Okay- I am sold on silver, but am unsure about how to go about buying it. Who can I trust when buying and what form is the best to have it in. He speaks of "mercury dimes"-what is our Canadian version of that. A large bar won't work, what version would be likly to be recognised and traded and how much should we have?
I still believe in storing away food and seeds and items that will make us self- sustainable once the gas and propane have run out. But I believe that it would be smart to have some silver also. I just don't know in what form or how much and am concidering where to keep it. Any ideas?

Hi Joy29not, my wife & I (and our 7 y/o daughter) have been purchasing gold & silver for a few years now. Whenever possible we do gold & silver as gifts. We know that we will be giving Christmas, birthday, anniversery, mother's day, father's day gifts anyway so we kept gold & silver (or other prepping items) in mind when we give gifts. Every year for stocking stuffers I give my wife & daughter silver Christmas coins (1 oz pure silver).

My wife pretty much knows if she REALLY REALLY wants a piece of gold or silver jewellry she has a reasonable chance of getting it because I know the purchase kills two birds with one stone. She gets a gift that she likes and we get to own more gold or silver.

Also we buy 10 karat gold at WalMart (about $40 0r so for a small bracelet) with extra money. Now,... by extra money I mean we take in our pop bottles, milk jugs, & juice containers for deposit, add them to the nickles an pennies that add up plus whatever we have in our pocket and every three months or so we can buy one of these cheap gold chains or some sterling silver jewellry.

There, of course will be those preppers who sneer at 10 karat gold jewellry. I would give the opinion that they don't know what they are talking about. When the Argentianian economy collapsed a few years ago, cheap gold bracelets and chains like what I have described were considered currency.

It depends on the event. You can't predict natural disasters so no, precious metals will have no place during one. You can't eat gold (as the saying goes).
An economic collapse, however, won't just happen overnight. We have been in the midst of one for several years and have been witnessing golds (and now silvers) reaction to it. If a bag of fresh produce is going to cost us $6000 due to hyper inflation (a little exaggerated perhaps) wouldn't it be nice to just give the farmer a silver coin rather than bartering your stocked goods? In the OP's video it describes 1/10 oz of silver historically equal to 1 day of human labor. Sounds like a good base to me 🙂
I also look at this from an investment standpoint. I don't just prep for doomsday scenarios I prep for the future. I'll be damned if I leave nothing for my family. I've already made reasonable returns on metals and believe my bullion will be part of a legacy I can leave for my children. The S may not HTF. How many of us prep for that? 😀 ❗

I like this posting and agree with it. Our prepping model has been food stuffs and day to day aids to living 1st, precious metals 2nd. I nothing happens I am happy that my little girl has a REAL inheritance!

I've been purchasing from Border Gold Corp on both sides of the border since 1996 under the alias "Eugene Supertramp".

Pay with cash in person or send certified bank draft as cash with cash. Minimal shipping insurance. Purchase 25oz of gold or more and it's free shipping and insurance. Lock in spot price and you have 72 hours to pay.

Great trusted outfit.

http://www.bordergold.com/index.php

http://kingworldnews.com/kingworldnews/KWN_DailyWeb/Entries/2012/9/18_Gold_%26_Silver_Will_Smash_Through_All-Time_Highs.html

Adjusted for inflation, gold or silver has never achieved its peak from the 1980s, even though the USA story was far better back then.

I wonder if governments will just skip past PM's and into some global currency. I would like nothing more than to not use their currency and use metals only, leaving global government bodies in the dust.

If you are looking for silver coin, check out the Canadian Mint. They have had a number of $20 silver coins for $20 this year. Otherwise expect to pay $34.95 or more for a silver coin.

There is no way this coin is an ounce. Face value doesn't mean value. Silver Maple's at an ounce have a face value of $5. The Mint has collector coins you pay a premium for. Bullion coins are for the metal content.

The reason to have metals is that they retain their value whatever they do with the currency. Devalue currency = value of metals goes up in that currency. So you retain your buying power.

