Category: Gold and Silver News

Why are they called barber coins?

Barber coins are named after Charles E. Barber, the US Mint’s Chief Engraver, who was tasked with giving the country’s silver coinage a new face. Barber had the idea to hold a contest among well-known engravers, sculptors, and other artists to broaden the Mint’s options and generate fresh ideas. The competition failed to produce any designs deemed worthwhile which led mint director Edward O. Leech to request suggestions directly from Barber. After a few initial rejections, Barber’s design was approved by Mint leaders and Congress. The final design was minted on dimes, quarters, and half-dollars which collectively became known as Barber coins.

The History of Barber Coins

By the close of the 19th century, the public was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the look of American coinage. The Seated Liberty design had been featured on the majority of coins for over 50 years. In 1891, the US Mint decided to hold a public competition in the hopes of generating inventive and inspirational designs. Unfortunately, limited funding meant only the winner would receive compensation. This discouraged many talented and well-established artists from taking part.

A panel of renowned coinage experts was put together to review the public’s submissions. Barber and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, designer of the eponymous Double Eagle Gold Coin, disagreed vehemently on the quality and utility of the designs. In the end, all of the 300 submissions were rejected with only two receiving honorable mention. The contest proved to be an abject failure, and the project to give US coinage a new face fell into the lap of Barber who was eager to head the venture.

Leech officially tapped Barber to prep designs for the dime, quarter, and half dollar in 1891. The Mint decided to leave the Morgan Silver Dollar design alone given the coin’s high rate of production at the time. Barber’s initial concepts which largely ignored Leech’s direction were promptly rejected. With a little back and forth, the pair eventually settled on three designs which were struck on pattern coins and presented to President Harrison and his cabinet.

The approved design was immediately slated for production. The motif, which was drawn up for the half-dollar, was simply scaled down for the dime and quarter. Since the law restricted dimes from depicting an eagle, Barber had to develop a separate reverse design. He landed on a minimalist theme with a wreath encompassing the inscription ONE DIME. On January 2, 1892, the Philadelphia Mint began full-scale production of Barber coins.

Criticisms of Barber coins were almost immediate with prominent figures and numismatic publications calling the designs dull, uninspired, and amateur. However, Barber did receive some recognition for the mechanical aspect of the coinage such as the engraving precision, design clarity, and minting functionality. This disparity underscored Barber’s functional and pragmatic approach to coinage rather than an overtly artistic motivation.

After the first year of production, Barber made slight changes to the designs of the half-dollar, quarter, and dime. These modifications were to address some production concerns and improve the appearance of the coinage. Collectors and investors refer to Barber coins in the first year of production as Type I and everything after as Type II. The first design is generally harder to find given its lower mintage.

Types of Barber Coins

The half-dollar, quarter, and dimes that bear Barber’s designs have collectively become known as Barber coins. They’re known for their minimalist and understated design along with their mechanical features which were advanced at the time.

Barber Half-Dollar

The Barber half-dollar enjoyed 23 years of production between 1892 and 1915 with millions being pumped into circulation. The coin has a face value of $0.50, but its 90% silver purity equips it with higher inherent worth. The production of Barber half-dollars was concentrated at the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mint although the Denver and New Orleans Mint also contributed to manufacturing in 1906 and 1909, respectively. Some of the most scarce Barber half-dollars include the 1897-S, 1914, and 1915.

Barber Quarter

The Barber quarter also has a respectable silver fineness of 0.90. It received an extra year of production over its half-dollar counterpart between 1892 and 1916. During this time, the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New Orleans Mint produced nearly 265 million Barber quarters. This high level of production means only a handful of Barber quarters are considered scarce with even fewer being exceptionally rare. Some key dates include the 1896-S, 1901-S, and 1911-S.

Barber Dime

The Barber dime, also referred to as the “V”, liberty, or Barber nickel, experienced the highest production level among all Barber coins at over half a billion pieces between 1892 and 1916. Similar to other Barber coins, this dime boasts a 90% purity rating. Minting occurred at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Denver Mint. Despite the coin’s massive production scale, some versions experienced low mintages at around 500,000 over 25 years. These low-production versions include 1895-O, 1901-S, and 1913-S.

