It took the South African Mint 50 years after the release of the first gold Krugerrand in 1967 to produce a silver version of the same. The silver Krugerrand was born in 2017 and joined the collecting world after much anticipation. I remember the level of excitement in the market. As soon as the news was announced, social media was

Woolworths Café (not the stores) has announced that they are going cashless. A PNA store in Johannesburg has posted a sign on their entrance that read, “This store will soon be cashless.” Some applauded the decision. Others were indifferent. But most financially literate people on social media were outraged, promising to take their cash elsewhere. One X (formally Twitter) user

In a BBC Business interview in 2014, Professor Sella explored why it is that out of all the elements, gold has become the most trusted and respected money. Systematically, he worked his way through all the elements in the periodic table to eliminate all the elements that would simply not be suitable as money. This is common sense since everything

Trying to figure out the best time to buy precious metals is one of the most common questions I get. “The price has dropped a couple of percent … surely this is the perfect time to buy?” “Prices have been stagnant; surely this means silver and gold are consolidating and prices are about to explode so should I buy now?”

In 1971, President Richard Nixon took the US dollar off the gold standard “temporarily.” In effect, the United States had defaulted on its commitment to redeem its dollars in gold! The use of gold as money, which had begun with the earliest civilizations (who used it in the form of nuggets), had been perfected by the Lydians (who turned gold

It is very peculiar to me when I see government officials announce with much fanfare and celebration that inflation is under control and within the 3%-6% range. Even more odd is the response by some citizens who celebrate this as great news. In essence, however, they are merely rejoicing that the government was only able to make them between 3%

Whether we like it or not, we live in a fiat monetary system. Unless you are in your late 60s, you have only ever used fiat currencies. Gone are the days when the change in your pocket was actual physical silver. Gone are the days when paper money was as good as gold. Even more sobering is the diminishing number

Saving for retirement is that fuzzy concept that exists in the back-corridors of your mind when you are young. You hear “older” people talk about it; some with fondness and excitement, while others with some fear and trepidation. As you start your professional career, maybe start a family, and even buy a home, the concept starts to become less fuzzy.

Here is a statement, or a financial riddle of sorts. If I had a rand for every time I woke up in the morning, I would be a millionaire. And I am only 40. True or false? If maths is your superpower, you would soon smell flawed arithmetic. Multiplying my age by 365 days in a year would yield only

What do you think are the two most important questions an investor should ask before buying silver or gold bullion? For some, hunting for bargains is about more than getting a product at the cheapest possible cost. It’s about the chase and the hunt, not the catch. One of my family members who fall into this category even remarked once

My personal Story My interest in precious metals started as a child. As a little boy, pirates, treasure maps and treasure chests filled with silver and gold captured my imagination. While I had zero intellectual understanding about the differences between fiat currency and real money, I was instinctively conscious of the value and worth of silver and gold. It is

  You have done your research. You have listened to the experts. It is time to make your first purchase. In fact, whether you are a first-time investor, or a seasoned purchaser, due diligence on the seller is vital. Below is a list of due diligence questions you should consider before making an online purchase of silver, gold, or platinum.

What accounts for the lack of interest in platinum in South Africa? In this blog, I will address this question, and provide a brief thought on the future of platinum as an investment alternative. Please note that I will not address why platinum is a good investment. Rather, the focus is why it seems to be an out of favour

Bullion coins and bars are generally classified into three categories, namely, brilliant uncirculated (BU), Secondary Market (SM) or circulated (C), and cull. Even for seasoned investors, these terms can be confusing. For example, how can a bullion coin be circulated? Bullion coins are not circulation coins, like currency. What is the difference between a secondary market coins, and a cull?

