photo by Gage Skidmore | Flickr.com

The Devaluation of the Dollar

 
Like her fellow Republicans, Brewer harbors a degree of concern about the declining value of the dollar, but she failed to see a thorough and well-thought-out solution in the proposed legislation. While the bill would not have gone into effect until 2014, which proponents say would have given time to iron out the details of its implementation, Brewer was unwilling to sign what she believed to be an inadequate piece of legislation.
 
And while the nationwide debate over returning to the gold standard continues (thanks in large part to the Republican Party proposing, as part of their 2012 party platform, that the country reconsider it), states are sure to continue coming up with new ways to protect against the potential devaluation of the dollar.
 
As we have mentioned before, Utah was the first state to make gold and silver legal tender (Arizona would have been the second), and a number of other states have proposed similar legislation in recent years as well.

Silver may not be legal tender, but it still has value.

 
Although there remains only one state in the country that accepts silver as a legal form of currency, you can still turn your silver coins and jewelry into cash with Cash for Silver USA. All you have to do is fill out the form on our homepage, send us your unwanted silver using the free FedEx shipping label that we provide, and wait to receive your check in the mail.

photo by Mark Herpel (digitalmoneyworld) | Flickr.com

Why the Push for Silver and Gold?

 
While paper money receives its value through governmental regulations and laws, the value of gold and silver is virtually universally accepted—and that perceived certainty has continued to be appealing long after the demise of the gold standard.
 
The proposed legislation is, in large part, a reaction to Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke’s policy of “quantitative easing.” Essentially, instead of following the well-worn path of manipulating interest rates and the money supply by buying and selling government bonds, Bernanke is attempting to promote lending among financial institutions by directly injecting a set quantity of money into the economy.

Searching for Stability

 
Supporters of the bill contend that Bernanke’s policy will set off inflation that destabilizes the value of the dollar, because more money will be available while the amount of goods for sale remains the same. So in order to protect against what they view as the potential collapse of the dollar, proponents are seeking stability in gold and silver.
 
Those opposed, however, are quick to point out that the dollar has remained stable in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, and that the price of gold recently dropped to a two-year low. They argue that moving to a dual currency system would only cause undue problems for businesses throughout the state.
 
It is unclear at the moment whether Governor Brewer intends to sign the bill, but Arizona is not the first state to have this argument, and it is likely that they will not be the last. Utah legalized gold and silver as currency in 2011, and a handful of other states have proposed similar legislation in recent years.

Turn Your Silver into Cash Now

 
If you don’t want to wait around for your state to start recognizing gold and silver as valid forms of currency, you can sell your precious metals to Cash for Silver USA in exchange for cash today. We accept everything from silver coins to sterling silverware, and we guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with the money we pay you in return. Visit CashForSilverUSA.com to get your free shipping label today.

photo by seriykotik1970 | Flickr.com

 
Dating back to ancient times, man has apparently always been obsessed with shiny things.

Silver: the Early Years

Since its discovery, silver has been highly regarded and coveted for both its aesthetic appeal and practicality. The first significant mining of silver began sometime after 3000 B.C. in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), dispersing the versatile metal throughout Asia Minor. A metal at once malleable, resilient, and persistently lustrous, silver was particularly sought-after by craftsman and artisans.
 
The decline of the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures led to the reallocation of primary silver production to the Laurium mines of Greece around 1200 BC, where it fed the burgeoning Greek civilization. Eventually, around 100 AD, Spain would become the most critically important source of silver for the next thousand years, spreading the practice of silver mining to a broader range of countries across Europe and serving as a crucial source for both the mighty Roman Empire and the Asian spice trade.
 
Looking back, it’s no coincidence that the focal point silver production consistently shifted geographically in accordance with historical shifts in global power and influence.

The Silver Standard

However, no previous or subsequent event matched the watershed moment in silver history that is the discovery of the New World in 1492. The discovery of a New World meant the discovery of an abundance of rich silver mines thus unexploited. Between 1500 and 1800, Peru, Mexico, and Bolivia accounted for over 85% of world production and trade. Production levels surged at unprecedented rates.
 
Silver had arrived.
 
The United States eventually asserted itself in the silver game as a major power player with the discovery of the Comstock Lode in Nevada in 1858, where literally kilometers of silver could be shoveled off the surface of the mines. The Comstock Lode would yield $397 million in ore in the next 20 or so years.
 
By the 1870s, the United States was the largest silver producer in the world with no signs of slowing for the next four decades. Silver became the value against which United States currency was based, and thus the silver dollar was born (and then later killed).
 
