The argument goes like this:
Silver is rarely mined by itself. It is usually a by product of other mining. So, production is related to economic conditions.
The traditional ratio for silver to gold is 15%. It’s currently in the 80:1 area. For the past 20 years or so, it was in the 60:1 area. So, there is one room there.
Silver is primarily an industrial metal. It is heavily used in high tech applications like computers, phones, and solar panels. As the world goes more high tech, it will consume more silver.
There are a whole bunch of conspiracy theories about how and why there will be shortages. Most of them are crap, so I’m not going to go into that.
Finally, silver is a precious metal. Many of us recall using silver coins to buy stuff. Many silver investors will tell you that it will be a good form of exchange in a high inflation or SHtF scenario. I always thought if we are living in “bartertown” and using 1957 dimes…we will have bigger problems.
As a PM it should move as a hedge to inflation.
Those are the basic points people use for holding precious metals.
It’s been posted that if we get to a point of bartering, using silver/gold that lead would be the most precious metal. Why not have all? Also said small bottles of liquor are good to have on hand for bartering.