Sort of an insurance policy.

http://www.mint.ca/store/coin/20-fine-silver-commemorative-coin-magical-reindeer-2012-prod1530001

This is the $20 coin that has a $20 face value. Its silver content is 99.99% at 7.96 grams.

A troy ounce has 31.1034768 g

So at this price you would be spending roughly $78.14 per troy oz. That is almost $43 dollars over todays spot price. If you want the coin as a collectors item then that is something totally different.

I like to have a few for collector's value AND as silver because, let's face it nothing may happen and with collector's value they will gain in value as they age.

I have found lots of places that sell silver bars at reasonable prices. I know that short term, value will fluctuate up and down, but long term precious metal prices will generally rise. The question is, will these people selling now be buying later? If you can't sell it, then it's really worth nothing.

I believe precious metals could be a part of prepping so long as your scenario includes a return to life as we know it within a generation or two AND that the ownership of gold and silver is not outlawed. I have seen and heard many references to the Government having agendas where they may make it illegal to have a stock of food, weapons, ammunition, supplies of all kinds. whatever manner of government develops during or after any SHTF event I think it will be safe to say that control will be one of the main objectives. To control people you simply control resources and enforce dependancy. At this time individual transactions of precious metals and stones in Canada over $10,000 result in mandatory notification to the Federal Government. (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada)

I believe precious metals could be a part of prepping so long as your scenario includes a return to life as we know it within a generation or two AND that the ownership of gold and silver is not outlawed. I have seen and heard many references to the Government having agendas where they may make it illegal to have a stock of food, weapons, ammunition, supplies of all kinds. whatever manner of government develops during or after any SHTF event I think it will be safe to say that control will be one of the main objectives. To control people you simply control resources and enforce dependancy. At this time individual transactions of precious metals and stones in Canada over $10,000 result in mandatory notification to the Federal Government. (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada)

On top of that Bear, a mandatory declaration must be signed and sent to the government on cash withdraws exceeding $4999.99.

That's why in the last year I purchase PMs south of the border. When asked by border patrol agents if I have cash exceeding 10k I say no.

Gold and silver is NOT considered money, with the exception of face value on coins.

Helicopter Ben even says it is not money.

Helicopter Ben even says it is not money.

Relying on anything but PMs at this point in the game would be like setting your house on fire to stay warm in the winter.

You might be warm for a moment but the outcome will not be a good one.

Keeping your eyes on the ball - keeping your head and ass connected, and keeping enough real stuff of real value.

If you can buy more on the cheap, so much the better.

Relying on anything but PMs at this point in the game would be like setting your house on fire to stay warm in the winter.

There are many things to prepare for - almost all of them are pretty darn unlikely ... except one.
Financial collapse is an almost sure thing in the next few years and I suggest your focus be on being able to feed yourself for a few months with no support and supplementing what you're forced to buy with as much as you can produce yourself.
That means you also have to preserve your wealth for the aftermath. PMs are probably the best route to take as paper money looses it's buying power.

10 guns and 25 knives might be fun but it won't feed you. Concentrate on a garden over wilderness survival. Wild(free) edibles over bugging out. Cooking skills over close combat drills. Basic medicine to maintain sanitation or prevent infection over gunshot wounds.
Lawlessness is not nearly as likely as stuck in your own house for a long time without bank machines or grocery stores.

Financial collapse is an almost sure thing in the next few years and I suggest your focus be on being able to feed yourself for a few months with no support and supplementing what you're forced to buy with as much as you can produce yourself.

Yes, I was thinking of adding tonight's surplus "Featued Feed" pic to BBQ thread.....

Helicopter Ben even says it is not money.

Relying on anything but PMs at this point in the game would be like setting your house on fire to stay warm in the winter.

You might be warm for a moment but the outcome will not be a good one.

Keeping your eyes on the ball - keeping your head and ass connected, and keeping enough real stuff of real value.

If you can buy more on the cheap, so much the better.

Agreed. Why would I want my savings anywhere other than in my possession where they can't fall victim to the bad decisions of governments and world banks.