Barber Coins Designs

Obverse

The obverse of the Barber coins depicts a stoic bust of Lady Liberty facing right. Her head is adorned with a Phrygian cap, a small ribbon, and a laurel wreath. On the half-dollar and quarter, the design is encircled by 13 stars and an inscription of IN GOD WE TRUST. Due to space limitations, the Barber dime has UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscribed around Liberty without any stars. All Barber coins feature the mint date at the bottom of the obverse side.

Reverse

The reverse design of the Barber half-dollar and quarter depicts a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings. A ribbon enclosed in its beak holds the country’s motto: E PLURUBUS UNUM. The eagle is clenching an olive branch and arrows in its talons which represent peace and readiness for war, respectively.  Thirteen stars sit above the eagle’s head. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is emblazoned at the top, and the coin’s denomination QUARTER DOLLOR or QUARTER is inscribed on the bottom. The Barber dime features a more minimalist reverse design. ONE DIME is written in the middle with a decorative wreath surrounding it.

Are Barber coins rare?

The majority of Barber coins aren’t considered rare given their high level of production and widespread circulation. Millions of each iteration were minted over their multiple years of production. However, there are some notable exceptions. The famed 1849 Barber dime from the San Francisco Mint is the rarest version as it saw extremely limited production of 24 coins.

Are Barber coins worth anything?

Yes, Barber coins carry inherent value given their historical significance, high silver purity, and numismatic appeal. However, their sheer volume of production and their circulating nature prevent many of these coins from reaching significantly high values. They represent an accessible and cost-effective investment option for those who don’t mind adding circulating coinage to their collection.

Why are they called barber coins?

Barber coins are named after Charles E. Barber, the US Mint’s Chief Engraver, who was tasked with giving the country’s silver coinage a new face. Barber had the idea to hold a contest among well-known engravers, sculptors, and other artists to broaden the Mint’s options and generate fresh ideas. The competition failed to produce any designs deemed worthwhile which led mint director Edward O. Leech to request suggestions directly from Barber. After a few initial rejections, Barber’s design was approved by Mint leaders and Congress. The final design was minted on dimes, quarters, and half-dollars which collectively became known as Barber coins.

The History of Barber Coins

By the close of the 19th century, the public was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the look of American coinage. The Seated Liberty design had been featured on the majority of coins for over 50 years. In 1891, the US Mint decided to hold a public competition in the hopes of generating inventive and inspirational designs. Unfortunately, limited funding meant only the winner would receive compensation. This discouraged many talented and well-established artists from taking part.

A panel of renowned coinage experts was put together to review the public’s submissions. Barber and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, designer of the eponymous Double Eagle Gold Coin, disagreed vehemently on the quality and utility of the designs. In the end, all of the 300 submissions were rejected with only two receiving honorable mention. The contest proved to be an abject failure, and the project to give US coinage a new face fell into the lap of Barber who was eager to head the venture.

Leech officially tapped Barber to prep designs for the dime, quarter, and half dollar in 1891. The Mint decided to leave the Morgan Silver Dollar design alone given the coin’s high rate of production at the time. Barber’s initial concepts which largely ignored Leech’s direction were promptly rejected. With a little back and forth, the pair eventually settled on three designs which were struck on pattern coins and presented to President Harrison and his cabinet.

The approved design was immediately slated for production. The motif, which was drawn up for the half-dollar, was simply scaled down for the dime and quarter. Since the law restricted dimes from depicting an eagle, Barber had to develop a separate reverse design. He landed on a minimalist theme with a wreath encompassing the inscription ONE DIME. On January 2, 1892, the Philadelphia Mint began full-scale production of Barber coins.

Criticisms of Barber coins were almost immediate with prominent figures and numismatic publications calling the designs dull, uninspired, and amateur. However, Barber did receive some recognition for the mechanical aspect of the coinage such as the engraving precision, design clarity, and minting functionality. This disparity underscored Barber’s functional and pragmatic approach to coinage rather than an overtly artistic motivation.

