Silver: The Most Undervalued Hard Asset of the Modern Age

(Originally published in Executive Global Magazine)

In a world drowning in debt and central bank excess, one asset still trades near the same price it did over 40 years ago: silver.

While U.S. stock markets hit new highs and the “everything bubble” continues to inflate, silver—one of the oldest monetary assets—has yet to fully participate. But that may not last much longer.

The Metal That Can’t Be Replaced

Silver isn’t just money. It’s essential.

Its properties make it irreplaceable in industrial applications:

  • Best conductor of electricity and heat
  • Highly reflective—used in solar, optics, and technology
  • Powerful antimicrobial—used in medicine, wound care, and purification systems

In short, silver is vital to both human survival and technological progress.

A Silver Coin Outsold Them All

In a digital world obsessed with NFTs, crypto tokens, and intangible hype, one of the most valuable coins ever sold wasn’t gold—it was silver.

That should tell you something.

Silver’s Performance—And the Catch-Up Potential

Since the U.S. closed the gold window in 1971:

  • S&P 500: +4,000%
  • Gold: +4,000%
  • Silver: +1,450%

To match gold’s return over that period, silver would need to reach $65 per ounce—nearly 3x its current price of $23.80.

If you’re looking for hidden value, you’re looking at it.

A Small Market with Big Transparency

Unlike real estate, private equity, or many commodities, silver trades in a transparent public market. That makes it appealing to:

  • Fund managers
  • Institutional allocators
  • High-net-worth individuals seeking underappreciated, liquid assets

Even more compelling: silver’s total market size is tiny compared to other asset classes. That means small inflows can move it fast.

60% of Demand Comes from Industry

At least 60% of global silver demand is industrial, where the metal is consumed, not stored.

That demand is consistent. But what moves the price?
Investment demand—coins, bars, and large-scale physical buying.

We saw this clearly in 2020–2021, when pandemic-driven money printing triggered an explosion in silver investment demand.

Silver Has Outlived Every Empire—and Every Fiat Currency

Silver has been:

  • Money for thousands of years
  • Included in the first coins (e.g., the Lydian Lion)
  • Mentioned 351 times in the Bible

Empires have come and gone. Fiat currencies have failed. But silver has remained a store of value through it all.

A Shift from Paper to Physical

Historically, silver price action has been dominated by derivative markets—unallocated accounts in London, COMEX futures in New York.

But post-COVID, we’re seeing a shift:

  • Deleveraging across precious metals markets
  • More investors taking physical delivery
  • Systemic risk driving real ownership

This could fundamentally change the market structure. As more buyers demand actual metal—not just exposure—the price will be dictated by supply and demand for physical, not paper.

In Closing: The Time-Tested Hedge That Still Works

As counterparty risk rises and fiat devalues by the day, silver stands out as one of the few assets you can own outright—no third-party promises, no derivatives, no credit instruments.

For investors who understand history, silver isn’t just a commodity–It’s a lifeboat.

Sitting in front of a computer screen, Bob Coleman meets with an investor

Meet the Author

Bob Coleman, with a successful career in investment and portfolio management since 1992, is the founder of Idaho Armored Vaults and Profits Plus Capital Management, dedicated to providing secure and comprehensive solutions for precious metal investment and storage, emphasizing transparency, risk mitigation, and client-focused service.

BOB COLEMAN
President
(208) 468-3600
[email protected]

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