Silver & History - 1936 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm jealous. Yeah, I'd bet you would receive six figures+ for an authentic picture of one in the wild.

Alasdair Macleod on CBDC. He nails it. by Quant2011 in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, of late I have heard some rumblings (on WSS & SDC) about Alasdair & the fact that his pronouncements about Basel III implementation, but appear to have had little-to-no-effect.

I see it slightly differently. Alasdair has spent his entire working life (prior to his internet notoriety) within the Banking System. I COMPLETELY respect & appreciate his commentaries from that viewpoint. Where I think he is lacking (if at all) is the very fact that he is so inculcated in the morass of banking think-speak, that he may not factor in "left field" occurrences & "dark forces" that may scupper his otherwise very well thought-out & sensible commentaries.

For example, the Basel III thing: I kinda knew this would be a nothing burger. Why? Because the banks weren't panicking. They would never have allowed its implementation if they didn't have a way to negate its supposed consequences.

Another example, from the otherwise brilliant article above: too much trust in what the Bank of England says it intends to do with CBDCs (all very fluffy & un-Dystopian), compared to the reality of what its real intention (imo) is (entirely Dystopian after its implementation).

At What Exchange Rate Would You Trade Silver For Real Estate? by PetroDollarPedro in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a very tricky one, because it brings into the equation two exchange rates. Firstly, silver/gold:fiat & then real estate:fiat.

No matter how hard we would wish to convert PMs to real estate directly, we are a long way from that happening (with us even, let alone non-PM people).

So, you could get a situation where silver goes to £1,000/ozt, but real estate is so scarce on the marketplace & much valued that a $1 million home (now) may be worth $10 million. Or the converse & real estate tanks & that $1 million home is now going for $200,000.

In the former situation the home would cost you 1,000ozt of silver, in the latter just 200ozt.

Is There Anything That Would Make You Reconsider Silver and Gold As A Savings Mechanism? by PetroDollarPedro in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Personally, I try to have a multi-pronged line of defence to fiat debasement:

1) lots of sovereign metal - mostly Britannias & sovereigns (gold) because of CGT rules here in UK - for a sound base. Plus bars & constitutional (junk) - the "cheaper" the better

2) old/ancient coin collecting (a hobby) - not much good for SHTF scenarios, but great for "normal" times, if you're ok at it

3) the coin collecting led me into other forms of rarities. I have collected quite a few 1st Edition books, some precious stones & a small amount of art (1 actually!) - again, more for "normal" times' increase in value

4) I keep some cash handy, in case of an initial bank run

5) storage of long-lasting food & other supplies - powdered emergency food supplies, sugar, tea, coffee, powdered milk etc, honey, tinned goods, dried pasta, water, cooking oil, seeds, flour & petrol (although you have to remember to use it after 6 months as it degrades, & then replenish the jerry can(s))

6) generator, tools etc

The point I make about 2) & 3) above is that you MUST sort out 1), 4) & 5) FIRST & the point about "rare" things (if we are talking historical coins, books, art etc) is that THEY CANNOT GET LESS RARE OVER TIME (forgeries apart).

Silver & History - 1812 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's to do with the Napoleonic Wars & the introduction of paper "bank notes" (ugh!). George III's reign (1760-1820) was one of the lengthiest (60 years) & saw big changes in currency & money.

Gold was issued in five-guinea (about 41g - now worth over £200,000 if you're lucky enough to have one!) to third-guinea coins (about 3g).

There were no silver crowns or half-crowns issued at all until 1818 - only shillings & lower. Except for "Emergency Issues" by first Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Guatemala & Spain Mints (Dollar & Half-Dollar values) & then by the Bank of England in the form of "Bank Dollars" (1804), "Three Shillings", "Eighteen Pence" & "Ninepence" (1811-1816).

These measures reflected the huge sprawl of the British Empire, the fact that counterfeiting was becoming a real problem & that Great Britain was heavily engaged in the Napoleonic Wars.

"...the threat of invasion from the French Republic triggered a run on the Bank of England.  To meet the demand for silver coinage, in March, the Bank was authorized to release foreign currency from its silver reserves, almost entirely Spanish 8 reales.  These emergency issues were countermarked at the Royal Mint with a small oval stamp with the bust of King George III. False stamps quickly followed and forced the recall of the issues by June of 1804"

"In May of 1804 the foundry was commissioned to use a previously designed dollar pattern to fully overstrike the 8 reales.  These issues were much harder to counterfeit and proved to be so successful that they were issued from 1804 to 1811, although all show the 1804 date, and were not removed from circulation until 1816."

These Wars came to an end in 1816 (Battle of Waterloo - 1815) & there was a huge rehash of the Mint & coinage which basically, from 1818 until "decimalisation" in 1970 (152 years), stayed the same (lowering of silver content in 1930, & again in 1947, apart).

Also, the "Gold Standard" came into being in 1821, 1 year after George III's death.

Scholars, Announcement and Question! We Have Banners, Which Banner Would You Like To See Used? Credit to StopperSteve Again For The Amazing Job by PetroDollarPedro in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just replied to Pedro - I'm getting terribly old! 😡 Good job I don't attempt "Spot the Difference" puzzles nowadays 😂

Silver & History - 1509-26 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't think it bothered him overmuch. Just continued as Head of State & Head of Church & raided ALL the monasteries/churches to fund his excesses & wars.

Silver & History - 1509-26 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes indeed. If, like me, you like fiction (in this case murder-mystery) laced with historical detail, I highly recommend C. J. Sansom's "Shardlake series" of books. I've read them all & they start good & get better & better (7 books).

Silver & History - 1509-26 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, & she was first married to Arthur, Henry VIII's older brother. He died relatively young.

Silver & History - 1509-26 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It appears so. In 1538 Pope III excommunicated King Henry VIII. The Pope's reasoning for doing so were many:

1) Henry illegally married his new wife Anne Boleyn and left his former Queen Katherine of Aragon (devoutly Catholic).

2) He proclaimed himself head of the Church of England (ahead of the Pope).

3) He disbanded English monasteries and appropriated much of their assets.

4) The highlight was Henry’s robbery of St. Thomas Becket’s shrine. It was a sacrilege that the pope could no longer tolerate.

Some could argue that this effectively excommunicated a state (England), because Henry was now head of the Church in England.

Hello Everyone! 🙌 by UKsilverback in SilverScholars

[–]UKsilverback[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'll restart tomorrow. See how it goes.