This question is one of the most frequently asked questions not only by those who recently became precious metals investors, but also by seasoned investors. My answer to this question is this: 25% gold and 75% silver. This short article is not an attempt to provide three points that make the case for my answer. A disclaimer is in order:

If you want to chat with us about the blog bellow, please do not hesitate to email (sales@silver-sphere.co.za) or call us at your convenience (083 561 2375). I want to buy silver in South Africa. Which product should I purchase? Before I endeavor to shed some light onto this question, it is important to emphasise that I am not qualified

If you want to chat with us about the blog bellow, please do not hesitate to email (sales@silver-sphere.co.za) or call us at your convenience (083 561 2375). Since the news has hit social media that a first ever bullion silver Krugerrand release is on the horizon, we have been inundated with emails and phone calls. While the general market interest

If you want to chat with us about the blog bellow, please do not hesitate to email (sales@silver-sphere.co.za) or call us at your convenience (083 561 2375). Recently, Mike Maloney released a video in which he highlights his personal motivations for buying silver and gold. The video was born out of desire to provide a more personally contextual rationale for

If you want to chat with us about the blog bellow, please do not hesitate to email (sales@silver-sphere.co.za) or call us at your convenience (083 561 2375). Investopedia describes investment bubbles to go through five stages: Displacement—innovative new idea or technology that has the potential to change the status quo. Boom—exponential price growth, much media coverage, and increasing individual investors

EDITORIAL – ADV TS EMSILE SC WHAT ABOUT CGT ON THE SALE OF SILVER COINS?   Indeed, what about capital gains tax (‘CGT’) on the sale of silver coins (which – one hears said these days – being undervalued, have even more upside potential than gold coins). The first point to note is that the definition of ‘asset’ in paragraph 1

If you want to chat with us about the blog bellow, please do not hesitate to email (sales@silver-sphere.co.za) or call us at your convenience (083 561 2375). While we will continue to specialise in making available international silver bullion products to the South African silver investor, we have come to an important realisation concerning the place of international gold bullion

While I risking writing an article that may come across as self-promoting, I have none-the-less decided to pen some thoughts on why I think that serious silver investors should purchase their silver from reputable and registered dealers, rather than purchasing them privately from the various platforms available online. Often, saving a few Rands is simply not worth taking a chance

Krugerrands are VAT free. Silver bullion is not. Does this make silver an inferior purchase in South Africa? Mark Twain once wrote that the only difference between the tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. While the statement is meant to be humorous, the statement rings true for silver investors especially. Permit me to explain.

One of the most frequently raised points of concern for new silver investors is the question, where do I sell my silver. I have answer this question in an earlier blog here: https://silversphere.strategik.co.za/can-sell-silver-time-off-load/. However, there is a different implied dimension to this question that is often probed, namely, should I sell all my silver when the price spikes significantly higher?

(Chapter 1, 2, and 3 synopses and thought can be found here) If you like statistics and numbers, then the previous chapter would certainly flick your switch, as it provided invaluable data on the silver supply dynamics (i.e. where silver comes from and how much of it is available). This chapter, chapter 4, presents the other side of the coin,

The Silver Manifesto – Thoughts for the South African Investor Part 3 (Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 synopses and thought can be found here) Chapter 3 is a closer look at the silver supply dynamics and provides readers with some very interesting facts, figures, and much needed context. After all, having a basic understanding of where the silver will come

The Silver Manifesto – Thoughts for the South African Investor Part 2 (chapter 1 synopsis and thought can be found here) commences with the following extracts from the US Constitution, which merits quotation in full: ‘Section 10: No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin money; emit Bills of Credit; make

The silver bullion market is more established and matured in the United States than it is in South Africa. One of the ways in which this state of affairs is apparent is availability of relevant contextual information on silver. For example, I can number dozens US and Canadian economists who’ve specialised in precious metals analysis and have made their research

One of the most frequently raised concerns by silver investors (including many of my clients) relates to storage. Where do I store or hide my physical silver not only to keep it safe from thieves and robbers (should they gain access to my property), but to ensure access in case of an economic crisis or emergency? In my personal opinion,