiscate!, 8/31/11

We wanted to make you aware of some upcoming changes to FOREX.com’s product offering. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act enacted by US Congress, a new regulation prohibiting US residents from trading over the counter precious metals, including gold and silver, will go into effect on Friday, July 15, 2011.
In conjunction with this new regulation, FOREX.com must discontinue metals trading for US residents on Friday, July 15, 2011 at the close of trading at 5pm ET. As a result, all open metals positions must be closed by July 15, 2011 at 5pm ET.
We encourage you to wind down your trading activity in these products over the next month in anticipation of the new rule, as any open XAU or XAG positions that remain open prior to July 15, 2011 at approximately 5:00 pm ET will be automatically liquidated.
We sincerely regret any inconvenience complying with the new U.S. regulation may cause you. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our customer service team.
Sincerely, The Team at FOREX.com
Trading Of Over The Counter Gold And Silver To Be Illegal Beginning July 15, 6/18/11

Bottom line: If you understand the "Kimberely Process" which certifies which diamonds are not "conflict diamonds", you have to understand that the process won't stop at the mining source. Eventually all gold will be required to be "proved" that it comes from a non-conflict zone and there is no way that can even be attempted without a serial number on each coin. We are not there, yet. But the program announced by the World Gold Council is sadly another significant step toward the attempt to track all gold. The attempt will be made.
Bastards Want to Track Our Gold!, 6/17/11

A week ago, when we reported on a move by the Dutch central bank that ordered a pension fund to forcibly reduce its gold holdings, we speculated that "this latest gold confiscation equivalent event is most certainly coming to a banana republic near you." And while we got the Banana republic right, the event that we are about to describe is not necessarily identical. It is much worse. A bill proposed in the State of Washington (House Bill 1716), by representatives Asay, Hurst, Klippert, Pearson, and Miloscia, whose alleged purpose is to regulate secondhand gold dealers, seeks to capture "the name, date of birth, sex, height, weight, race, and address and telephone number of the person with whom the transaction is made" or said otherwise, of every purchaser of gold in the state of Washington. Furthermore, if passed, Bill 1716 will record "a complete description of the property pledged, bought, or consigned, including the brand name, serial number, model number or name, any initials or engraving, size, pattern, and color or stone or stones" and of course price. But the kicker: if a transaction is mode for an amount over $100, which means one tenth of an ounce of golds, also required will be a "signature, photo, and fingerprint of the person with whom the transaction is made." In other words, very soon Washington state will know more about you than you know about yourself, if you dare to buy any gold object worth more than a C-note. How this proposal is supposed to protect consumers against vulture gold dealers we don't quite get. Hopefully someone will explain it to us. We do, however, get how Americans will part with any and all privacy if they were to exchange fiat for physical. And in a police state like America, this will likely not be taken lightly, thereby killing the gold trade should the proposed Bill pass, and be adopted elsewhere.
Prepare To Give Up All Private Data For Any Gold Purchase Over $100, 2/18/11

Not only does the small business person have the privilege of having to gather the sellers fingerprints (and hopefully store those in an appropriate manner), but they are unable to sell the item for 45 days. With the fluctuating price of precious metals what sane business person would consent to that?
Gold Sales NIBS in Washington State, 2/15/11

Federal Way leaders want the state to more closely regulate secondhand dealers offering "cash for gold," hoping to thwart criminals from converting stolen jewelry into fast dollars.
Bill in Washington requires private sellers of gold be fingerprinted, paid non-cash, 2/8/11

The 1099 reform in the health care bill passed by Congress and signed by the President has turned the physical gold market upside down. Under the new law, gold buyers and sellers will have to fill out a 1099 on each side of the transaction if the sales price is greater than $600. As a result, many investors who have been buying gold as an anonymous way to protect their wealth are now feeling the heat.
1099 Supply Shock for Gold Buyers, 9/30/10

Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny.
Angered by New Tax Law, 7/21/10

Gold

In March, certain corners of the Internet exploded when a one-kilo gold bar was allegedly found to have been "salted" with Tungsten, a metal with a similar weight but far less valuable.
How A Manhattan Jeweler Wound Up With Gold Bars Filled With Tungsten, 9/19/12

Official sector purchases soared in the second quarter, with central banks around the world scooping up 157.5 tons of gold. That number marks a 62.9 percent increase from the first quarter and a whopping 137.9 percent increase year-over-year.
World's Central Banks Are Bulking Up In Gold, 8/16/12

Gold has been consolidating for almost a year. Two key symmetrical triangles have formed, and they appear to be acting as the “firing pins” that will help gold begin a major price advance.
Golden Age Is Here, 8/7/12

The key to this market is to understand that a price collapse is coming – but not for gold. Instead, the market for US dollars and dollar-denominated debt is headed off a cliff, which will send the price of precious metals soaring.
Peter Schiff: Gold: Priced for Fake Money Collapse, 8/3/12

Global currency debasement has been one of the main drivers for gold's appreciation and massive jumps in central bank balance sheets are also associated with kicking off big moves in gold. With the massive amount of debt to roll over just ahead and the likely increase in central bank balance sheets, we may just see gold head to new all-time highs as global investors move to protect their capital from the tidal wave of cheap money.
Global QE Is Coming: Let the Gold Mania Begin!, 7/26/12

Against this historical cycle, the best insurance policy is physical gold. Those with the most of it will best weather the coming rounds of competitive devaluation. No wonder that central banks in the emerging markets are scrambling to play catch up to their developed-world counterparts.
How much gold will central banks stockpile? We cannot and do not know for sure. What we can and do know for sure is that they have prudently decided on a strategic shift in policy. This is creating a floor for the price of gold and a brighter future ahead for those who are prepared for the return of sound money.
Peter Schiff: Return of the Gold Standard, 7/6/12

A giant new reason may be heading our way … Specifically, the central banks’ central bank – the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) – is considering reclassifying gold as risk-free assets as part of the Basel III framework.
Proposed BIS Banking Regulations Will Drive Gold Prices Higher, 6/29/12

At the Idaho GOP convention in Twin Falls, the state GOP decided to preserve the platform of abolishing the Federal Reserve Bank and instituting dollars backed by gold and silver.
Idaho GOP: End the Fed, bring back gold, 6/26/12

If there is a single confession of faith uniting economists all over the world today it is this: their uncompromising hostility to a full gold coin standard.
The second confession of faith is their qualified support of the idea of central banking.
The two positions are operationally one position.
Why Economists Hate the Gold Coin Standard, 6/2/12