Silver has long played an operative role in world economy, industry, and technology. With each generation, explosive innovations in silver production and manipulation lead to more ever-varying uses of this precious metal.

The Value of Tradition

Here we are now, more than 5,000 years later, and demand for silver is as high as ever. Never forget that the silver jewelry and trinkets lying in your closet not only have a history, but enduring value. Cash in your unwanted pieces of history at Cash for Silver USA! Visit CashForSilverUSA.com to become a part of the grand tradition and sell your unwanted silver for cash today!

An example of hallmarks on silver.
Photo by: Mat Price | Flickr.com

1. Check for Hallmarks
 
A hallmark is a symbol that has been stamped into a sterling silver object to identify both its purity and its manufacturer or silversmith, and sometimes the date and location of its production. Different countries and producers use different hallmarking standards, so it’s important that you do your research before you spend any significant amount of money on an antique object. For example, the Irish purity mark is a crowned harp, and sterling silver in the United States is stamped with either the word “sterling” or “925.”
 
Curtis Dowling, the forgery expert of CNBC’s Treasure Detectives who has over 25 years of experience in the antique-dealing and forgery-detection fields, recommends paying close attention to the location of the hallmarks as well. Using an antique silver teapot to demonstrate, he explains that if the hallmark is too far from the base of the object, it’s possible that it was taken from a different object added at a later date.
 
As far as jewelry is concerned, the “925” hallmark is usually located on a hidden part of the piece, such as the inside of a ring or the clasp of a necklace.
 
2. Perform the Ice Test
 
Silver has the highest thermal conductivity of any metal, which means that it is extremely effective in transferring heat. So before you let anyone sell you a silver coin collection or a silver spoon at an antique shop or yard sale, one easy test you can do is the ice cube test.
 
Because silver is such an effective thermal conductor, an ice cube will melt much more rapidly on silver than it will on another metal. To perform this test, all you have to do is put one ice cube on the silver object that you want to test and another on any other piece of metal, like a stainless steel bowl. If both objects are at room temperature, you should be able to see the ice cube on the silver melt much faster than the other one.
 
3. Hold a Magnet to It
 
This one is fairly straightforward. Silver is not magnetic, so if a rare-earth magnet is attracted to your jewelry, coin, spoon, or other supposedly silver item, there’s a good chance that it isn’t sterling silver.
 
None of these tests are definitive, but they will all be able to give you an idea of whether or not the silver items that you have are real or fake, and they can help give you an idea of how much cash you can expect in return when you sell silver coins and jewelry to CashForSilverUSA.com. Our prices are based on the weight and purity of your products, so it’s in your best interest to know what you have before you sell it. For more information about how to sell your silver for cash, visit CashForSilverUSA.com.

by Alex Francis
 
For years now, silver nanoparticles have been embraced for their antibacterial properties and used in the making of a number of products, but increased concern for the effect that they could have on the environment has pushed researches to come up with an alternative.
 
The problem stems from the idea that the tiny particles, which are between 1 and 100 nanometers in size, are being released from the antimicrobial, silver-containing materials down the drain and into the environment with every rinse and wash. And as the amount of silver nanoparticles released adds up, the prolonged environmental exposure could aid bacteria in developing a resistance to their antibacterial effects.
 
A Solution is on the Horizon
 
Scientists at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden announced last month that they have developed a new kind of antimicrobial material that is not at risk of desensitizing, so to speak, the bacteria that it targets. The material combines cellulose fibers with an antibacterial polymer, forming a bond strong enough to stand up to repeated washings.
 
In order to work as an antimicrobial, the new material must come in direct contact with bacteria. But as the positively charged polymer actually attracts negatively charged bacteria, that should not be a source of problems.
 
The scientists intend to continue their research and further develop the material. As it is now, non-toxic nitrogen oxides remain when it is burned, but the goal is to make it completely recyclable. The lead scientist on the project believes that their antimicrobial material could be used in cleaning clothes, hospital sanitation, or even water filtration.
 
Get Cash for Silver Today
 
If you have any old, broken, or unwanted silver jewelry lying around, stop letting it collect dust and send it in for cash. At Cash for Silver USA, we make the whole process easy. Just visit our website, request a free shipping label, and send us your silver coins or jewelry—then you just have to wait 24 hours before your check is in the mail. For more information on how to turn your unwanted silver into cash, visit CashForSilverUSA.com today.

