re: Buying silver online?

Really, really appreciate your time in typing that up. That said, I'm much more hesitant now to sink that kind of "coin" into silver based upon your post. I'm new to investing in general, especially in precious metals. I was under the impression that silver was a relatively safe option at this time and had a large growth potential given the current price of gold and trends valuing silver and gold going forward. I'm not looking for a quick turnaround, but it would be nice to turn $5,000 into say $10,000 in 4-5 years.

What are your thoughts on where silver is heading? Do you think silver could come anywhere near a 20:1 ratio to gold in the next few years?

I've done some research and opinions differ greatly. Some predict astronomical gains for silver, while others are much more bearish on its growth potential.