Posted on 11/27/2025 6:16:18 AM PST by delta7
The 2026 Sound Money Index, released today, reveals that Wyoming, Idaho, and Missouri are now the most pro-sound money states in the United States.
Money Metals Exchange, a top national precious metals dealer, has partnered once again with the nation’s leading Sound Money Defense League to create this authoritative ranking of all 50 states. In the face of rising inflation and monetary insecurity, the Sound Money Index ranks states based on their policies in this increasingly important arena.
Wyoming remained in first place with its passage of S.F. 96 by Sen. Bob Ide, which put the Cowboy State on a path to building a gold reserve with a modest $10 million initial gold acquisition.
Notable movement on the Index this year includes Missouri’s ascent from 23rd to 3rd place, as well as Idaho’s improvement from 14th in 2025 to 2nd place in 2026.
The Index's scoring system evaluates state policy positions such as sales and income tax policies concerning precious metals, a state's recognition of gold and silver's role under the U.S. Constitution, state pension funds or reserves held in gold or silver, regulations impacting precious metal dealers and investors, and other relevant issues.
"The Sound Money Index holds states accountable for their policies impacting savers, investors, and institutions across the U.S. So many states continue to press ahead on sound money policy, regularly citing our Index on chamber floors and in hearings nationwide,” explained Jp Cortez, Executive Director of the Sound Money Defense League.
Building on the momentum from previous sound money efforts to remove sales and capital gains taxes from gold and silver, Alabama Gov. Ivey signed SB 130 this year, a bill that symbolically ****reaffirms gold and silver as legal tender in the Yellowhammer State.
Lawmakers in Maryland and Washington state chose to go against the overwhelming trend and actually imposed state sales taxes on purchases of precious metals. Maryland began imposing this tax over the summer, while Washington begins imposing this tax in January 2026. As a result, these two states collapsed in the rankings to 47th and 50th place, respectively.
After a multi-year legislative effort and a constitutional showdown between Gov. Andy Beshear and state Attorney General Russ Coleman, Kentucky lawmakers, led by Reps. TJ Roberts and Steven Doan finally ended the sales tax on precious metals. The Bluegrass State is presently the 44th state in the country to refrain from taxing purchases of gold and silver.
Connecticut ended its outdated policy of taxing orders of precious metals below $500 but not taxing orders above that amount. However, this policy goes into effect in 2027, so this change is not reflected in the 2026 Index.
This year’s methodology included tweaks to scoring as to bullion depositories, dealer harassment laws, and specie tender categories in response to the recent emergence of legislative proposals handing government bureaucrats sweeping new powers to bully, regulate, and snoop into precious metals businesses and transactions.
States lose points if they enter into private-public partnerships with self-interested vendors that weaponize the power of government to compete with private depositories, dealers, and transaction processors, especially if onerous regulations are also imposed on individuals or businesses in the process.
Similarly, states are penalized if they attempt to create a privacy-killing Central State Digital Currency (CSDC) scheme.
Another change concerns gold and silver clause contracts. To earn full points in this category, states must explicitly declare that contracts denominated in precious metals must be fulfilled with specific performance, meaning that U.S. Dollars are not an acceptable substitute. Acknowledging that gold and silver contracts can exist earns a state partial credit.
The complete 2026 Sound Money Index is available here: 2026 Sound Money Index
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One silver dime is now trading at $ 3.85 paper dollars.
https://www.coinflation.com/#google_vignette
Many Establishments Now Accepting Silver Coins for Payment
In increasing numbers, stores across the U.S. – like this Shell gas station in Ashland, Oregon – are accepting 90% junk silver, or silver coins more generally, as payment for goods and services.
Although it isn’t common by any standard, the increasing use of alternative forms of money has been occurring…although there are a number of reasons for exploring alternative currencies, eroding value of the U.S. dollar is the prime motivator.......
A gas station across the line accepts two silver dimes for a gallon of gas. His sign “Gas, 20c a gallon, we accept two silver dimes for a gallon of gas”.
Research “goldbacks.” Lot of states use them.
“ One silver dime is now trading at $ 3.85 paper dollars.”
I’ve got a bunch of silver coins around here somewhere!
> One silver dime is now trading at $ 3.85 paper dollars. <
That seemed high. So I looked it up.
By golly, you’re right.
P.S. slight correction in post #1. It should read Pre65 silver.
Too bad they called in the silver certificates. I have a bunch of them. Have a bunch of the Morgan silver dollars too.
What is paper money anyway, just pieces of paper with pictures on them per Jeromey Irons comment in Margin Call.
“ One silver dime is now trading at $ 3.85 paper dollars.”
I’ve got a bunch of silver coins around here somewhere!
It’s amazing how much you can get for a bag of “junk” silver. At a jewelry/coin shop, I saw a sandwich bag of coins selling for $350. There was about $20 face value of coins in the bag (mainly quarters and dimes).
So if I purchase a gallon of gas with a $100 note...can I receive change in Silver Coins....?....just askn for a FRiend.
I’ve got some silver certificates, too.
My mom’s folks lived in Idaho. Back in the 50s and early 60s, silver dollars were available everywhere. My grandpa used to pull silver dollars out of my ears! He was so good at that little magic trick. They were always poor, so pulling a dollar out of my ear in 1960 is like pulling FOUR silver dollars out of your ear today. Imagine you are poor and pulling 40 bucks out of your grandson’s ear today! I never appreciated how much of a gift they were giving us with those simple silver dollars. Thanks, Grandpa!
Wyoming and Idaho are states that I am pondering moving to.
“like this Shell gas station in Ashland, Oregon”
Source, please.
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