After the first year of production, Barber made slight changes to the designs of the half-dollar, quarter, and dime. These modifications were to address some production concerns and improve the appearance of the coinage. Collectors and investors refer to Barber coins in the first year of production as Type I and everything after as Type II. The first design is generally harder to find given its lower mintage.

Types of Barber Coins

The half-dollar, quarter, and dimes that bear Barber’s designs have collectively become known as Barber coins. They’re known for their minimalist and understated design along with their mechanical features which were advanced at the time.

Barber Half-Dollar

The Barber half-dollar enjoyed 23 years of production between 1892 and 1915 with millions being pumped into circulation. The coin has a face value of $0.50, but its 90% silver purity equips it with higher inherent worth. The production of Barber half-dollars was concentrated at the Philadelphia and San Francisco Mint although the Denver and New Orleans Mint also contributed to manufacturing in 1906 and 1909, respectively. Some of the most scarce Barber half-dollars include the 1897-S, 1914, and 1915.

Barber Quarter

The Barber quarter also has a respectable silver fineness of 0.90. It received an extra year of production over its half-dollar counterpart between 1892 and 1916. During this time, the Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New Orleans Mint produced nearly 265 million Barber quarters. This high level of production means only a handful of Barber quarters are considered scarce with even fewer being exceptionally rare. Some key dates include the 1896-S, 1901-S, and 1911-S.

Barber Dime

The Barber dime, also referred to as the “V”, liberty, or Barber nickel, experienced the highest production level among all Barber coins at over half a billion pieces between 1892 and 1916. Similar to other Barber coins, this dime boasts a 90% purity rating. Minting occurred at the Philadelphia, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Denver Mint. Despite the coin’s massive production scale, some versions experienced low mintages at around 500,000 over 25 years. These low-production versions include 1895-O, 1901-S, and 1913-S.

Barber Coins Designs

Obverse

The obverse of the Barber coins depicts a stoic bust of Lady Liberty facing right. Her head is adorned with a Phrygian cap, a small ribbon, and a laurel wreath. On the half-dollar and quarter, the design is encircled by 13 stars and an inscription of IN GOD WE TRUST. Due to space limitations, the Barber dime has UNITED STATES OF AMERICA inscribed around Liberty without any stars. All Barber coins feature the mint date at the bottom of the obverse side.

Reverse

The reverse design of the Barber half-dollar and quarter depicts a heraldic eagle with outstretched wings. A ribbon enclosed in its beak holds the country’s motto: E PLURUBUS UNUM. The eagle is clenching an olive branch and arrows in its talons which represent peace and readiness for war, respectively.  Thirteen stars sit above the eagle’s head. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is emblazoned at the top, and the coin’s denomination QUARTER DOLLOR or QUARTER is inscribed on the bottom. The Barber dime features a more minimalist reverse design. ONE DIME is written in the middle with a decorative wreath surrounding it.

Are Barber coins rare?

The majority of Barber coins aren’t considered rare given their high level of production and widespread circulation. Millions of each iteration were minted over their multiple years of production. However, there are some notable exceptions. The famed 1849 Barber dime from the San Francisco Mint is the rarest version as it saw extremely limited production of 24 coins.

Are Barber coins worth anything?

Yes, Barber coins carry inherent value given their historical significance, high silver purity, and numismatic appeal. However, their sheer volume of production and their circulating nature prevent many of these coins from reaching significantly high values. They represent an accessible and cost-effective investment option for those who don’t mind adding circulating coinage to their collection.

Gold remains near a two-month high, hovering around the $2,100 an ounce benchmark, as speculation firmed that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in June after a series of economic reports last week.

Investors are awaiting Friday’s U.S. monthly jobs report for February, a key economic indicator, for further direction. The Fed closely tracks both labor market and inflation data when determining monetary policy. Lower interest rates are considered bullish because they make gold a more attractive asset for investors. 

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is also set to testify before Congress on Wednesday and Thursday, and a number of Fed official are additionally scheduled to speak this week. 

Front-month gold futures rose 2.3% last week to settle at $2,095.70 an ounce on Comex after the most-active April contract gained 2% Friday. Bullion dropped 0.6% in February after declining 0.2% in January and gaining 0.7% in December. The metal rose 13% in 2023. The April contract is currently up $8.0 (+0.38%) an ounce to $2103.70 and the DG spot price is $2098.60.