Photo by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | Flickr.com

 
The Perth Mint of Australia released the newest coin in its popular Australian Antarctic Territory series, the 2013 Aurora Australis 1 Ounce Silver Coin. Featuring a maximum mintage of 7,500, this coin is made with one ounce of 99.9% pure silver and is produced to proof quality. It is the tenth silver coin to be released in its series, which began in 2004.
 
The second coin that the Perth Mint of Australia recently released is the newest in its koala silver coin series. This new coin is made of five ounces of 99.9% pure silver and has a diameter of 50.60 mm and an impressive thickness of 12.50 mm (for reference, a United States quarter is only 1.75 mm thick with a 24.26 mm diameter). It has a mintage of only 5,000.
 
The Designs
 
The 2013 Aurora Australis 1 Ounce Silver Coin features a person gazing at a full-color image of the aurora australis, which is the southern counterpart of the aurora borealis, in the shape of Antarctica on its reverse side. Most impressive of all is that the colors of the aurora on the coin glow in the dark, mimicking the wonder of the real-life phenomenon. The design was done by artist Wade Robinson of the Perth Mint. On the other side of the coin is the image of Queen Elizabeth II.
 
The 2013 Australian Koala 5 Ounce High Relief Silver coin depicts a koala sitting in a eucalyptus tree. The design is that of Perth Mint artist Tom Vaughan, and it includes the inscription “AUSTRALIAN KOALA” above the animal. The opposite side of the coin features the same image of Queen Elizabeth II as the Aurora Australis coin.
 
Both coins are now available for purchase through the Perth Mint’s website, although the latter is only available in Australia.
 
Sell Your Unwanted Silver
 
Whether you have unwanted silver coins or old silver jewelry, you can sell it to CashForSilverUSA.com and receive top dollar in return. Who knows, maybe you can even make enough money to go see the aurora australis in person.

Photo by Salim Virji | Flickr.com

 
In September of 2011, a group of 44 plaintiffs filed a class-action lawsuit against JP Morgan Chase & Co. alleging that the banking corporation manipulated the market price of silver in such a way that the plaintiffs incurred significant losses on June 26, 2007 and between March 17, 2008 and October 27, 2010.
 
While this was not the first time that JP Morgan had been linked to silver manipulation (certain speculation dates back to 2008 when the company acquired Bear Stearns), the lawsuit was turned down in December of 2012, citing that the case provided only “conclusory allegations.” In other words, the evidence supplied by the plaintiffs was not substantive enough to prove that JP Morgan did in fact manipulate the market.
 
Przemyslaw Radomski, CFA, founder and editor in chief of the gold and silver investments website SunshineProfits.com, recently weighed in on the case and its outcome. He pointed out, interestingly enough, that the United States legal system does not provide an exact definition for price manipulation. In such cases, therefore, the following four points are considered in order to determine if price manipulation occurred:
 
1. The Defendant has the ability to influence prices.
2. They display intent to do so.
3. There is an “artificial” price other than the price that would have been set without manipulation.
4. The Defendant is the cause or one of the causes of that “artificial” price.
 
Radomski then noted that while JP Morgan made no attempt to argue the fact that they hold a large enough percentage of the COMEX silver futures short contracts to influence prices, they did dispute the accusation that they acted with the intent to do so. The fact of the matter is that the plaintiffs’ case hinged the strange patterns of the market alongside hearsay of JP Morgan’s manipulation, but it lacked witnesses and conclusive proof and was thus dismissed.
 
Get Cash for Your Silver Now
 
If the potential for the manipulation of the market price of silver concerns you, you can cut ties with the market entirely and sell your unwanted silver to Cash For Silver USA. We buy scrap and broken silver in addition to unwanted jewelry, silverware, and other silver items and will mail a check back to you within 24 hours of the receipt of your items. To find out how much money you can earn for your unwanted silver, visit CashForSilverUSA.com today.

 
by Alex Francis
 
Following the Fairtrade Foundation’s launch of its Fairtrade and Fairmined Gold Certification in 2011 in the UK, the foundation has recently announced that it will be initiating a similar certification for silver during its Fairtrade Fortnight later this month.
 
As fair trade certifications typically focus on food products, there exist corrupt practices and hazardous working conditions within mines in the gold and silver industries that often go unregulated by organizations and unrecognized by consumers. At the launch of the foundation’s gold certification program, manager of the UK-based jewelry company Cred commented that many of their customers had no idea what kind of appalling things went on in the production of gold for the market.
 
Raising Awareness of Fair-Trade Silver
 
While fair-trade gold and silver tend to come with a higher price tag, the Fairtrade Foundation hopes to gain consumer support by raising awareness of the often terrible conditions that exist in mines.
 