The gold standard, under which any holder of paper dollars could redeem them for gold at the US Treasury, is now within the living memory of just a few million Americans, nearly all of whom would be dangerous behind the wheel. But thanks to the money printing and the federal deficits that have grown to astounding scales since 2008, and thanks also to the clashing pronouncements of Ron Paul and Ben Bernanke, the idea of a gold standard has resurfaced in the public's consciousness.
Myths and Realities of Returning to a Gold Standard, 5/31/12

The end of America's current monetary system is certain, and it is approaching fast. The only question is what will replace it?
Gold, Money, & the Parable of the 3 Little Pigs, 5/3/12

Is the gold standard a perfect solution? "It's a monetary arrangement in which human beings operate and direct, which means it's necessarily imperfect. It's just the least imperfect."
Should we return to the gold standard?, 4/25/12

I will conclude by just saying that based on what we see here every day, we believe gold and silver prices will continue to go up.
Will India Stop Buying Gold?, 3/30/12

The best thing to do in preparation for any financial crisis is to own physical gold. It should be your largest holding. Asian physical buyers are accumulating gold at these highly attractive prices. In the gold market, a good motto is, “Do as the Asians do!”
USD Meltdown Is Your Gold Advantage, 3/9/12

Economic crises signal that the current system isn't working as expected and needs improvement. When it comes to monetary systems, questioning their fundamentals can lead to doubts about whether the preferred medium of exchange will continue to be preferred for long. The large-scale whirlwind of economic trouble around the globe has pushed some to rethink the role of gold in the economy – and to actually move toward bringing it back.
Is Gold Money? Iran Says Yes, 2/29/12

'Gold Bullion Or Cash' is an interesting and informative video made to educate people about gold bullion and why gold is safer than cash in the long term.
What's Liquid, Has No Nationality, and Holds Its Value? - Gold Bullion or Cash?, 2/24/12

I was on a panel at the recent California Investment Conference in Palm Springs and the question was asked, "What percentage of your portfolio should be in gold bullion?"
The first panelist answered 20%. The second panelist said, up to 30%. Then it came to me.
"I have no problem with someone having 100% of their portfolio in gold," I stated bluntly.
Jeff Berwick: Why Fear Gold?, 2/23/12

A French Champagne producer is spreading the wealth with his workers after they discovered nearly $1 million in gold coins stashed away in the building's rafters, according to Agence France Press (AFP).
"One of the workers (was) attacking the building's ceiling with a crowbar when gold coins started to rain down on him, followed by sacks of gold," Francois Lange, head of Alexandre Bonnet in Les Riceys France, told AFP.
Secret $1 million gold stash discovered in French rafters, 2/16/12

NumberSleuth.org took on the ever interesting task of breaking down the life of gold, including where it is, who has it, and where it’s going. Some of the facts pulled from this beautiful graphic are astonishing.
Did you know that all the gold in the world could be broken down to 5 golden rings per person on the planet? Or that contrary to most of you reading this, jewelry is the main use of gold, not investments!
Wonderful World of Gold in One Graphic, 2/15/12

Catalyst #1: Spend & Print
Catalyst #2: Global Printing Presses
Catalyst #3: Gold for Oil
Catalyst #4: Failing Banks
Four Reasons Why Gold Could Hit $2,500, 2/3/12

You and I are all in the back seat. Bernanke is in the driver's seat. We have two choices: buckle up or not.
If you want to buckle up, you buy some gold bullion coins. If you want to live dangerously, you buy and hold a no-load fund of the S&P 500 and a no-load fund of U.S. Treasury bonds.
Gold Procrastinators: The Endless Agony, 1/30/12

So next time you consider gold as an investment, ask yourself why you are buying it. If you're worried about 20% up and down moves, then you are simply speculating on the price of gold. If you're looking for a portfolio diversifier, then you will be willing to accept gold's counter relationship to other asset classes. But if you are truly looking to protect from economic or political collapse, and need an enduring store of wealth, you may want to think like the wealthy class and hold physical gold in a hidden yet easily accessible location.
Visualize: All The World's Gold, 1/12/12
Why the Wealthy Own Gold, 1/10/12

Save in gold. That new car or retirement home or world travel you want to spend money on someday will be a lot easier to afford if your savings are denominated in the one asset that can't be debased, devalued or destroyed.
Start Thinking in Terms of Gold Price, 12/7/11

But if China and commodities have succeeded in driving a wedge between the two legendary investors, the one investment still uniting them is gold, although they both warn of possible corrections.
Marc Faber, Jim Rogers clash over China and commodities, agree on gold, 12/5/11

Ned Naylor-Leyland, investment director at Cheviot Asset Management, talks about the outlook for gold prices. He speaks with Francine Lacqua on Bloomberg Television's "On the Move."
Gold Will Reach $2000 an Ounce in 'Near Future', 11/29/11

Gold traders are more bullish after investors accumulated the biggest-ever hoard of the metal, with Europe’s deepening debt crisis driving them to protect their wealth with this year’s second-best performing commodity. Eighteen of 26 surveyed by Bloomberg expect bullion to rise next week.
Record Gold Hoard Spurs Bullish Bets, 11/25/11

Most gold followers know the metal has a seasonal tendency to perform better in the fall and winter than in the spring and summer. Indeed, since 2001, the annual high for the gold price has occurred after Labor Day every year except two (2006 and 2008). Further, that peak was hit in November or December in seven of the last ten years.
So, are we destined for new highs in the gold price between now and New Year's Eve? And what about gold stocks?
Why Gold Should Set New Highs for the Holidays, 11/15/11

In 1973, Louis Oliari opened Coins ’N Things, a small storefront between a Dairy Queen and a hair salon in Brockton, Mass. His teenage son Mark had become obsessed with coin trading, and Louis, an engineer and a coin enthusiast himself, figured if he indulged the kid he’d eventually outgrow the hobby and go to college. “The whole idea was that I’d get bored and get this out of my system,” Mark, now 54, remembers.
Family That Sells Gold to the Government, 11/3/11

Is there a solution for America? The current administration’s showcase achievement seems to be nothing but a giant mushroom of debt. August numbers released by the Treasury Department show the national debt has increased $4 trillion on President Obama's watch, in just two and half years. We are supposed to believe that a “debt commission” will fix this problem. As an investor, the only rational course of action is to hold some physical gold & silver outside of the banking system.
Gold Stock Technicals Are Ultra Bullish, 10/28/11