The Fed’s favorite inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, came in in line with economists’ estimates last week. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core-PCE increased 0.4% month on month in January and 2.8% from a year earlier. Top-line PCE, including food and energy costs, increased 0.3% for the month and 2.4% on a 12-month basis. The Fed is targeting 2% inflation.  

But U.S. factory activity shrank at a faster pace in February, according to the key manufacturing report from the Institute for Supply Management, which came out Friday, signaling that the economy may be softening. The report came in below all but one estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Production and factory employment dropped to the lowest levels since July. 

In addition to the Labor Department’s jobs report Friday, investors will be closely watching the private payrolls report Wednesday from ADP and the weekly initial jobless claims report out Thursday from the Labor Department. 

More than a dozen U.S. states are holding Republican and Democratic primary elections on Tuesday and may finalize the U.S. presidential race in November. 

About 97% of the investors tracked by the CME FedWatch Tool are betting that the Fed will keep rates unchanged this month, while 3% expect a 25 basis point cut. Most investors tracked by the tool now also anticipate the Fed will hold rates steady at the following policy meeting in May. Most are now looking to June for a rate cut. 

The central bank has raised interest rates by 5.25 percentage points since March 2022 in an effort to cut inflation, but kept rates unchanged at 5.25% to 5.50% earlier this month. High interest rates are typically considered bearish for gold. 

Front-month silver futures rose 0.8% last week to settle at $23.36 an ounce on Comex after the May contract rallied 2.1% Friday. Silver lost 1.2% in February after falling 3.8% in January and dropping 6.1% in December. It ticked up 0.2% in 2023. The May contract is currently up $0.241 (+1.03%) an ounce to $23.605 and the DG spot price is up $23.47.

Spot palladium decreased 3.2% last week to $967.50 an ounce but gained 1.4% Friday. Palladium fell 4.6% in February after tumbling 11% in January and advancing 8.6% in December. Palladium plummeted 38% last year. Currently, the DG spot price is down $7.00 an ounce to $961.50.

Spot platinum slid 2.2% last week to $890.60 an ounce, though it rose 0.6% Friday. Platinum decreased 4.9% in February after falling 8% in January and rising 8.1% in December. Platinum dropped 6.8% in 2023. The DG spot price is currently up $8.10 an ounce to $897.10.

Disclaimer: This editorial has been prepared by Dillon Gage Metals for information and thought-provoking purposes only and does not purport to predict or forecast actual results. This editorial opinion is not to be construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any particular security, commodity, or course of action. Opinions expressed herein cannot be attributable to Dillon Gage. Reasonable people may disagree about the events discussed or opinions expressed herein. In the event any of the assumptions used herein do not come to fruition, results are likely to vary substantially. It is not a solicitation or advice to make any exchange in commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. No part of this editorial may be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Dillon Gage Metals. Dillon Gage Metals shall not have any liability for any damages of any kind whatsoever relating to this editorial. You should consult your advisers with respect to these areas. By posting this editorial, you acknowledge, understand, and accept this disclaimer.

Gold remains near a two-month high, hovering around the $2,100 an ounce benchmark, as speculation firmed that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in June after a series of economic reports last week.

Investors are awaiting Friday’s U.S. monthly jobs report for February, a key economic indicator, for further direction. The Fed closely tracks both labor market and inflation data when determining monetary policy. Lower interest rates are considered bullish because they make gold a more attractive asset for investors. 

Fed Chair Jerome Powell is also set to testify before Congress on Wednesday and Thursday, and a number of Fed official are additionally scheduled to speak this week. 

Front-month gold futures rose 2.3% last week to settle at $2,095.70 an ounce on Comex after the most-active April contract gained 2% Friday. Bullion dropped 0.6% in February after declining 0.2% in January and gaining 0.7% in December. The metal rose 13% in 2023. The April contract is currently up $8.0 (+0.38%) an ounce to $2103.70 and the DG spot price is $2098.60.

