Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on Morgan and Peace Dollars. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Gold Building A Bottom

o o o

Arkadiusz Sieron: Gold Price Should Prepare For Further Fed Hikes

 

Cryptos:

Bull Trap? Bitcoin Price Slides Below $7K Despite Strong Indicators

o o o

Cryptocurrency Market Cap Drops $17 Billion in Bearish Correction

 

Economy & Finance:

Coming close on the heels of Nike losing $3.75 in market capitalization after running a politically-driven ad campaign, there is news that blue jeans manufacturer Levi Strauss has gone political on “gun control”. This was via an open letter from CEO Chip Bergh and a commentary written for Forbes magazine. The announcement had the temerity to begin with:  “…as a pioneer of the American West and one of the great symbols of American freedom…”  The corporate press release stated:  “Bergh announced the formation of the Safer Tomorrow Fund to help nonprofits seeking to end gun violence. He said Levi Strauss executives will partner with Michael Bloomberg and others to create Everytown Business Leaders for Gun Safety, with an eye to bringing other businesses on board.” Gosh, that is bound to be a real winner. This has “Nike” written all over it.

To clarify: Shares in Levi Strauss stock are not publicly traded. Nearly all of the stock is held by descendants of the company’s Gold Rush Era founders. Some folks are surely now wishing that there were public shares, so that they could short the stock!  I recommend that SurvivalBlog readers and all other gun owners vote with their wallets and boycott Levis. As of today, I’m now officially a Wrangler man!

o o o

Strong momentum in US economy going into second half of the year…

 

 

Forex:

The Most and Least Volatile Currency Pairs in 2018

o o o

Bloomberg: Turkey’s Lira Needs More Than Intent to Raise Interest Rates

o o o

Caution over tariff war limits dollar’s decline, Aussie dollar gains on GDP data

 

Tangibles Investing (Morgan and Peace Dollars):

I recently had a question from a consulting client about coin collecting niches. From a prepper’s perspective, one of my favorite niches is Morgan and Peace Dollars. These silver dollars produced by the U.S. Mint have both bullion value and numismatic value. The Morgan design was produced from 1878 to 1921. The Peace design was produced from 1921 to 1935.

o o o

10 Most Valuable Peace Dollars

o o o

Posted earlier this year, at Numismatic NewsMorgan and Peace dollars in the bull’s eye of collector interest

o o o

Hoard of 16,000 Morgan silver dollars to be graded, marketed

 

Provisos:

SurvivalBlog and its Editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for our detailed disclaimers.

News Tips:

Please send your economics and investing news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) These are often especially relevant, because they come from folks who particularly watch individual markets. And due to their diligence and focus, we benefit from fresh “on target” investing news. We often get the scoop on economic and investing news that is probably ignored (or reported late) by mainstream American news outlets. Thanks!




16 Comments

  1. Both Levi-Strauss and Nike have multi-billion dollar contracts in China for production. In turn, in order to take advantage of cheaper labor, sub-contracts exist with companies in North Korea.

    In order to keep a smooth supply forthcoming, both L-S & N will follow whatever advertising policies are requested by the Chinese. Thus the advertising which goes against the beliefs of a majority of their markets.

  2. LEVI STRAUSS -NIKE :
    I also read of the China – N. Korean manufacturing connection . Usually following the money trail you will see the real reason for things like this happening. Major corporations primary concern is their bottom line , That is what they understand. Slowing the cash flow to companies like Dick’s Sporting Goods , Nike, and Levi Strauss is like cutting off the food supply to your enemies.
    This may be an action to thwart president Trump’s tariff plans.

  3. Bergh, at Levi’s, is part of a growing crowd who thinks that guns were necessary in times gone by, because the threat was different and life was harder. ALL of these people who believe this are well insulated and have plenty of money and separation from the unwashed masses. To Mr. Bergh, I would say that not everybody is well to do enough to come the false conclusion that ‘it can’t happen to me’ and that this unprecedentedly long era of peace in North America means peace in perpetuity.

    Agenda 2030 is the goal. It’s corporate run slavery. Armed slaves, history tells us, can be a tricky proposition.

  4. Morgan dollar stash, value estimation may be way off(average$60-$90 per coin+grading fees),may be a buying opportunity when these flood the market and depress prices until absorbed. Buyer beware,numismatics are speculative,PM’S are at a market bottom,look for deals.