The return to real money is making swift gains as public distrust and uncertainty about the viability of fiat currencies continues to grow. And according to a recent report in Digital Journal, some countries, including China, are actually installing automated teller machines (ATM) that dispense gold bullion rather than paper currency.
Since 2000, the price of gold in terms of US fiat currency (Federal Reserve Notes) has jumped nearly 800 percent as a result of inflation and the continued decline of the dollar. In response to this and the perpetual decline and instability of fiat currencies in general, the Chinese metropolis of Beijing has installed its first gold ATM in a shopping mall. And more than 2,000 gold ATMs are set to be installed elsewhere throughout the country, which will allow residents to easily exchange their cash for the precious metal.
Return to real money: China to install more than 2,000 gold ATMs, 10/6/11

It may not feel like it after a 12% correction in the past 30 days, but Mike Maloney – founder of GoldSilver.com – is convinced that we’re in a gold bull market that will be life changing for those who participate. I interviewed him for our current edition of BIG GOLD and am sharing some of what we talked about here. You may be shocked at what you read, because he’s devoted a larger allocation to gold and silver than we have. See why he’s convinced a bubble is ahead for precious metals, how high prices will go, and why he stores some gold overseas.
On the Threshold of the Greatest Bubble in History, 10/5/11

Do not get caught in the exuberance or pessimism of short-term movements, even if they're sharp. Observe the fundamentals – the events in Europe, the looming budget calamity in the US, central bankers' steadfast strategy of debasement, and emerging markets' continued diversification into precious metals. These are the main drivers for gold's long-term appreciation.
To my readers who may have purchased metals just before this pullback, your concern is understandable. But I believe this bull market has a long way to run, and the rise up ahead looks even steeper from these levels.
Peter Schiff: On the Recent Gold Pullback, 10/4/11

In this video, you'll see bimbo reporter Bridget Brown explain, in her own struggling words, why the U.S. dollar is a far safer financial instrument than gold. As she confidently articulates to whatever hapless Canadian viewers are dumb enough to watch the mainstream news channel this aired on, gold is "backed by nothing!"
Lest you think that comment deserves some sort of award in its own right, the genius actually continues. The dollar, she says, is backed by what she calls the "American government."
Most moronic TV news journalist ever? Gold is "backed by nothing" while dollars are backed by government!, 9/30/11

Gold fell for a fourth day and slid below $1,600 an ounce, while silver erased its gains this year, as some investors sold the metals to cover losses in other assets. Bullion futures dropped more than margin requirements for a second consecutive day.
The euro slumped to an eight-month low versus the dollar on concern European policy makers are struggling to resolve the debt crisis as the region's economy slows. Commodities touched the lowest level since December and global equities were near the lowest in more than year. The value of a 100-ounce futures contract traded in New York dropped $10,190 on Sept. 23, more than the $9,450 margin requirement that day, prompting margin increases.
Gold Slides More Than Comex Margins as Investors Cover Losses, 9/26/11

The markets are going through another sell-off phase, yet the traditional notions of a "safe haven" are changing. No longer is the US dollar the default shelter; instead, gold, the Swiss franc, and the Japanese yen are the preferred assets.
All three of these havens – gold, francs, and yen – have been surging upward this month. Two of them, however, are being actively devalued by central banks desperately (and foolishly) trying to curtail appreciation. The Swiss and Japanese are enlisting both policy measures and all the banker-speak they can muster to stem the tide of investment flows into their currencies.
The game is Last Haven Standing, and Spielberg has already acquired the movie rights.
Gold: Last Haven Standing, 9/5/11

Wondering why gold at $1850 is cheap, or why gold at double that price will also be cheap, or frankly at any price? Because, as the following leaked cable explains, gold is, to China at least, nothing but the opportunity cost of destroying the dollar's reserve status. Putting that into dollar terms is, therefore, impractical at best, and illogical at worst. We have a suspicion that the following cable from the US embassy in China is about to go not viral but very much global, and prompt all those mutual fund managers who are on the golden sidelines to dip a toe in the 24 karat pool. The only thing that matters from China's perspective is that "suppressing the price of gold is very beneficial for the U.S. in maintaining the U.S. dollar's role as the international reserve currency. China's increased gold reserves will thus act as a model and lead other countries towards reserving more gold. Large gold reserves are also beneficial in promoting the internationalization of the RMB." Now, what would happen if mutual and pension funds finally comprehend they are massively underinvested in the one asset which China is without a trace of doubt massively accumulating behind the scenes is nothing short of a worldwide scramble, not so much for paper, but every last ounce of physical gold...
Wikileaks Discloses The Reason(s) Behind China's Shadow Gold Buying Spree, 9/3/11

“Gold -- I've been receiving many calls to the effect, ‘Should I sell my gold now?’ My answer is that I don't have the ultimate answer to that question. My thinking is that gold has been in a decade-long (bull) market. Most extended bull markets end with a third-phase period of torrid speculation and a mass entrance by the retail public. So far, we have seen neither.
My inclination is to ride the gold bull market until it provides a classic ending. That means sitting through many a coming correction and perhaps extended periods where gold does little or nothing. In other words, I may be doing something stupid but I'm sitting.”
Richard Russell: Expect Mass Entry Into Gold By Retail Public, 8/19/11

Gold is trading off a bit from its recent high of $1,800 per ounce. This does not surprise me. Whenever a stock or commodity picks up strong momentum, short-term traders jump in for the ride. These short-term traders hold no fundamental understanding of why a commodity or stock is going up, they are just along for the price action. Since they have no fundamental underpinning for their purchase, when there is some short-term downward pressure, they sell because of that downward pressure. Indeed, in the EPJ Daily Alert I have warned that a $500 per ounce drop in the price of gold could occur. It could occur now, or when gold hits $2,500 per ounce. But this selling will have no relevance to the long-term price of gold,which likely will be much higher.
The Case for $25,000 per Ounce Gold, 8/15/11

When the gold price hit $1,800/oz. today, the first thought I had wasn’t to congratulate myself for buying most of what I own for under $400/oz. It was wondering how soon my own gold holdings would make me a “covered expatriate.”
If this sounds like Greek to you, let me explain. Under the U.S. Tax Code a covered expatriate is someone who may have to pay an exit tax upon giving up U.S. citizenship or long-term residence, among other unpleasant consequences.
Expatriation and Gold Prices, 8/15/11

Gold surged more than 3 percent on Monday, surpassing $1,700 an ounce for the first time after Standard & Poor's cut the top-notch AAA credit rating of the United States, setting off an investor stampede for safety.
Gold soars over $1,700 on debt fears, equities tumble, 8/8/11

Every time I write a “World According to Gold” piece, gold is setting a new record, among a new crop of bubble-callers, and still the world hesitates to pile into gold for fear of getting burned. Many of those who have doubled or tripled their money have since died, retired, or simply kept on making money investing, succumbing to the addictive quality of wealth. The only other consistency with the new old record and another eponymous article, is that there is yet again more fiat capital in the system. But now, the rate at which capital fabrication is increasing is itself increasing. In other words, larger sums are required just to keep the international circle-jerk in motion.
World According to Gold, 7/30/11