The Fed’s favorite inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, came in in line with economists’ estimates last week. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core-PCE increased 0.4% month on month in January and 2.8% from a year earlier. Top-line PCE, including food and energy costs, increased 0.3% for the month and 2.4% on a 12-month basis. The Fed is targeting 2% inflation.  

But U.S. factory activity shrank at a faster pace in February, according to the key manufacturing report from the Institute for Supply Management, which came out Friday, signaling that the economy may be softening. The report came in below all but one estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Production and factory employment dropped to the lowest levels since July. 

In addition to the Labor Department’s jobs report Friday, investors will be closely watching the private payrolls report Wednesday from ADP and the weekly initial jobless claims report out Thursday from the Labor Department. 

More than a dozen U.S. states are holding Republican and Democratic primary elections on Tuesday and may finalize the U.S. presidential race in November. 

About 97% of the investors tracked by the CME FedWatch Tool are betting that the Fed will keep rates unchanged this month, while 3% expect a 25 basis point cut. Most investors tracked by the tool now also anticipate the Fed will hold rates steady at the following policy meeting in May. Most are now looking to June for a rate cut. 

The central bank has raised interest rates by 5.25 percentage points since March 2022 in an effort to cut inflation, but kept rates unchanged at 5.25% to 5.50% earlier this month. High interest rates are typically considered bearish for gold. 

Front-month silver futures rose 0.8% last week to settle at $23.36 an ounce on Comex after the May contract rallied 2.1% Friday. Silver lost 1.2% in February after falling 3.8% in January and dropping 6.1% in December. It ticked up 0.2% in 2023. The May contract is currently up $0.241 (+1.03%) an ounce to $23.605 and the DG spot price is up $23.47.

Spot palladium decreased 3.2% last week to $967.50 an ounce but gained 1.4% Friday. Palladium fell 4.6% in February after tumbling 11% in January and advancing 8.6% in December. Palladium plummeted 38% last year. Currently, the DG spot price is down $7.00 an ounce to $961.50.

Spot platinum slid 2.2% last week to $890.60 an ounce, though it rose 0.6% Friday. Platinum decreased 4.9% in February after falling 8% in January and rising 8.1% in December. Platinum dropped 6.8% in 2023. The DG spot price is currently up $8.10 an ounce to $897.10.

Disclaimer: This editorial has been prepared by Dillon Gage Metals for information and thought-provoking purposes only and does not purport to predict or forecast actual results. This editorial opinion is not to be construed as investment advice or a recommendation regarding any particular security, commodity, or course of action. Opinions expressed herein cannot be attributable to Dillon Gage. Reasonable people may disagree about the events discussed or opinions expressed herein. In the event any of the assumptions used herein do not come to fruition, results are likely to vary substantially. It is not a solicitation or advice to make any exchange in commodities, securities, or other financial instruments. No part of this editorial may be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Dillon Gage Metals. Dillon Gage Metals shall not have any liability for any damages of any kind whatsoever relating to this editorial. You should consult your advisers with respect to these areas. By posting this editorial, you acknowledge, understand, and accept this disclaimer.

Have you ever wondered about the relationship between gold and silver prices? 

The prices of these two precious metals have been intrinsically linked together throughout history. The gold-silver ratio describes the relationship between them, specifically as it relates to pricing. Precious metals investors and collectors use it as a tool to help determine the best times to buy and sell gold or silver. 

Let’s explore how the gold-silver ratio works and how you can use it to time your investments. 

What is the Gold to Silver Ratio?

The gold-silver ratio is one of the oldest continuously tracked exchange rates. Most investors follow the ratio because the prices of these precious metals have a well-established correlation. More importantly, they’ve rarely deviated from one another. 

Investors calculate the gold-silver ratio by dividing the current market price of one ounce of gold by the current price of one ounce of silver.  

Gold-Silver Ratio History

Despite its relatively recent substantial fluctuation, the gold-silver ratio has remained fairly steady. The original ratio of 12:1 was devised by the Roman Empire. The ratio reached 14:2:1 in 1305 in Venice, where it stayed level until 1330 when it fell backward to 10:1. The ratio continued to fluctuate until the U.S. government fixed it at 15:1 with the Coinage Act of 1792. This act established the U.S. Mint and laid the foundations for modern currency in the United States. 

