August 2022 - Week 1 Edition
Coins Usually Hold Up Better Than Most Paper Investments
While most investments in paper money, bonds and stock certificates have fallen in 2022, rare coin demand and values have risen. If you have specific needs or a wish list in mind, be sure to communicate those needs to your account representative so you can be first in line when these rarities become available. I am constantly searching for “Wish List” coins for you.
From as far back as we can measure time, coins made of precious metals have held their value better than paper receipts for wealth. In the July 15 Wall Street Journal, two economists (Alexander Salter, professor at Texas Tech, and Dylan Pahman, executive editor of the Journal of Markets & Morality) wrote an op-ed, “In God – and Sound Money – We Trust,” showing that “Scripture is replete with teachings about the importance of sound money. The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, contains 25 references to the ‘shekel of the sanctuary,’ a coin of a fixed weight placed in the Tabernacle of the Lord to ensure that all commercial transactions took place on the basis of a ‘perfect and just weight’ (Deuteronomy 25:15).”
These economists (and many others) point out that the poor are hurt most by inflation, since prices rise fastest in the necessary home purchases of food, shelter and energy for transportation and home heating. The impact is compounded because wages and bank savings can’t keep up with rising inflation. The Federal Reserve, Congress and the U.S. Treasury knowingly engineered today’s inflation through $6 trillion, or more, in profligate printing press money in 2020 and 2021 – far more than was needed to help those they cruelly threw out of work in unnecessary lockdowns, and then they paid workers for staying out of the labor force for up to two years.
In addition, we are now trying to fund a war in Ukraine and perhaps a new one brewing in Taiwan. Wars always add to inflation. We saw massive inflation in the Revolutionary War – when a wagonload of our paper “Continentals” wouldn’t buy a wagonload of provisions. In the Civil War, Union “Greenbacks” and Confederate dollars both became slowly worthless. Then, the World War I inflation directly resulted in a massive Germany hyper-inflation of 1923 – and the post-World War II inflation in southern Europe was even worse. The 1970s “Stagflation” was launched by Vietnam spending. Now we may see a repeat of the 1970s due to trillion-dollar deficits every year, plus money creation and no Congressional spending cuts.
This is the type of scenario when the three precious metals of freedom – gold, silver and lead – show their importance and value.
Gold and Silver Rising Again
Gold rose in the second half of July after falling in the beginning of the month, and each move was mostly based on the rise or fall of the U.S. dollar. As the dollar soared in the first half of July, gold fell over $100 per ounce. Then, as the dollar fell in the second half of July, gold rose $60 in basically a mirror image of the dollar. In addition, gold often rises on recession fears, or it falls if it appeared the economy was recovering. As usual, silver moved more rapidly than gold, with silver shooting back above the $20 level on gold’s recent rally.
Month-End Review: Annual Report Through July 31
It’s been a pretty bad year for most investments, except for some commodities and the U.S. dollar. In fact, commodities are up more strongly in most other currencies because of the strong dollar. (If a currency is weak, one of the payoffs is that gold tends to rise faster in terms of a weak currency than a stronger one.)
The big news in July was that the stock market finally began to recover, with a 12% gain in NASDAQ and +9% in the S&P 500 in July, as corporate earnings came in better than expected. Over in Europe, the situation is not so positive. The energy supply situation is drying up in Europe as Russian natural gas is only flowing at 20% of capacity, so energy costs have recently soared at a stratospheric pace in Europe.
U.S. Mint sales of gold bullion coins were down slightly in July 2022 over July 2021, but they were up for the year-to-date through the first seven months of 2022. American Silver Eagle coin sales are still down while their premiums are up substantially because the Mint cannot find enough silver blanks to mint the coins needed to meet customer demand.
Get to know the “Team Mike” Professionals at Universal Coin & Bullion
Working with Dr. Mike Fuljenz, America’s Gold Expert ®
Ryan Hamilton - Universal Coin & Bullion Assistant Director
Referrals are the greatest compliment you can give to me
Ryan Hamilton, an Assistant Director of Universal Coin & Bullion, has worked for the company for 21 years. He grew up in Beaumont, TX and after obtaining two degrees – one in corporate communications and another in business management – from Lamar University, he chose to stay in the area. Ryan and his wife live just outside of town with their newborn daughter and their two dogs.
Ryan has also volunteered with Boy’s Haven and provided food at several of their events. He is especially proud of UCB’s A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and the fact they have been accredited with the BBB since 1995.
Ryan’s love of hunting and fishing is only overshadowed by his love for God, his wife, his daughter and rare coins. He stresses the importance of owning gold and silver coins, not only to his clients but also to his family and lives life by the motto of “hard work, dedication and doing things right.” He is one of the “go to” advisers for rare gold and silver coins, as well as, for his expertise in converting 401k/IRA accounts to precious metals.
Ryan enjoys learning about and educating people on the story of rare coins and says, “When a true American rarity comes across my desk, I am in awe at its beauty, history and the story it holds. I tell my clients that if coins could talk, I would be out of a job because my passion is sharing that message.”
Important Disclosure Notification: All statements, opinions, pricing, and ideas herein are believed to be reliable, truthful and accurate to the best of the Publisher's knowledge at this time. They are not guaranteed in any way by anybody and are subject to change over time. The Publisher disclaims and is not liable for any claims or losses which may be incurred by third parties while relying on information published herein. Individuals should not look at this publication as giving finance or investment advice or information for their individual suitability. All readers are advised to independently verify all representations made herein or by its representatives for your individual suitability before making your investment or collecting decisions. Arbitration: This company strives to handle customer complaint issues directly with customer in an expeditious manner. In the event an amicable resolution cannot be reached, you agree to accept binding arbitration. Any dispute, controversy, claim or disagreement arising out of or relating to transactions between you and this company shall be resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act and conducted in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. It is understood that the parties waive any right to a jury trial. Judgment upon the award rendered by the Arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Reproduction or quotation of this newsletter is prohibited without written permission of the Publisher.