There are gold coins and counterfeit gold coins. Similarly, there are gold standards and counterfeit gold standards. When dealing with gold coins or theories of a gold standard, I suggest that you adopt a slogan from 1950s advertising: "Accept no substitutes!"
Here is the real thing: a free market standard without any government involvement – no mint, no central bank, no legal tender laws, no printing presses, no warehouse receipts, no "free" storage. Just this: laws against fraud and laws enforcing contracts. That system will produce a gold coin standard for large transactions and a silver coin standard for smaller ones. The users can decide what they want to use as money. The ruling elites will no longer be allowed to counterfeit, confiscate, or manipulate money.
When an economist who defends this system wins the Nobel Prize on the basis of his defense, we will know that our deliverance draweth nigh. If the prize is awarded in gold coins, we have entered the Golden Age.
Counterfeit Gold Standards, 7/23/11

This is the era of the Internet Reformation. Bankers are being nailed to the wall like Martin Luther's theses. The great, grasping mechanism of mercantilist central banking has been exposed for all to see. The bottom line issue is one of fairness. Comity and civil society are at risk when people feel they are being taken advantage of at a fundamental level.
Societies that use some form of gold-as-money are apt to be fairer and healthier than fiat-money societies. The Chinese who have experienced eight ruinous bouts with fiat currency call it "flying money." Gold doesn't fly. In this sense, it has a morality as well as a utility. It is the antidote to Dougherty's moral hazard.
The Morality of Gold, 7/22/11

Right now, the global financial system is facing a crisis that is really unprecedented. The reserve currency of the world (the U.S. dollar) is collapsing and the second most powerful currency on the planet (the euro) is also collapsing. As the major paper currencies of the globe crumble, the hunger that investors around the world have for gold continues to grow. Today, the price of gold hit an all-time record of $1607.90 an ounce. But that record surely will not live for long. The truth is that gold has been steadily climbing for quite some time now. A year ago, the price of gold was hovering around $1200 an ounce and and many “mainstream economists” scoffed at the idea that the price of gold could go significantly higher. Well, nobody is laughing now. As colossal debt loads continue to crush both Europe and the United States, the euro and the dollar are going to continue to collapse. There are going to be more bailouts and central banks are going to be doing more money printing. So how high is all of this going to push the price of gold?
As The Dollar And The Euro Continue To Collapse, How High Is That Going To Push The Price Of Gold?, 7/19/11

The Swiss Parliament is expected later this year to discuss the creation of a gold franc — a parallel currency to the official Swiss franc, with the fringe initiative likely triggering a broader debate about the role of the precious metal in the Alpine nation.
Swiss right-wing party seeks way back to gold standard, 7/8/11

Fiat currencies the world over are being manipulated by central banks, which is distorting asset and commodity prices. Successful investing requires that investors have a good idea of what things cost and what they are really worth – and using the world's oldest and most stable form of money, gold, to compare prices is one way to get that insight.
Its Weight in Gold: The Real Prices of Things, 6/18/11

With various states debating measures to elevate the monetary status of gold, the gold standard is more politically relevant now than it has been in decades. When the LA Times (to pick just one example) runs an article stating matter-of-factly that "economists" uniformly oppose gold, you know the defenders of the current system are getting nervous. Precisely because a gold standard is such a hot topic lately, it's important for people to understand its rationale. In the present article I'll try to clear up a few misconceptions.
Gold Standard: Myths and Lies, 6/16/11

Chinese investors are snapping up gold bars and coins, buying more than ever before in the first quarter of 2011 and overtaking Indian buyers as the world's biggest purchasers of the metal.
China's investment demand for gold more than doubled to 90.9 metric tons in the first three months of the year, outpacing India's modest rise to 85.6 tons, the World Gold Council said in its quarterly report on Thursday. China now accounts for 25% of gold investment demand, compared with India's 23%.
China Is Now Top Gold Bug, 5/20/11

Politicians of both parties will oppose the restoration of gold, although they may outwardly seemingly favor it. Also those elements here and abroad who are getting rich from the continued American inflation will oppose a return to sound money. You must be prepared to meet their opposition intelligently and vigorously. They have had 15 years of unbroken victory.
But, unless you are willing to surrender your children and your country to galloping inflation, war and slavery, then this cause demands your support. For if human liberty is to survive in America, we must win the battle to restore honest money.
There is no more important challenge facing us than this issue – the restoration of your freedom to secure gold in exchange for the fruits of your labors.
Human Freedom Rests on Gold Redeemable Money, 5/14/11

It took 200 years to build and perfect the classic gold standard system; then it was destroyed in about seven weeks when the Guns of August 1914 thundered across Europe; and now I am allotted seven minutes to resurrect it. Fortunately, Churchill’s defense of democracy also applies to the daunting task at hand: To wit, the classic gold standard is the worst possible monetary system – except for all of the alternative inflation-generating, savings-destroying, debt-breeding, bubble-emitting and boom and bust-prone systems which have been tried in the 100 years since its demise. Hence, we offer six present day monetary vices which are curable by gold:
Case for the Gold Standard, 5/9/11

The average investor should recognize that there is little time left to purchase precious metals before substantial new demand drives the price of gold higher. A very small percentage change in large institutional investment is all that's required for massive gold price increases. I believe we are on the cusp of a smart-money gold rush. It will drive gold to a record in real terms, even before retail investors join in. Though you may have missed the last decade of gains, there is still a chance to buy in before the stampede.
Peter Schiff: Institutional Gold Rush, 5/6/11

If you’ve been investing in precious metals then you’ve likely made a pretty decent profit on your wealth preservation investment over the last several years. With the popularity of precious metals increasing exponentially as the economic crisis and geopolitical climate heats up, investors looking for protection against inflation and instability have been pouring into precious metals ETFs, stocks, contracts, and pool accounts. For many, the physical metal has become the investment vehicle of choice, but a large portion of investors, especially large buyers, choose to store those metals with their brokers/dealers.
Precious Metals Storage Scam: 'Sorry, Delivery Is Not Possible', 4/25/11

Yesterday the WSJ told us that World Is Bitten by the Gold Bug. Gold continued its upward march in a time of global financial tumult, closing above $1,500 an ounce Thursday for the first time as investors seek safe haven in the metal....
Dollar and Gold: A 20-Year Perspective, 4/24/11