What changed the ratio? Explorers and miners discovered massive amounts of silver on the American continent(s). This, in addition to government attempts at gold and silver price manipulation, created the conditions for greater volatility. President Roosevelt set the price of gold at $35 per ounce in 1934, which led the ratio to climb as high as 91:1 in 1939.  

After the end of World War II, the ratio declined in part as foreign exchange rates were pegged to the price of gold. Once the gold standard was abandoned in the 1970s, the ratio declined further. The 1980s saw a rapid rise again as silver prices fell to below $4 an ounce, ultimately peaking at 97.5:1 in 1991. 

In the 21st century, the ratio has typically stayed within the range of 50:1 and 70:1. Exceptions include a peak of 104.98:1 in 2020 and its lowest point of 35:1 in 2011. 

Why the Gold-Silver Ratio is Important and What It’s Telling Us

The gold-silver ratio is a critical tool that investors and traders use to evaluate the relative value of silver to gold. By indicating how many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold, it can function as a broader economic indicator. High ratios often indicate bearish markets for precious metals. Low ratios suggest a bullish one. Investors often use the ratio to determine the best time to buy or sell silver and gold.  

Here’s what it looks like in practice: 

Imagine today’s gold price is $1,899 per ounce. Divide that by today’s silver price, $23.93. This gives us a gold-silver ratio of 79.36. 

In other words, you need almost 80 ounces of silver to buy a single ounce of gold. 

Now that we know what the current gold-silver ratio is, what might it be telling us?  

It may be telling us that silver represents an excellent current value in relation to gold. 

Consider this: Over the last 10 years, the gold-silver ratio has been as low as 31.68 and as high as 83.73. 

At current levels, this ratio is near the highest level documented in the last decade. 

Could the gold-silver ratio continue moving higher, exceeding the highest level seen in the last 10 years? While anything is possible, the current reading could potentially be telling us that silver represents a better long-term value at current price levels.  

That doesn’t mean that gold is a bad value. It does mean that silver could potentially be considered “cheap” right now compared to gold. In this case, buying silver at current levels could potentially see a higher percentage return compared to gold—if the ratio begins to contract. 

How to Use the Gold-Silver Ratio in Your Investment Decisions

If you’re looking to stretch your investment dollars as far as possible, the gold-silver ratio can potentially be a useful tool. A very simple method for using this ratio is buying silver when the ratio is high or appears stretched, and buying gold when the ratio narrows or appears tight. 

Fortunately, this does not need to be an exact science. We believe that buying gold and silver at any price or any ratio level is still a wise investment. You also shouldn’t use the gold-silver ratio as a means of “trading” gold or silver but rather see what may present the best value at current price levels. 

While we believe that the gold-silver ratio may show that silver is the better current value, we also believe silver is an awesome value at current prices. Silver can be purchased right now for almost 70 percent off from its all-time high price. Could silver return to those all-time highs or even exceed those levels? We certainly think so. 

Invest in silver or other precious metals today

Don’t wait for silver prices to go up from recent levels. Act now to acquire physical silver at what could potentially be a huge discount. Speak with an Advantage Gold account executive today. Our precious metals professionals will discuss your options for acquiring physical silver and can even show you how to conveniently use your IRA account to build a physical silver portfolio. 

Talk to an IRA advisor about how to roll over your 401(k) into a Gold IRA by opening a self-directed IRA account, use our contact form or call us at 800-341-8584 today. 

Tags: add gold to my ira, add silver to my ira, advantage gold, gold, gold silver ratio, investments, portfolio diversification, precious metals, silver

Have you ever wondered about the relationship between gold and silver prices? 

The prices of these two precious metals have been intrinsically linked together throughout history. The gold-silver ratio describes the relationship between them, specifically as it relates to pricing. Precious metals investors and collectors use it as a tool to help determine the best times to buy and sell gold or silver. 

Let’s explore how the gold-silver ratio works and how you can use it to time your investments. 

What is the Gold to Silver Ratio?

The gold-silver ratio is one of the oldest continuously tracked exchange rates. Most investors follow the ratio because the prices of these precious metals have a well-established correlation. More importantly, they’ve rarely deviated from one another. 