  5. Add the AARP to the list along with Levi’s for supporting anti 2A organizations. I wear Wranglers mostly, but am looking at the Duluth fire hose jeans for rough work like firewood and fencing.

  6. If numismatic value doesn’t matter, look at APMEX. They have a good, available collection of both Morgan and Peace dollars, from worse than culls to proof condition. Prices are much better than $60 to $90 a coin.

  7. Be careful with coins like Morgan and Peace dollars. Certain dates and grades can be very rare, but as a type coin – they are very common.

    Dealers would like you to believe there are millions of collectors looking for every date and mint mark, but that is far from the truth. There are only a handful of collectors who could afford such an undertaking! Once their needs are met, rarity and value is a matter of opinion!

    It is a matter of supply and demand! Just how rare and valuable is the seventh whatever, when there are only six real buyers?

    TV Coin Shows have generated a lot of hype for coins that have little real demand! Pity those buyers when it comes time to sell.

  8. Some interesting facts about Mr. Bergh:
    1-Bergh grew up in Cross River, New York, graduating from John Jay High School in 1975. He is the oldest of three brothers.
    2-Bergh graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania in 1979. He did ROTC and trained as a paratrooper, jumping out of five planes to earn his “jump wings.”
    3-Bergh went on to join the US Army, where he served as second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain. He spent four years in the military.
    4-Before joining Levi Strauss, Bergh spent 28 years working for Proctor and Gamble. He started working for the company after leaving the army, in 1983 — his first job for Proctor and Gamble was as an associate advertising manager.
    5-Bergh gave an interview to Smart Business Online in which he set out his beliefs about time management, work-life balance, and leadership style. He likened leading a company to being a good parent, saying, “It’s knowing when to be tough and when to draw the line.”
    6-He has a Chinese wife and his daughter speaks fluent Mandarin.
    Seems that Mr. Bergh does all he can to be on the cusp of doing just enough. Five jumps made him a paratrooper? That seems barely qualifying. If that was the criteria for his advancement in the military-God help us. I bet he never qualified on a range in all of the time he was Army.

    1. Sandra

      All due respect, but it appears you’re are trying to discredit and besmirch a mans character based upon exactly what? The fact that he was a commissioned officer who achieved standard rank progress for the time he was in (I’d point out that our host, Mr. Rawles left the army as a captain. Is that a disgrace on him? Is it one on me?). Have you ever been to jump school? Have you made one jump? Do you even understand how the Army works, how one earns the title of Paratrooper or Ranger or Air Assault? Do you somehow think a soldier with jump wings goes to work and jumps out of airplanes every day? Your facts on the CEO spell him out as a perfectly respectable man with whom the majority of readers here, myself 100% included, will disagree. I venture to guess if I gave you the same facts on a CEO of a company that produced AR-15’s, you’d laud him as a veteran and a patriot.

      1. […] I find it so interesting that you jump to this turncoats defense, when all I stated was facts about the man from his own LinkedIN page, and other articles. I am always amazed when a “former military” finds it in his own elitist mind, to have used weapons and yet, would deny the same privilege to fellow citizens. Paratroopers that I have met don’t consider 5 jumps worthy of mention. But, your mileage may vary. As far as his Army career: well he spent a lot longer at Proctor & Gamble and takes credit for the invention of the Swiffer. So it seems he had other priorities on his mind. Nothing wrong with that goal, but please don’t go all veteran and patriot shaming. He had already graduated college when he joined the Army, so I’m betting it was taking advantage of paid in full advanced degrees. CEOs are rarely 4 year people, unless they own the business. All I pointed out is this is another case of holier than thou social justice warrior crap. This man obviously likes to be in-with the in crowd. And that ain’t you & me.

  9. Several years back, Levis removed their funding from the Boy Scouts after scouting refused to allow homosexual men to be scoutmasters. They gave the funding to homosexual promotion entities. I changed to only Wrangler’s and Carhartts then. As with others before Levi’s, private business is now deciding how or how not and when we should exercise our rights as Americans. Vote with your wallet and absolve yourself and family of any dealings with these unscrupulous companies. It would be foolish to fund the demise of the freedom that we cherish.

Comments are closed.