With gold and silver continuing on their historic run, the Godfather of newsletter writers Richard Russell had this to say in his latest commentary, “Gold -- The desperate battle to keep gold below 1500 continues. I watched the erratic action of gold near yesterday's close. I'm fascinated to see whether June gold can close above 1500 or whether the anti-gold contingent can manage to knock gold down (again) below 1500.
The Great Gold Tsunami Lies Ahead, 4/22/11

Back around 2005 when housing was booming, far from a sign of economic vitality, the proverbial "rush to the real" signaled a growing economic downturn. Thanks to a dollar in freefall as evidenced by a spike in the price of gold, always limited capital was migrating toward the hard, unproductive assets least vulnerable to currency devaluation.
When the Dollar Falls to 1/1500th of an Ounce of Gold - It's an economic fire alarm – and burglar alarm, 4/20/11

Gold prices rallied to a record high $1,497.20 an ounce on Monday after Standard & Poor's downgraded its credit outlook for the United States and as investors worried about debt in the euro zone and inflation in China. Gold hits record near $1,500/oz after S&P move, 4/18/11

CPM Group recently released their 2011 Gold Yearbook, an invaluable resource for us gold analysts. Mostly a reference book, even a gold enthusiast might find it dry reading. But I loved it, and as I studied it on a plane, I kept finding data that made me perk up.
2011 Gold Quiz, 4/16/11

If you did what Bill Bonner and I have been recommending for a decade, you own gold. Bonner began promoting the purchase of gold in the year 2000. I strongly promoted this for my subscribers after September 11, 2001, when the Federal Reserve began pumping up the monetary base in earnest. Neither of us has ever stopped recommending holding money in gold.
Your Gold Coins, 4/13/11

In a few months we'll "celebrate" the 40th anniversary of the day when the US Government declared bankruptcy. Oh, they didn't call it that at the time. But what happened on August 15, 1971 was that the US defaulted on its promise to pay gold for dollars. It is now clear that they didn't have very much gold left to pay.
Where Is America's Gold?: The Mystery of Ft. Knox, 4/7/11

Marc Faber the Swiss fund manager and Gloom Boom & Doom editor says it is a big error to print money because it rarely flows into the assets central banks aim to boost. He says more people have already sold their gold than have increased their positions and he doesn’t think gold is in a bubble
Marc Faber: Gold is very cheap in comparison to the money and credit that has been created, 4/1/11

Gold is now "out in the open" with no overhead resistance and no overhead supply. So far the bull market advance since 1999 has been steady, quiet, and orderly. Except for its spectacular slow relentless climb, there's been no excitement in the gold bull market. I don't think this is going to continue.
Gold:Out in the Open, 3/25/11

$105 per barrel oil. Cotton prices at record levels. Food prices at 2008 highs. Typically, such commodity price increases would send central banks running to the U.S. Dollar to secure the value of their savings. After all, the dollar has been the reserve currency since World War I. But not this time. Central banks are shedding dollars [DXC1 75.89 -0.155 (-0.2%) ], reducing their holdings by about $9 billion in previous quarter, according to Nomura Securities’ Jens Nordvig, global head of G10 FX Strategy. What are they buying instead? Gold [GCCV1 1431.70 -3.20 (-0.22%) ]. The yellow metal hit a fresh record high this morning, while the dollar index dropped to a 15-month low. The news had Fast Money’s Brian Kelly looking to add more gold and silver longs to his portfolio Thursday morning.
Gold Replacing Dollar as World’s Reserve Currency?, 3/24/11

Several legislative initiatives caught our attention recently. All of them are related to the monetary role of gold and range from proposals to return to the gold standard, to minting gold and silver as an alternative currency, to having all state transactions carried out in gold and silver coins, to permitting citizens to run their own mints.
Do these proposals signal a significant attitude change among politicians and mainstream economic institutions toward gold? No. They are largely regarded as fringe ideas and dismissed out of hand. The third link above is written in a condescending tone that implies everyone knows that the gold standard is bad for an economy and it caused the Great Depression. Still, it’s quite telling that opinions that gold can be incorporated into a modern economy are becoming numerous, and actually making it onto the legislative agenda in various jurisdictions.
A Comeback for Gold-Backed Money?, 3/15/11

Gold is a valuable thing to store. Believe this with the trust of an Indian farmer. Don't pay attention to a self-educated gold promoter who tells you that gold is a store of value or has intrinsic value. Understand the logic of gold before you buy it. The logic of gold is that, fifty years from now, someone will buy that gold with something of value. Ben Bernanke does not believe this. That's another reason to buy gold.
A Valuable Thing to Store, 3/4/11

So what’s the best place to store your physical gold? Well, your choices boil down to three: store your gold in a safe deposit box, bury it, or hide it indoors. Each method has pluses and minuses, but probably the best method is a combination of them all. In other words, diversify your storage locations. My friend could’ve been wiped out if the robber hadn’t been trying to be sneaky.
Last, don’t let this scare you off from buying bullion. It’s still the asset that offers the best monetary protection for the foreseeable future. Not owning it may leave you feeling robbed when you go to use your paper dollars and find they won’t buy you as much as you thought. That’s not a theft you can prevent – unless you own gold.
How Safe Is Your Physical Gold?, 3/3/11

It's been nearly 80 years since the U.S. stopped using gold coins as legal currency, and nearly 40 since the world abandoned the gold standard, but the precious metal could be making a comeback in the United States -- beginning in Utah. The Utah House was to vote as early as Thursday on legislation that would recognize gold and silver coins issued by the federal government as legal currency in the state. The coins would not replace the current paper currency but would be used and accepted voluntarily as an alternative.
Utah Considers Return to Gold, Silver Coins, 3/3/11

It’s getting serious, Gresham’s Law is kicking in and this isn’t any “run-of-the-mill” Gresham’s Law either – it’s “Gresham’s Law Squared”. Not only is there huge hoarding of gold and silver, but it is being compounded by the simultaneous transformation of the gold and silver markets themselves. Having been dominated by paper claims to bullion, all that matters now is ownership of the physical metal itself. The price of gold and silver on your Bloomberg screen is actually a HYBRID price of physical bullion and a larger amount of “paper” bullion, e.g. unallocated gold and silver, exchange traded futures, OTC derivatives and some ETFs. The paper bullion price and the metal price are still the same, but this market structure (which had successfully channelled much of the demand away from physical metal) is now breaking down.
Gresham’s Law Squared – Gearing Up For Game Over, 2/24/11

China's grab for gold is accelerating at a rapid pace, and it's raising questions about the country's ultimate intentions. China consumed 175.2 tons of gold in the fourth-quarter of 2010, bringing its grand total for the year to 579.5 tons, or 18.5 million ounces, according to the World Gold Council. That's a lot of gold. The U.S., in comparison, bought 233.3 tons. It's unknown how much of that gold was consumed by citizens or its central bank, but the question still remains -- What will China do with all that gold?
Is China Trying To Create A New Gold Standard?, 2/17/11