Investors calculate the gold-silver ratio by dividing the current market price of one ounce of gold by the current price of one ounce of silver.  

Gold-Silver Ratio History

Despite its relatively recent substantial fluctuation, the gold-silver ratio has remained fairly steady. The original ratio of 12:1 was devised by the Roman Empire. The ratio reached 14:2:1 in 1305 in Venice, where it stayed level until 1330 when it fell backward to 10:1. The ratio continued to fluctuate until the U.S. government fixed it at 15:1 with the Coinage Act of 1792. This act established the U.S. Mint and laid the foundations for modern currency in the United States. 

What changed the ratio? Explorers and miners discovered massive amounts of silver on the American continent(s). This, in addition to government attempts at gold and silver price manipulation, created the conditions for greater volatility. President Roosevelt set the price of gold at $35 per ounce in 1934, which led the ratio to climb as high as 91:1 in 1939.  

After the end of World War II, the ratio declined in part as foreign exchange rates were pegged to the price of gold. Once the gold standard was abandoned in the 1970s, the ratio declined further. The 1980s saw a rapid rise again as silver prices fell to below $4 an ounce, ultimately peaking at 97.5:1 in 1991. 

In the 21st century, the ratio has typically stayed within the range of 50:1 and 70:1. Exceptions include a peak of 104.98:1 in 2020 and its lowest point of 35:1 in 2011. 

Why the Gold-Silver Ratio is Important and What It’s Telling Us

The gold-silver ratio is a critical tool that investors and traders use to evaluate the relative value of silver to gold. By indicating how many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold, it can function as a broader economic indicator. High ratios often indicate bearish markets for precious metals. Low ratios suggest a bullish one. Investors often use the ratio to determine the best time to buy or sell silver and gold.  

Here’s what it looks like in practice: 

Imagine today’s gold price is $1,899 per ounce. Divide that by today’s silver price, $23.93. This gives us a gold-silver ratio of 79.36. 

In other words, you need almost 80 ounces of silver to buy a single ounce of gold. 

Now that we know what the current gold-silver ratio is, what might it be telling us?  

It may be telling us that silver represents an excellent current value in relation to gold. 

Consider this: Over the last 10 years, the gold-silver ratio has been as low as 31.68 and as high as 83.73. 

At current levels, this ratio is near the highest level documented in the last decade. 

Could the gold-silver ratio continue moving higher, exceeding the highest level seen in the last 10 years? While anything is possible, the current reading could potentially be telling us that silver represents a better long-term value at current price levels.  

That doesn’t mean that gold is a bad value. It does mean that silver could potentially be considered “cheap” right now compared to gold. In this case, buying silver at current levels could potentially see a higher percentage return compared to gold—if the ratio begins to contract. 

How to Use the Gold-Silver Ratio in Your Investment Decisions

If you’re looking to stretch your investment dollars as far as possible, the gold-silver ratio can potentially be a useful tool. A very simple method for using this ratio is buying silver when the ratio is high or appears stretched, and buying gold when the ratio narrows or appears tight. 

Fortunately, this does not need to be an exact science. We believe that buying gold and silver at any price or any ratio level is still a wise investment. You also shouldn’t use the gold-silver ratio as a means of “trading” gold or silver but rather see what may present the best value at current price levels. 

While we believe that the gold-silver ratio may show that silver is the better current value, we also believe silver is an awesome value at current prices. Silver can be purchased right now for almost 70 percent off from its all-time high price. Could silver return to those all-time highs or even exceed those levels? We certainly think so. 

Invest in silver or other precious metals today

Don’t wait for silver prices to go up from recent levels. Act now to acquire physical silver at what could potentially be a huge discount. Speak with an Advantage Gold account executive today. Our precious metals professionals will discuss your options for acquiring physical silver and can even show you how to conveniently use your IRA account to build a physical silver portfolio. 

Talk to an IRA advisor about how to roll over your 401(k) into a Gold IRA by opening a self-directed IRA account, use our contact form or call us at 800-341-8584 today. 

Tags: add gold to my ira, add silver to my ira, advantage gold, gold, gold silver ratio, investments, portfolio diversification, precious metals, silver