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 investing in silver half dollars.
Precious Metals:
Gold & Silver Are More Relevant Than Bitcoin – DeCarley Trading
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Precious Metals Price Predictions for 2018
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And here is a contrarian prediction, from the UK: Commodities Outlook: Gold Price to Fall in 2018. “A maturing Chinese economy will hurt demand for commodities such as aluminum and iron ore. Gold’s prospects are mixed.”
Stock Markets:
Opinion Strategist: Weekly Stock Market Commentary 1/5/2018
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Next, at The New York Times: After Dow 25,000, the Party Has to End. But When?
Commodities:
Grain market week in review – Jan. 5, 2018
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Then there is this: Commodities Have a Bullish Outlook for 2018. “Compared to stocks, commodities haven’t been this undervalued for more than 40 years.”
Economy and Finance:
Michael Snyder: 44 Numbers From 2017 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe
Tangibles Investing (Silver Half Dollars):
Pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver dimes, quarters and half dollars and pre-1971 40% silver half dollars can sometimes be found in pocket change. Although now an increasing rarity, it does still happen! Keep your eyes peeled. Watch the edges. Your best bet is coin roll hunting (CRH) through bank rolls of half dollars. Entire web sites, blogs and vlogs are devoted to the often quite fun subject of CRH.
Provisos:
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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!
As a side note: I received a silver quarter in change from the grocery store about three years ago, and last July I got an 1903 Indian Head Penny in change from one of the big box stores. In both cases the store checkout girls question the difference. I told both, that they were real money, just old and in both cases the young girls gave me the coins in my change. I think the Indian Head Penny mite have been liberated from some ones collection (maybe?). Some time ago I started keeping all my change, even zinc pennies. It’s hard to make brass with out zinc.
Nickels at melt are worth almost a nickel which is good. Buy nickels before they take the nickel out. Pre ‘82 pennies melt are worth 2 cents, that’s double your money. Remember they zinced the penny halfway through 82, so some 82 pennies are copper. If you have some 82 pocket change just do the countertop drop test. The coppers will ring and the zincs will have a dull thud.
I just closed up my latest ammo can of nickels for $188 face. I certainly saw a bunch of interesting ones on the end cap of a few rolls, but I’m going to leave them there for my kids to discover.
I might make it easy for the next generation by including printed description of the numismatic and metal content values. maybe. I don’t to make it too easy.
Gold and silver (and nickel) are still the preferred prep but — if you’ve got some money left over and can afford to lose it — you might want to speculate in cryptos a bit. Focus on “picks and shovels” plays, that is, those focused on setting up exchanges, building infrastructure, anti-money laundering, etc. You never know — you might wind up with “FU money,” which would be nice!
I stumbled upon the US Debt Clock, an interesting site: http://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html
It is sobering to see some of the numbers beyond the debt and GPD that gets much attention. How about the dollars to silver ratio? How about the US Pop:Total receiving benifits? How long is this sustainable? “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
Had a cashier refuse a older$10 bill as “counterfeit” because there was no magnetic strip,even when shown it was older than she was.