Gold is in a 2nd stage of a bull market. We will see a more rapid price appreciation than in the past years. Price target until 2015: 8000 Dollars. Price manipulation has come to an end. Gold as natural alternative to currencies. Chances of hyperinflation 100%.Gold prohibition possible.
James Turk: Gold $8000 Hyperinflation is a sure thing, 2/14/11

America’s gold bullion depository at Ft. Knox, Ky., was built in the 1930s to be impregnable to enemy invasion, but 35 years ago on Sept. 23, 1974, it was invaded by 120 members of a press contingent that I was part of, and a dozen members of Congress and representatives of the Mint and Treasury Department. It remains a gold-letter day for those who made it to the “A” list and attended, and a bitter day for those who were not allowed into Ft. Knox, but even more so for the journalists who had relentlessly argued, publicly, that the visit would never be allowed in the first place because the government had secretly trucked the gold out. Even for the jaded, the experience was nothing short of amazing.
The Day I Visited Fort Knox to Checkout the Gold Supply, 2/12/11

Paper Gold

That paper gold, in the form of electronic ones and zeros, typically used by various gold ETFs, or anything really that is a stock certificate owned by the ubiquitous Cede & Co (read about the DTCC here), is in a worst case scenario immediately null and void as it is, as noted, nothing but ones and zeros on some hard disk that can be formatted with a keystroke, has long been known, and has been the reason why the so called gold bugs have always advocated keeping ultimate wealth safeguards away from any form of counterparty risk.
HSBC Sues MF Global Over Disputed Ownership Of Physical Gold, 12/9/11

Former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine's MF Global has gone bust and a good deal of money may be missing as well. Here at the Daily Bell we've often preached the merits of gold, including physical gold. Delivery is always good. Then you know where it is.
Ironically, one of the brightest of the Internet's alternative media analysts, Gerald Celente (founder and director at Trends Research Institute and publisher of The Trends Journal), has apparently lost a lot of money by buying futures rather than gold.
He was waiting to take delivery, he said, until he had enough money to buy. Meanwhile, his money was lodged in an MF Gold account, and now he can't find it, no matter how hard he presses.
Gerald Celente Lost Six Figures In MF Global Crash by Not Taking Gold Delivery, 11/16/11

Silver

Up front: there are no sure-fire technical analysts on this earth that can reliably get market calls in metals consistently right every time to whom you can entrust your money. None, nada, rien...nein. We have been wrong on so many occasions we hesitate to post this.
Fortunately, our off-the-mark calls have been in an upward trending bull mark, so short term trading in/out was not crucial. In fact, many 'experts' believe in a 17-year cycle for investment sectors. If correct, then the gold/silver bull should run until 2016, if you use Buffett's selling his silver in 1999 as a benchmark for a cyclical trough.
Silver to Hit High of $77 by Spring, 8/23/12

Silver Coin Vending Machine:
Moneylith is here, 1/21/12

No sense in mincing words tonight. The CFTC has finally acted and silver is headed significantly higher. Maybe not tomorrow but soon. Very soon.
Position limits in silver will soon be enforced. Yes, there will be delays. Yes, there may even be legal challenges brought by The Cartel. However, there is a very high likelihood that, on a beautiful day in 2012, JPM et al will finally cede control of the silver market back to legitimate investors, speculators, producers and hedgers. When this happens, silver will finally be freed of its EE-supplied shackles and price will move dramatically higher.
Silver Bull Market of 2012, 10/18/11

When all else fails, there is silver.
Start small, keep it simple.
Boost the buying power of your dollars with mining shares.
Dollar-cost average to lower your costs and increase your discipline.
Do not get a raw deal from your dealer.
What’s yours is yours – so keep it that way.
Silver speculation is like cough syrup – good in small doses, but too much can make your portfolio sick.
A little information can mean a lot more dollars.
Collecting silver is an art, but not really an investment.
More than 20-25% is too much of a good thing.
David Morgan’s Ten Rules for Silver Investing, 9/14/11

My main core proposition is my mission statement and that revolves around the fact that fiat money has always failed. And if you do not think it is going to fail this time, then do not listen to this program and have a nice day. If you are concerned, then I think you should get better educated. And, Chris, I think you are one of the leaders in the field as far as educating people. You are a broader base than I am. I mean, I am pretty strong economically, especially on the Austrian School, but I am pretty focused on the metals themselves and mining. And that keeps me quite busy every day, but you have got a broader base looking at the oil situation. And I, coming back to what you said earlier, totally agree. I mean, I think you are not going to see the increase compounding two to three percent in the silver market that we have seen over the last eight years continue because of the energy situation, but I projected my analysis as if it would. In other words, to be concerned, I pretended as if we could keep mining at a three percent growth rate compounded for the next decade. I really, really doubt that is the case.
On Silver Price Manipulation, Delivery Default & Supply Shortage Risks, 7/22/11

There were more large silver withdrawals from the Comex Deliverable Inventory with 773,018 ounces taken out of the Brinks depository. Additionally, there were withdrawals of 1,418,178 ounces of silver from the eligible (customer) inventory.
Comex will have to add to their deliverable inventory from some other sources in a tight market. Typically that implies higher prices.
Someone with credibility suggested to me yesterday that a panic liquidation in all assets may be in the cards in the minds of the Wall Street banks and the monied class. When you cannot win the game, you kick over the card table and turn out the lights.
Comex Silver Continues to Fall to Historic Lows, 6/15/11

CPM Group recently released their 2011 Silver Yearbook, one of the industry’s most comprehensive sources of information on the silver market. Though mostly a reference book, I uncovered some interesting facts that paint a decidedly bullish picture for the metal going forward.
If you’re a silver investor, or are concerned about the recent selloff, you may find the following data very compelling. It provides an inside track on the market and will certainly make us all more knowledgeable investors.
For fun, I put what I read into the form of a quiz. See how many you can get correct...
Can You Pass the 2011 Silver Quiz?, 6/4/11

Holding precious metal outside the U.S. allows you to not only capture the metal’s price advance, but when the value of the metal is converted back to dollars, an additional gain on the currency conversion will likely be captured as well. The dollar has crashed 50% against the Swiss franc since 2001. It could easily repeat this feat over the next ten years, adding rocket fuel to your precious metals gains.
And there’s an added bonus. When it comes time to sell some of your metal, and you choose not to repatriate the funds back to the U.S., you’ll have the means to take a nice vacation without the budget-busting effects of converting an ever-decaying dollar into the local currency.
Buying Silver at 10% Off