Chris Davis, one of the people who helped launch Fairtrade Gold, explained that he believes that “the opportunity to get people to start really thinking ‘OK what is the true story behind this metal,’ and encouraging more people to consider the human cost of our love for both silver and gold is the biggest short-term value of this launch.”
 
Supporting Artisanal Mining Communities
 
Cred, one of the jewelry shops in the UK that places a heavy emphasis on using ethical and fair-trade materials, works with Fairtrade-certified artisanal mining communities and pays them at least 95% of the London Bullion Market’s fix for silver, with an additional 5% available if they forgo the use of toxic chemicals like cyanide and mercury. To date, the company has paid over $56,000 in premiums to mines in Peru through the sale of gold.
 
For more information on Fairtrade Fortnight 2013 and the foundation’s effort to raise awareness for fair-trade silver, visit the Fairtrade Foundation’s website (http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/).
 
Fairtrade-certified or not, Cash for Silver USA will pay you cash in return for your unwanted, broken, or damaged silver items. To get a free shipping label and get some extra cash, visit CashForSilverUSA.com today.

Photo by rahims | Flickr.com.

 
When China’s Shanghai Composite average fell below 2,000 at the end of November, it set off a red flag for investors who already doubted their national government. The index was down 10.4% as of the end of November, following a 43-month low in September, and has been on a downward slope since April 2011.
 
Chinese Government Overrun with Scandal
 
Despite reports on industrial profits, exports, and inflation, which indicate the Chinese economy is actually turning itself around, Chinese citizens have consistently been turning to social media to express their concerns about the government’s poor regulation of the market, excessive corruption, and misguided interference from authorities.
 
These feelings are not unfounded—a report last month by the New York Times pointed to the outgoing Chinese premier for making a windfall of millions of dollars from holdings in a state-owned insurance company for his family, and more recently a village official was put under investigation under the suspicion that he owns 80 houses and 20 cars. These financial scandals come at the heels of one official being fired for his involvement in a sex scandal and another covering up the involvement of his son in a fatal car crash.
 
Unsteady Leadership Worries Investors
 
The Chinese stock market relies heavily on the opinions of individual investors, because they dominate the market over institutional investors. This makes the stock market more vulnerable to changing impressions and personal whims, and the continual leadership change in China is not helping to instill confidence. As of now, the Chinese government has taken no steps toward policy changes that would reassure investors. And with Chinese media propagating the idea that the market is suffering, it is unclear how long it may be until things turn around.
 
As opposed to taking chances on risky investments, selling your old, unwanted, broken or damaged silver to Cash For Silver USA is an easy and reliable way to earn some extra cash. We will cover the cost of shipping and offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, making the process as easy as possible for you. For more information on how to get cash for your silver, visit CashForSilverUSA.com today.

by Alex Francis
 
In 2010, entrepreneur Selim Zilkha purchased a complete set of silver playing cards from an anonymous family at Christie’s auction house in New York. The cards, which are gilded in gold, were made in Germany by a man named Michael Frömmer in 1616, and tracing their history tells a very interesting story.
 
The Tale of the Cards
 
The creation of the cards is interesting in and of itself, as the process used is now illegal. The process entailed grinding gold into a fine dust and mixing it with mercury (now known to be poisonous enough to kill), creating a paint-like substance used to gild intricate designs. The mercury was burned off in the kiln, while the gold bonded to the silver.
 
Oddly enough, the deck’s potentially deadly creation process is not the only thing that comprises its unique back-story. At the time of the cards’ creation, there was no standard by which playing cards had to adhere, and various regions of Europe played with their own styles. This particular set uses a style commonly seen in Italy, and it is the only complete set out of the five known surviving sets of silver cards. The cards were never intended to be played with, but rather displayed as works of art.
 
While it is not known who commissioned the creation of the cards or who owned them in the 17th century, a brass plate from the 19th century corroborates the story told by the anonymous family from Christie’s auction house. According to both the plate and family, the cards were in the possession of Infanta Carlota Joaquina, the daughter of a Spanish king and wife of a Portuguese prince, in 1807. The young woman fled the country, taking the set of silver cards with her, when Napoleon’s armies marched into Iberia in 1807.
 
Get Cash for Your Silver
 
How the cards eventually made their way into the hands of Selim Zilkha remains a mystery, but if you are in possession of any unwanted silver (cards or otherwise), you can sell your old silver to Cash for Silver USA. We will buy anything from silver spoons to old silver jewelry, so visit CashforSilverUSA.com to find out how you can trade your unwanted silver for cash today.