The Silver Secret: Unveiling Its Power

The Ultimate Element That Shapes Our World

Dane Klocke
DataDrivenInvestor

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Image by author (Made in Canva)

Forget gold, today I’m putting the spotlight on silver.

Silver’s got quite the story to tell, and it’s more than just a shiny metal. It’s an investment with history and a future that gleams. 💫

💡 Did you know?

In at least 14 languages, “silver” is basically the same word for “money”?

Talk about a cool “coincidence”!

But hold on, silver isn’t your run-of-the-mill metal. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of elements, It’s been captivating humanity and serving as currency for ages.

Whether you’re a newbie in the precious metals arena or a seasoned pro, here’s why silver should be on your investment radar…

🌟 Silver’s Shiny Secret

This stuff is the rock star of reflection. Polished silver beams back a jaw-dropping 95% of the visible light spectrum. We’re talking mirrors, telescopes, microscopes, and even solar panels — they all owe a nod to silver’s shimmer.

🔌 The Electric Master

When it comes to electricity, silver is the head honcho. It’s the gold standard (pun intended) for electrical conductivity. On a scale of 0 to 100, silver scores a perfect 100 on the scale. Copper follows at 97, while gold lags behind at 76.

💰 Ancient Bling

Silver isn’t new to the game, it’s one of the OG metals. With the first use of silver dating back to around 5,000 BC, and the ancient Greeks and Egyptians are credited with the discovery of this element. Surviving artifacts date back to around 4000 B.C., as well as the first metal used as money, which it outranked even gold in value.

🛠 Silver’s Flex Game

This element is like the yoga master of metals. It can bend, twist, and stretch without breaking a sweat. Imagine this — one tiny grain of silver can be flattened thinner than a regular sheet of paper. (would you believe 150 times thinner than paper?) That’s some serious flexibility!

👎🏼 Silver’s Historical Slip

Flashback to 1965, Congress enacted the Coinage Act of 1965 which would drop the silver content in coins from 90% to 40%. And in 1970, silver was completely removed from U.S. coins. But guess what? Those coins with 90% silver are now like gold (well, silver) to collectors and investors. Treasure hunt!

Silver: More Than Just Investment

Yep, we all know silver’s shiny rep as an investment superstar, but what often slips under the radar are its industrial superpowers.

Here’s a little silver nugget: nearly 60% of the silver we mine every year goes straight into the manufacturing/industrial applications of modern life. That’s only 40% that ends up in our pockets. Of the 60% used for industries almost 80% ends up in landfills.

Electronics: Silver’s Silent Hero

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Ever wondered what makes your gadgets tick? Surprise, surprise — it’s silver! Whether it’s your TV, smartphone, or microwave, silver’s unbeatable electrical conductivity makes it the behind-the-scenes MVP.

Think printed circuit boards, switches, and the stuff that brings your devices to life. In 2023, we’ve got over 15 billion internet-connected devices worldwide, and that’s set to double by 2030. As we dive deeper into the digital age, the demand for silver in tech will skyrocket.

Renewable Energy: Silver’s Green Impact

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Silver’s not just about screens and buttons; in the quest for clean energy, silver steps up big time, especially in those solar panels soaking up sunlight.

Picture this… silver powder turns into a paste, coating silicon wafers in solar cells. When the sun kisses these wafers, electricity dances, and silver conducts it like a pro for immediate use or stashes it in batteries.

As the world invests in clean energy, silver’s demand is on the upswing, cementing its role in a sustainable future.

Silver’s Healing Touch

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Long before scientists cracked the code, it was a germ-fighting hero. Sailors dropped silver coins in barrels of water and wine to keep them fresh, and newborns got silver nitrate eye drops. In World War I, silver dressings and sutures patched up wounds and stitched up injuries.

Fast forward, scientists figured out silver’s antibacterial wizardry. Silver’s ions can take down bacteria without harming our cells. Silver-infused bandages? Yep, they’re a thing, fighting bacteria and speeding up recovery. Remarkably, silver even takes on drug-resistant bacteria.

The Electric Ride: Silver’s Turbocharge

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Electric Vehicles (EVs) are all the rage, and guess who’s riding shotgun? Silver, of course! Its electrical and thermal skills make it a prime battery ingredient. Plus, it’s safe for us and the environment.

In 2022, electric car sales nearly doubled since 2021. These vehicles are thirsty for silver, and the auto industry guzzles over a whopping 60 million ounces each year. By 2025, that’s set to spike to 90 million ounces.

Here’s the twist… the demand for silver is racing ahead of supply, and it’s creating a bit of a speed bump for the industry. We need more silver to keep the electric vehicle revolution rolling. If the EV industry wants to move forward with rapid growth, they’ll require a massive increase in silver production. I’m curious… where is all this silver going to come from? 🤔

Silver Supply Under Pressure: Crisis on the Horizon

© SILVER INSTITUTE 2023

The World Silver Survey 2023 paints a vivid picture… the global hunger for silver skyrocketed by a jaw-dropping 18% last year, clocking in at a record-busting 1.24 billion ounces. But here’s the kicker — our supply couldn’t keep up.

Back in 2021, we were already facing a silver shortfall of 51.1 million ounces. But hold on tight because 2022 took the drama to a whole new level, with a mind-boggling deficit of 237.7 million ounces. The Silver Institute dubbed this “possibly the most significant deficit on record”, and the crystal ball suggests these shortages aren’t waving goodbye anytime soon.

So, why’s the silver supply feeling the heat? Well…

💸 Costs on the Rise: The mining scene’s grappling with ballooning expenses, especially in the labor and energy departments.

🌿 Green Regulations: Environmental rules are piling up, making mining a more intricate puzzle to solve.

🇲🇽 Mexico’s Move: The world’s silver powerhouse, Mexico, slammed the brakes on open-pit silver mining.

Now, let’s add some fuel to the fire…

With global sustainable investments soaring to a jaw-dropping $35.3 trillion, according to the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance, the hunger for silver, a green tech essential, is about to go into overdrive.

Investors, are you hearing the alarm bells yet?

When soaring demand collides with dwindling supply, the outcome isn’t rocket science. Either we find a silver stash somewhere or silver’s price could very well go for a wild ride in the years ahead.

Experts like Keith Neumeyer, the big shot from First Majestic Silver, has been waving the flag: “I’ve been calling for triple-digit silver for a few years now, and I’m more enthused now” Neumeyer said. “But I’m cautiously enthused because, you know, I thought it would have happened sooner than it currently is happening.”

Embrace the Silver Opportunity

No doubt about it — silver’s isn’t just a shiny rock; it’s the unsung hero in tech, green energy, and health. Demand’s up, supply’s down — silver’s future? Bright as a supernova.

If you’re thinking about shaking up your investments, silver’s the shining star to consider today… Click the button below!

Stay tuned next week for more juicy info on silver price trends. 👍

Catch you on the flip side!

As a kid, I dreamt of being a money guru. Dreams… sigh! Reality check: I’m no financial advisor. So, here’s the deal — it’s a jungle out there on the web, so be smart and do your own homework. Don’t bet your savings on internet strangers. This publication expresses an opinion and should not be taken as investment advice.

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