Regarding the francs, there are a finite number of these available since they were made more than a century ago. Dealers who bought them when gold was $200 higher may be pulling them from their sites as they will take a hit on price. (I love roosters).
With premiums at 5% or greater, yes, you will automatically be in the hole if you decide to quickly let them go. Kind of like buying a new car. Same with silver but it can rebound (percentage-wise) more quickly. Buy at 18 and sell at 23 and you will have a 27% return. That type of growth happens a couple of times a year and I know guys who make a living doing it and aren't storefront dealers.
The premium increase is what has changed over the past 15 or so years. ASEs used to have a $2.50 markup over spot at APMEX and other bone fide dealers. And that was when silver was at $14 back around 2009. Hardly anyone wanted junk silver (pre-65 coinage) and you could get it on several internet PM forums for spot or maybe a bit less if someone wanted out of the junk game. Canadian 80% the same.
In 2020, right after the lockdown, silver plunged one Sunday night down to $12 and many dealers had semi-low premiums in place. Since their prices were automated on the sites to respond to spot price, ASEs and the like were available for $15-17 each for a few hours until they adjusted their premiums. I know 2 guys who maxed out several cards that night. Premiums skyrocketed so the dealers wouldn't lose their butts and haven't come down.
ASE premiums are now at 50-70%. Some of the generics are still high also but lately I have seen $2.49 premiums on Buffaloes and the like. Still over 10% but hard to beat unless you get a sweetheart deal on a PM forum.
There is usually at least one table at a gun show that handles silver and gold and sometimes you can get a deal there. At the last Bryan, TX show (there is one there today and tomorrow FWIW) a guy was buying at $2 over spot and selling at $4.
With premiums at 5% or greater, yes, you will automatically be in the hole if you decide to quickly let them go. Kind of like buying a new car. Same with silver but it can rebound (percentage-wise) more quickly. Buy at 18 and sell at 23 and you will have a 27% return. That type of growth happens a couple of times a year and I know guys who make a living doing it and aren't storefront dealers.
The premium increase is what has changed over the past 15 or so years. ASEs used to have a $2.50 markup over spot at APMEX and other bone fide dealers. And that was when silver was at $14 back around 2009. Hardly anyone wanted junk silver (pre-65 coinage) and you could get it on several internet PM forums for spot or maybe a bit less if someone wanted out of the junk game. Canadian 80% the same.
In 2020, right after the lockdown, silver plunged one Sunday night down to $12 and many dealers had semi-low premiums in place. Since their prices were automated on the sites to respond to spot price, ASEs and the like were available for $15-17 each for a few hours until they adjusted their premiums. I know 2 guys who maxed out several cards that night. Premiums skyrocketed so the dealers wouldn't lose their butts and haven't come down.
ASE premiums are now at 50-70%. Some of the generics are still high also but lately I have seen $2.49 premiums on Buffaloes and the like. Still over 10% but hard to beat unless you get a sweetheart deal on a PM forum.
There is usually at least one table at a gun show that handles silver and gold and sometimes you can get a deal there. At the last Bryan, TX show (there is one there today and tomorrow FWIW) a guy was buying at $2 over spot and selling at $4.
