Send a text Price shocks don’t happen in a vacuum. When silver sprints to $115 and slides back to the 70s, there’s a story under the chart—one that starts with spot and premiums at your local coin shop and stretches through rate signals, dollar strength, tariffs, and geopolitics. We walk through a real purchase at the counter, why $2 to $5 over spot can be fair, and how online “deals” can disappear once taxes, high premiums, and weeks-long delivery windows hit the cart. From there, we connect the macro dots. A potential shift at the Fed can loosen credit, push more dollars into the system, and nudge hard assets higher—unless hot jobs data props up the dollar and cools the move. Tariffs add friction to trade and can fuel inflation fears, yet they also trigger defensive buying from nations that want insurance outside the banking system. Meanwhile, industrial demand is no sideshow: EVs, solar, and electronics quietly soak up silver, tying today’s price to tomorrow’s manufacturing cycle. We also tackle the difference between exposure and ownership. Paper metals and unallocated accounts can track price until too many hands ask for bars at once. Physical rounds, bought locally, settle the question in seconds: you can sell back for cash, even on a volatile day. For preppers, that same round carries barter utility—fuel, staples, or generator time—priced by what neighbors value, not what a screen says. If you’re abroad, VAT and import rules change the break-even math, making patience and a wider target range essential. If you’re weighing a hedge against policy mistakes, a store of value outside the rails, or a practical trade on macro trends, this walkthrough gives you a clear, grounded map. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s eyeing their first ounce, and leave a review to tell us where you think silver goes next. https://augasonfarms.com?sca_ref=9315862.VpHzogdDNu Augason FarmsSupport the podcast. Click on my affiliate link and use coupon code PODCASTPREP for 10% discount!Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Have a question, suggestion or comment? Please email me at practicalpreppodcast@gmail.com. I will not sell your email address and I will personally respond to you.