Copper: The New Silver – Seeking Alpha

When one discusses the value of coins, or rounds, or bars the first suspect that always seems to get mentioned is the king of metals: gold. Regardless of what form it takes, gold is generally recognized around the world as having value, especially in relationship to the local currency. With few exceptions, gold is involate, In fact, it has been said that all the gold mined in the history of this world is still in existence and much of it is in a form that can be used for transactions between persons, cities, or countries.Silver on the other hand, has had a much rockier existence. It is both a precious metal and an industrial metal, and a metal that is useful in the healthcare field. This multiple personality has led to silver being used in minute amounts in an ever growing number of industries which find it more effective, both in terms of cost and in terms of performance. Even so, the sheer amount of silver compared to gold has kept it from being valued as highly, as is the tendency of silver to succumb to the elements.But copper is one of those metals that one used to think of in terms of coinage, but only in the smallest amounts. Copper pennies have played a roll in providing the supporting bedrock of currency in the western world until fairly recently, when the demand for copper sent the price well over 4 dollar a pound. Even today, copper commands $4.38 cents per pound and even more once it has been worked into wire for use by the power, telecommunications and entertainment industries. Two hundred feet of 4 ga grounding wire will cost you $197.But when it comes to a relatively new expression of copper, one has to consider that metal mania may have reached a peak. Recently, 1 troy ounce copper rounds have been placed for sale with a variety of obverse designs. Some indicate that they are barter rounds, while others take the precious metal route and simply display purity and weight on the reverse. Even quarter ounce rounds are being offer for sale. In either case, the listed price is between $2 and $4 per round, whether it is the one ounce or the quarter ounce round.Considering that silver is currently selling for nearly $50 per ounce, is copper the new silver?

via Copper: The New Silver – Seeking Alpha.