It’s been a number of years, so I’ll take your word for that. Any idea what the time frame is prior to end of contract to put up the money?
I’m not certain, but I believe it’s a day or two. At contract expiry, you state whether you intend to stand or not, and if you do, you’d better deposit in full before the deliveries start, which is a few days later.
(Assuming deliveries are going to happen ... three days in a row this month there have been zero deliveries of silver to the standing longs ... makes you go “Hmmmm...”)