Silver History
The mining of silver began some 5000 years ago. Today, more than 5000 years after ancient cultures first began to mine this precious metal, yearly global mine production averages 671 million troy ounces
Silver has innumerable applications in art, science, industry and beyond.
Demand for silver breaks down into three important categories: silver in industry, investment, and silver jewellery & décor. Together, these three areas represent more than 95 % of annual silver demand.
With unique properties including its strength, malleability and ductility, its electrical and thermal conductivity, its sensitivity to and high reflectance of light and the ability to endure extreme temperature ranges, it is an element without substitution.
Summary of silver investment choices
- Bullion: Silver in the form of bars that are at least 99.9 % pure.
- Official Coins: Silver coins issued by a government mint.
- Medallions (Rounds): A round piece of silver resembling a coin but not considered legal tender. Medallions may be issued by governments or private mints.
- Certificates or Storage Accounts: Silver is kept in storage but the investor can take possession within a few days if desired.
- Accumulation Plans: This approach enables investors to accumulate silver on an average basis, similar to dollar cost averaging. The investor does not own the physical silver.
- Futures and/or or Forward Contracts: An agreement made on an exchange to take or make delivery of silver at a set date in the future.
- Options: The right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell a silver or a financial security linked to silver on a specified date in the future.
- Exchange Traded Fund: A basket of equities linked to silver, i.e. the physical metal, producers, refiners, etc. ETFs are traded on exchanges throughout the trading day.
- Mutual Funds: An open-ended fund that holds a basket of silver-related equities that are priced once daily.