WTF are Zombucks?

Excuse my French, but just WTF are Zombucks? I found myself asking this very question while cruising the Provident Metals gold, silver, copper website. Apparently, they are private rounds available in silver and copper from the Provident website in one ounce form. The pricing is just a hair under an American Silver Eagle one ounce coin.

When I first saw these "rounds" I figured it was a gag coin of some sort. Certainly nothing precious that might interest me from an investment or survival standpoint. However, it turns out that they are indeed serious attempts at alternative money in a post-dollar world! Believe me, I do have a great sense of humor, and can appreciate irony and satire in all of its forms. However, we're talking about survival here, not a stand up comedy routine at your local Improv. Survival in a world with a devalued or valueless dollar is very serious, and preparations for such an occurrence are crucial. The aforesaid preps may even mean the difference between life and death for yourself and your family. I don't know about you, but I have ZERO interest in explaining to some trading partner that my money isn't a joke, but real silver, copper, etc.

I think I'll stick with junk US silver (pre-1965 dimes, quarters, halves, dollars) and American Silver Eagles. When people are hungry they're not in the mood for wry humor! Using some silver round with a zombie image on it just might get you shot by a potential trading partner who doesn't get the lame joke. As a normal living human I can die from a bullet anywhere on my body, not just the zombie kill shot to the head!

Rick

Making the Right Silver Coin Buying Choice!

The US government is now irrevocably on the path to deflation followed by inflation and eventually hyperinflation. In all cases in the last few hundred years, countries facing hyperinflation have fallen back on gold and silver coins as islands of stability in a chaotic sea of worthless paper fiat money. However, with a confusing variety of silver coins and rounds available and limited funds with which to purchase them, we need to look at the core determining factor in the American people. The Idiot Factor.

The average American is just not the brightest bulb in the world's lamps. Their limited intellects can grasp new knowledge only very slowly. Ask any marketing guy why commercials aren't more sophisticated and he'll tell you the same thing P.T. Barnum famously uttered, "No one ever lost money in the US by underestimating American intelligence".

With all this in mind, let's envision the aftermath of a US Dollar collapse. History tells us that Argentina, Yugoslavia, Weimar Germany, Iceland and many other countries quickly began to use old silver and gold coins very quickly. Immediately below please find my version of an effective sign advertising a merchants acceptance of US 90% silver coins:

US Silver Coins Accepted at this Store!

All US dimes, quarters, halves, and silver dollars dated 1964 & prior

and

US Mint Silver Eagles all years gladly accepted

Pretty easy to understand sign, wouldn't you agree? Unfortunately, other silver and gold being collected right now will only serve to confuse trading partners and possibly lead to violent misunderstandings. Let's check out my somewhat tongue-in-cheek sign below as a comparison:

Silver Coins Accepted at this store!

 

All US dimes, quarters, halves, silver dollars dated 1964 & prior

and

US Mint Silver Eagles all years gladly accepted

and and

Kennedy halves dated1965-1970 (but nothing after) unless your talking about some proof coins issued that do have some silver - but not all do.

and and and

War Nickels dated 1942-1945. But the 1942 ones have to have a large mint mark on the reverse above Monticello or forget it!

and and and and

Some older Canadian coins have silver, but we don't have a clue which ones - so who knows?

and and and and and

There are these things called silver rounds. They're minted by a large number of private companies and there are hundreds of versions with a wide variety of images on the obverse/reverse. I even saw ones once with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny on them! The guys from Pawn Stars have one for sale with the Old Man's picture on it. They all usually claim to have one pure ounce of silver, but what if they're lying? So your guess is as good as ours as to what they're worth...if anything!

and and and and and and

There are Chinese Panda silver coins too! They are minted by China and are very pretty. Unfortunately, numerous Chinese counterfeiters have made excellent copies that only an expert can readily identify...so don't bring them here! Oh, and don't get me started on Mexican coinage! How are my employees supposed to read Spanish writing when they have a hard enough time understanding English! Please, it makes my poor gringo head spin!

Now tell me honestly. Which sign do you believe will be more effective? Your answer should dictate your silver buying choices.

Rick



Silver Eagles and Round Premiums Shrinking!

SUNSHINE MINTING 1 OZ. SILVER ROUND

I am not a silver round type of guy. I've always believed that US Junk Silver coins (pre 1965 circulated dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars) along with the American Silver Eagles (world's best selling bullion coins), were the best overall investment. The coins have a lot going for them. They're minted by the trusted US Mint, and are among the most purchased silver coins in history. In a future economic disruption trading scenario, they'd also be the easiest to explain to the average non-savy person. On the other hand, I shrink at the thought of having to explain just what the heck the above pictured silver round is and what it's worth. I know it's one ounce of fine silver by a trusted company, but to the average American in a strange new world it's just some weird slug that he's never seen or heard about before. Indeed, ask the average man on the street what privately minted money is, and he'll say counterfeit 9 times out of 10!

In the past, however, silver round enthusiasts have been able to claim the only advantage available to their precious metal choice -  the round was markedly cheaper per ounce than the American Eagle and junk silver coins. Even that advantage is now disappearing, and the following prices from APMEX.com speak volumes:

Cost per each American Silver Eagle 1 oz. 2011 (Qty 500+)          $37.18            $3.05 per coin premium


Cost per 1 oz 90% American Junk Silver    ($500 face value)           Spot to +5%   0 to +5% premium


Cost per 1 oz. Sunshine Minting Silver Round 2011 (Qty 500+)    $36.18             $2.05 per round
premium

So, what we're looking at now is only one dollar difference between a bullion COIN minted by the US Mint and currently the single best selling bullion product in the world, and a private company ROUND product unkown to the vast majority of Americans. To make matters worse for the round adherents, presently junk silver is selling at anywhere from spot to spot +5%. A great bargain for coins that were once used in everyday commerce, and whose likeness to the present nickel/copper drones requires only quick instruction to bring a trading partner up to snuff!

To sum up, in my book a buck difference between a silver round and a coin that is legitimate US money is just too insignificant to make its inclusion in my economic distress portfolio worthwhile. Of course, silver round boosters are notoriously hard-headed types (although I truly do love you guys). They'll probably hold onto their rounds until the cows not only come home, but also after they're milked and slaughtered for hamburger! They may even take some perverse joy at having to explain their trading medium to every single person they seek to do business with. For my part, I'll just fork over my junk silver and an occasional ASE and be on my way!

Rick

Junk Silver & Eagles vs. Silver Rounds!

Objectively speaking, an American Silver Eagle (ASE) coin, one oz. of 90% junk silver coins ($1.40 face value), and a one troy ounce silver round are exactly the same. Silver is, after all, silver. However, I recommend buying ASE's and 90% junk (pre-1965 dimes, quarters, halves, dollars) rather than privately minted silver rounds, even though the former two are a bit more expensive than the latter.

Why?

Should an economic collapse occur (and assuming basic law & order is maintained or at least locally reestablished), Americans will go through a crash course in trading and real money. Initially, I expect FRN's (paper dollars) will still be exchanged due to long habit even though they have all reverted to their inherently worthless state. Next, the 90% junk silver (pre-1965 dimes, quarters, halves, and dollars) as well as the ASE's will make an appearance in trade. US minted coins will matter and their value more readily recognizable and universal.

Privately minted money in the form of rounds is an alien concept to Americans, and to the citizens of the world today. I expect this prejudice to be around a long time despite the inherent logic of the silver is silver argument.

Time is running out fast! Hyperinflation seems unavoidable as fiat paper money is being printed as fast as the US presses can run. To protect your wealth and your family, buy gold and silver now from these top companies (below):


Rick

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