A Century of Silver: The White Metal's Rollercoaster Ride Through History
- Miningvisuals
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
The following content is sponsored by Eloro Resources
The infographic above tells a visual story of volatility, but the history of silver over the last 100 years is far more complex than a simple price chart can convey. It is a timeline defined by a struggle for identity: is silver money, or is it a critical industrial ingredient?
For investors today, understanding the "hidden history" behind these peaks and valleys is crucial. The chart shows when the price moved; this article explains why.
100 Years of Volatility: The Data
The following table contextualizes the major milestones shown in the infographic, adding historical nuance to the raw numbers.
Year | Price Milestone | Primary Catalyst | Context |
1932 | $0.28 (Low) | Global Deflation | The Great Depression and India’s demonetization of silver collapsed prices. This led to the Silver Purchase Act of 1934, which mandated government buying to support prices. |
1965 | ~$1.29 (Pivot) | Demonetization | The Coinage Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-81) officially removed silver from dimes and quarters as the market price crossed the "melt value" ($1.29). |
1980 | $49.45 (High) | Market Cornering | The Hunt Brothers' attempt to corner the market peaked on "Silver Thursday." The spike was fueled by 14% inflation and crashed after COMEX implemented restrictive trading rules. |
2011 | $48.70 (High) | Currency Debasement | Post-2008 QE programs weakened the dollar. Investors bought silver as a hedge against central bank policy and the European debt crisis. |
2025 | $40.21 (Avg) | Structural Deficit | Unlike speculative spikes, this floor was supported by industrial consumption (Solar PV and AI) and total demand outpacing supply for five consecutive years. |
The War Effort: Silver’s First "Industrial" Test
While the chart notes World War II, few investors realize how pivotal the 1940s were for silver's transition. During the war, copper was in short supply for shell casings. In a secret operation, the Manhattan Project borrowed 14,700 tons of silver from the U.S. Treasury to use as electrical conductors in the calutrons used to enrich uranium.
This was the moment silver’s identity began to shift. It was no longer just a monetary metal to be hoarded in vaults; it was the world’s most efficient conductor, essential for high-tech engineering. This event foreshadowed the USGS Critical Mineral designation we saw recently in 2025.
The "Coinage" Pivot (1965)
The steady climb shown in the chart from the 1960s onward was triggered by a specific legislative event. When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Coinage Act of 1965, he famously warned the public:
"There will be no profit in holding [silver coins] out of circulation for the value of their silver content."
The market bet against him. As the chart shows, the removal of silver from coinage didn't lower the price, it unpegged it. Freed from its fixed exchange rate, silver began its volatile march upward, driven by the realization that above-ground stocks were finally finite.
A Tale of Two Whales: Hunt vs. Buffett
The 1980 peak is famous for the Hunt Brothers, who attempted to corner the market. Their failure (and the subsequent crash shown in the 1980-1990 section of the chart) cast a long shadow over the metal.
However, a lesser-known chapter occurred in 1997-1998, during the accumulation phase shown before the 2000s rise. Warren Buffett quietly purchased 129.7 million ounces (nearly 3,500 tons) of silver. Unlike the Hunts, Buffett wasn't speculating on inflation; he was value investing. He recognized that inventory levels had fallen precipitously due to industrial use. This marked the beginning of the modern "supply deficit" narrative that defines the market today.
The 2025 Reality
We have now witnessed the latest chapter on this timeline. The resilience of the price post-2020 is unique because it lacks the "mania" of 1980.
As noted in the table, the market has been working through a multi-year structural deficit (Source: The Silver Institute).
Since 2021, the consumption of silver in green technologies, specifically solar PV and electrification, has consistently been in high demand.
Conclusion: The 100-Year Perspective
The true value of this timeline is perspective. While daily price action can appear chaotic, the 100-year view reveals a consistent pattern of resilience. From the deflationary lows of 1932 to the speculative peaks of 1980 and 2011, silver has repeatedly re-priced itself to reflect the economic reality of the time. The chart demonstrates that regardless of the catalyst, monetary or industrial, the metal has established a long-term trend of recovery and adaptation.
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Primary sources: Macrotrends.net (historical prices); Silver Institute World Silver Survey 2025 (supply/demand); USGS (critical minerals); live spot data as of Jan 4, 2026.