Min-Max Ranges:
- 40-80% gold
- 10-40% silver
- 10-30% bitcoin
Why? First, gold is
the metal that will be revalued and remonetised into the global financial system (Bitcoin hasn't made enough inroads yet). Second, gold is less expensive to store than silver. Third, although silver will rise with gold, there is no certainty as to when & how revaluation will occur, or whether silver will keep up during latter stages of revalutation (financial utility may boost gold for a some time, even though the natural ratio is below 20:1).
I tend to agree with your ranges, with the addition that Silver most often behaves like an industrial metal and crashes with the entire financial market (i.e. Silver is already down about 50% from the Apr '11 high while Gold is UP vs. 2011..
This is why I recommend 0-15% silver in bear markets like we are in.
Yes - the primary reason I have a 10% minimum on silver is because it allows you to remain in the metals and profit from GSR volatility without having to risk touching fiat at any point. I also consider it a backup in case I wind up somewhere like Mexico, where silver is more prevalent than gold. Other than that, industrial demand is frustratingly volatile as you pointed out.
If it gets to 30 to 1 (50 silver 1500 gold). I might think about rebalancing.
If the opportunity arises before revaluation. That event could see the GSR at 100:1 as S3052 suggests, then there's no telling how long it might be until the ratio would decline.
S3052, could you please post some of your reasoning for your $13 dollar target for silver?
AFAIK, the reasoning is that silver is mainly an industrial metal and it will decline along with most other asset classes in a deflationary crash.
I have to agree, in regard to
paper prices.
Physical silver retains a very strong monetary aspect and will rise with physical gold during such an event, though perhaps not to the same extent at first.
Consider this hypothetical situation: consumer gas prices in the US go to just shy of $5/gallon and never break above. War breaks out in the Middle East, and supply to America is cut in half. The price
should rise, presumably doubling in the absence of other factors. However, the price can be maintained by government decree through price controls.
Since the consumer sees no effect on prices, there is no motivation to modify consumption habits. At some point, the lack of supply will fail to keep pace with demand, causing real shortages despite a stable price. There is historical precedent: the same situation has fairly recently occurred in Eastern Europe and Russia, notably during the Soviet Union's existence.
End result: gas (silver) prices may be a somewhat reasonable $5/gal ($30/oz) -
if you can get any. You might have a better chance camping out at an Apple store for the next iThing.
A situation similar to the above is
guaranteed with the current path the world is headed on. There are potential ways of solving the issue, but the price will make most people question whatever faith they hold, and any hope for humanity in general.
Thanks for the feedback miscreanity! I did struggle with my 50% silver and 30% gold choices for a while, but in my case I decided to go with the more speculative play. I see a lot more profit potential with silver, and the volatility doesn't bother me as I'm not selling anytime soon. Also, I would not be the slightest bit surprised to find out that there is actually much less available silver in the world than we've been led to believe.
I keep some USD, CAD and CHF on hand as well, and I'm looking at getting some more concealable gold like necklaces and bracelets in case the time ever comes where I have to pack up and F off in a hurry - gold jewelry and small coins would be best for that. A USB stick full of bitcoins wouldn't hurt either, especially if you have to go through any sort of checkpoint.
Sure thing. As I commented to silverbox, the silver play could be rather unpleasant if the ratio doesn't plummet -
soon. Multiple times, cyperdoc pointed out that markets can go in the opposite direction you expect for a long time - we might only get one more shot at a good GSR before the dam breaks and we're stuck for who-knows-how-long.
Yeah, paper currency is nice to have. Still need to pay expenses somehow until the world regains its sanity. What if you get stripped of all your possessions and deported, or worse - incarcerated at a camp? Might want to work on a brain wallet...