Much of the recent interest in precious metals like gold and silver stems from the effects of price inflation. Many people who buy coins like pre-’64 dimes, quarters and half dollars do so to protect themselves from the effects of this inflation – and to have a highly valuable medium of exchange in the event price inflation spirals out of control. One sign pointing to this phenomenon was recently spotted at a Shell gas station off Interstate 5 in Ashland, Oregon. There, motorists are greeted with a sign behind the front counter. Wow, 20 cent gas!!
Oregon Gas Station Accepting 90% Junk Silver as Payment, 5/17/11

The silver market will be defined by lack of availability of refined product. To combat that, just accumulate month in and month out, and be thankful when you're able to get what you want.
Second, it’s about the number of ounces you own. You want to get as many ounces as you can without being penny wise and pound foolish. Stick with the most recognized products – don’t buy 1,000-ounce bars, for example, because they’re illiquid. You want to maximize your liquidity, and you do that by buying the most common forms of bullion – one-ounce coins, bars, and rounds; 10- and 100-ounce products; and junk silver.
Last, keep in mind that premium and commission are two different animals. Commission is what the dealers make on top of the premium. Premium is what the industry bears. So if the U.S. Mint is selling silver Eagles for $3 over spot to the distributors, that's before they’re marked up to the public. So even though the “premium” is high, you're actually going to get most of that back when you sell.
Silver Price: the Least You Should Worry About, 5/17/11

With continued volatility in gold and silver, Richard Russell, the Godfather of newsletter writers had this to say in his latest commentary, “There was the incredible cheering and gloating about the fall of silver. The media and various experts were laughing and giving the "high sign" in reaction to the 30% decline in silver. The only regret seemed to be that gold didn't sink 30% along with silver. And I wondered why all the cheering over silver's decline. My conclusion was that actually very few people were "in" silver and when silver rocketed up to near 50 dollars an ounce, most investors' reactions was "sour grapes."
Richard Russell: Expect Huge Rebound in Silver, 5/10/11

The historic decline this week in silver creates strong emotion. Watching great amounts of wealth disappear, quite literally in minutes amid disorderly trading conditions is a genuine fear for any investor. Worse is seeing no obvious legitimate reason to explain the carnage. If that doesn’t scare you, nothing will. Especially if you already harbored unease about how the whole silver market operated. Tough Questions For CFTC Chairman Gensler On Last Week's Silver Manipulation, 5/8/11

Silver plunged more than 10 percent on Thursday, its biggest one-day drop in dollar terms since the Hunt Brothers price squeeze, dragging gold over 3 percent lower as panic selling snowballed across the commodities sector.
Silver has now lost 30 percent this week, well above the conventional criteria of 20 percent for a bear market, since it surged to a record high near $50 an ounce last Thursday. Silver's plunge for a fifth day led the decline in commodities.
Silver dives for 5th day, biggest loss since 1980, 5/5/11

US Special Forces put a bullet through Osama bin Laden’s head yesterday. Unwittingly, this elite fighting force may have also thrust a stake through the heart of the silver market. We will leave it to Wolf Blitzer and other world news commentators to articulate the geopolitical significance of bin Laden’s rendezvous with 40 virgins. Our beat is financial…and in our little corner of the news world, the death of bin Laden seems like a perfect excuse for a long-overdue dollar rally…and silver selloff.
Long Legs of the Silver Rally, 5/3/11

Silver’s rise (in US$ terms, at least) over the past several weeks has been nothing short of phenomenal. The chart has effectively “gone parabolic,” and people I’ve never met have started to e-mail me (in my capacity as a registered investment advisor) for advice on silver. It doesn’t matter whether it’s silver, tech stocks, emerging markets currencies, or pork belly futures… any time these two events coincide (a parabolic chart pattern, and strangers asking me for advice), it sets off ALARM BELLS in my head.
Should I sell my silver?, 4/26/11

Over the past hour Zero Hedge has been inundated with reader comments notifying us that Ampex has, validating the earlier post speculating about a possible silver shortage at the metals distributor, launched a “reverse ïnquiry” in which it will pay “you $3.00 over the current spot price of Silver for your Silver American Eagles. ANY year, ANY quantity!” and “We will pay you $38.00 over the current spot price of Gold for your Gold American Eagles. ANY year, ANY quantity!” So aside from this first public confirmation that one of the biggest wholesale retailers of precious metals is now inventoryless [sic], we can certainly see why Asia has decided to take silver down in the afterhours electronic session
Apmex Starts Reverse Inquiry: 4/26/11

As a result of active "demonetization" efforts by the IMF and its member central banks, gold and silver have experienced the type of volatility that has given conservative investors reasons not to perceive the metals as dependable cash alternatives. Instead gold and silver have become known as the asset class to hold as a hedge against inflation.
Silver Set to Soar as Paper Folds?, 4/22/11

Something interesting appeared in the daily NYMEX report of its silver warehouse stockpile data: Canada's largest bullion depository (and one of five total) reclassified a whopping 5.2 million ounces of silver from Registered to Eligible status.
25% of Scotia Mocatta's Silver Transferred From "Registered" To "Eligible" Status: A 45% Reduction In "Physical", 4/20/11

Silver futures surged today to a new 31-year high of $42.80 per ounce. Silver is up 146% since NIA declared silver the best investment for the next decade on December 11th, 2009, at $17.40 per ounce. All we need is for silver to rise by another 15.5% and silver will reach its all time high set in 1980 of $49.45 per ounce.
Truth About Silver and Inflation, 4/15/11

I’m also suggesting you don’t go ANYWHERE NEAR the following 4 silver investments.
Four silver investments to avoid, 4/11/11

At least the Ron Paul chocolates are still legal. Bernard Von NotHaus, the "monetary architect" behind the world's only currency emblazoned with Ron Paul's face, has been convicted in federal court for producing counterfeit currency and engaging in "conspiracy" against the United States. From our friends at Indiana's Evansville Courier & Press:
Ron Paul Coin Minter, Pot Priest, Faces 15 Years in Prison, 3/21/11

The United States Department of Justice delivered a very clear and unfortunate message on Friday: "Attempts to undermine the legitimate currency of this country are simply a unique form of domestic terrorism. While these forms of anti-government activities do not involve violence, they are every bit as insidious and represent a clear and present danger to the economic stability of this country."
US Justice Department logic: Bernanke is a domestic terrorist, 3/21/11

