Anyone invest in Gold or Silver? What are the advantages and the risks.

I do find the advantages to be obvious. When the world collapses and all other investments go down the toilet, gold and silver will always be there.

American Eagles, in gold, silver, and platinum. Sized from 1/10 ounce, (gold, platinum). Portable, easily converted to cash, and affordable. :nice:

But Criminal, will gold and silver always carry value? That is debatable.

Its just how oil is considered 'black gold' and that one day water may be worth more than gold.

The 'value' of gold and silver is purely a man made value. Its just like diamonds, but not quite as extreme.

Given a 'total collapse of society' I think you have to worry about more than gold and silver.

Originally posted by Manu
But Criminal, will gold and silver always carry value? That is debatable.

Its just how oil is considered 'black gold' and that one day water may be worth more than gold.

The 'value' of gold and silver is purely a man made value. Its just like diamonds, but not quite as extreme.

Given a 'total collapse of society' I think you have to worry about more than gold and silver.
Something interesting to note, in closed societies like China or the Soviet Union where curancy was very liquid, Gold was the only thing of value people could own. It could be hid or stashed away. In Communist Occupied Europe it was illegal to own gold for this very reason. Gold is a good thing to have as a way to deversify your portfolio. If the stock and bond markets fail, gold will always be worth something.

Originally posted by DngrMse
American Eagles, in gold, silver, and platinum. Sized from 1/10 ounce, (gold, platinum). Portable, easily converted to cash, and affordable. :nice:

I started collecting them (silver eagle) in '86 (or so) with grass cutting money :) .... I stopped in '96 or there abouts.... i should by the '96 to date (just to have them). I like collecting that crap. :nice:

The number one problem with gold :

Its not NECESSARY to live.
You cant eat it (and gain any nourishment from it).
You cant drink it.
You can wear it (but not enough to avoid public indeceny laws).
You can't build a house or shelter out of it.

In the very end, its value is based on how much people say its worth. If people (as a whole) say gold is valueless, then it is so.
It has no INTRINSIC value.


But then so few things do ...