Speaking at the Casey Research Gold and Resource Summit, Eric Sprott told investors that there is no more silver left to go around, “There’s $22 billion of silver available in the world, of which the ETFs already own half, and between you guys and us we probably own the other half… Which means there’s nothing left.” We’ve got the highlights of his speech in the video below. Listen as the CEO of Sprott Asset Management discusses the availability of precious metals, the price of gold, the GDP, national debt, and more.
Government Lied… There is No More Silver!, 3/18/11

If there’s one asset that’s heated up over the last several months amid tensions in the middle east and a second round of the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing, it’s silver. The price has risen so dramatically, some 20% since January 1, 2011 through today, that investors may be wondering what actions they should take. For those who have not acquired the precious metal, the obvious question is, should I buy now or is silver in bubble territory? Those fortunate enough to have seen the crisis writing on the wall in 2008 and before, and have seen a 200% or more increase in the value on their holdings to date, may be considering selling and locking in profits.
8 Reasons Why Silver Is the Investment of the Decade, 3/9/11

Ten years ago, one ounce silver bullion coins could be purchased for around $7 each. This reflected market silver prices below the $5 level. As recently as one year ago, the prices for one ounce bullion coins had risen to around $18 each. Following the dramatic rise in the silver price experienced in the last five months, newly minted one ounce silver bullion coins from a major world mint are now priced around $39, assuming a purchase in quantity. Silver has been called "poor man's gold", but after the significant rise in price, even the traditionally smallest sized coins are becoming expensive. Thus, it was only a matter of time before smaller sized coins would be introduced.
As Silver Prices Soar, Silver Coins Get Smaller, 3/7/11

This news was initially reported by Patriot News Radio, which you can listen to in this video clip. While the information is true and current as displayed on the U.S. mint page here, it is not anything new. The Mint has not sold uncirculated American Eagle silver coins directly on their site for two years, but has continued minting “bullion coins” that are distributed to dealers.
I called the U.S. Mint and they confirmed that they did not produce American Eagle Silver Uncirculated coins in the past two years and thus far in 2011 have no plans to re-start production. They also clarified that they are still producing proof Silver Eagle coins, but they have numismatic value and carry a much higher premium.
While the hype and rumors are misleading, I think the takeaway is still the same – physical buying is overwhelming supply. Strong demand for Silver Eagles pushed sales to an all-time record of 6.4 million ounces during the month of January. This number is 50% higher than any prior month in the U.S. Mint’s 26 years of published sales history. The latest data also shows that February sales set another all-time record for that particular month and the 7th highest monthly sales ever.
U.S. Mint Suspends Sales of Silver Eagles, 3/3/11

What we may be witnessing in the Silver market is a "reverse" raid on the CRIMEX. What appears to be a massive short squeeze on our criminal bankers may in fact be a coordinated effort by a disgruntled group of EX-JP Morgan traders, and their hedge fund friends, to hold JP Morgan's feet to the fire, and extract a heavy price for these traders dismissal from the hive of criminal banking. The Friends Of Andrew Maguire [FOAM] look to align themselves as a group to punish the CRIMEX and force them to either deliver a massive quantity of Silver to them in March, or pay a heavy premium to them to keep the rigged CRIMEX game going.
Reverse Raid on the Crimex - Silver Targets $37oz

Buying physical silver is by far the greatest act of wisdom and rebellion any American can and should be doing right now. It is both a Silver Bullet to rebel against the Elite’s corrupt system and a Silver Shield to protect your family and wealth in a post- dollar world. Buying physical silver is non-violent, non-compliant resistance. Most importantly it works outside of the system and it cannot be stopped.
Silver Bullet & the Silver Shield, 2/25/11

If you're bullish on gold, I think you need to be bullish on silver, unless you think inflation will never come to pass. Regardless of the short-term fluctuations in the market, it's only a matter of time before the currency issues punch us in the gut and inflation really takes off.
Second, remember that silver will be volatile, but focus on the fundamentals and use selloffs as buying opportunities. Until the fundamentals driving the bull market change, buy.
Bottom line, the bull market is far from over. I think it's going to go much longer and much stronger... So buying on dips is the best advice I could give anyone.
What You Need to Know About Buying Silver Today, 2/24/11

I had posted about how Tungsten is up 70% in the last year and inserted a video showing fake gold and a video with David Morgan of Silver-Investor discussing fake gold and silver. Last week during the interview David Morgan did with me, he talked about fake gold and silver possibly being on the market, besides other information about it. He also said in the interview, if there will be any fake silver coins they will fake the old coins and not new ones. WOW - he got that one exactly right!
With silver, the cost of faking it compared to the cost of the metal itself has not made it such a likely candidate as gold is. But times have been changing and in my opinion will be really changing in the not too distant future! In fact this next month - March, there will hopefully be fireworks going off at the Comex. The physical Silver market is tight, all the experts are saying that. So it was simply a matter of time before fake silver began getting on the market.
FAKE Silver Coins/Bars/Ingots ARE on the market in U.S.!, 2/23/11

Eric Sprott made an appearance at Casey Research Gold and Resource Summit where in addition to providing a succinct summary of all his monthly letters from the past year, whose forecasts are all gradually panning out, he spoke about the prospects for gold, and particularly silver. We will leave it to readers to parse through the brief must watch clip, but here is the punchling for those wondering why increasingly more distributors are reporting indefinite lack of physical silver inventory: "There's $22 billion of silver available in the world, of which the ETFs already own half, and between you guys and us we probably own the other half... Which means there's nothing left."
Eric Sprott: "There Is No More Silver Left", 2/23/11

The Silver Train. Are you onboard? Just about six weeks ago, at the January highs for Silver, the average daily movement for Silver was about 50 cents a day. What is it now? It’s 50 cents an hour!
Silver Train Is A Comin: Are You Onboard?, 2/22/11

Copper

For more than 10,000 years, copper has been one of the most useful metals known to man. Even now, it is the medium of electrical transmission and digital communication.
Copper: The Essential Metal, 8/30/12

Liberty Dollar

It's a tense time for Bernard von NotHaus. The 67-year-old is waiting to be sentenced for his conviction relating to his selling of what he calls Liberty Dollars.
He says that he had generated revenue of approximately $65 million from the gold and silver coins he sold over the years. In total, von NotHaus estimates there are around 2 million pieces of various size Liberty Dollars out in public. During an interview with him, he proudly told me that he has no unhappy customers since gold continues to climb in price, while the U.S. dollar continues to sink in value.
His sentence could result in anywhere from probation to 15 years. The betting is he will get 3 to 5. That is if the judge in the case does not make history and dismiss the case. It is very much a long shot, but the case could be dismissed.
The Case for Dismissal of the Conviction of the Liberty Dollar Man, 9/8/11