Monday
The subject of what the correct Gold to silver ratio should be comes up regularly.
There is no ‘should be’; the correct ratio is whatever the ratio is at any particular moment. The value of silver, as measured by Gold, is in a constant state of fluctuation. The value of all goods is constantly changing. Value is highly subjective and established solely by the perception of the person doing the valuing.
The first point to understand is that Gold is money and that nothing else is, or ever can be. Silver is not money, but, incredibly importantly, acts as money’s surrogate in the marketplace. This symbiotic relationship was established over 3,500 years ago and is not about to go away anytime soon. The differing nature of their roles ensures that the value of silver (as measured by money) is changing, though it generally stays within a fairly tight band. If that were not so, then it would not, could not, be a monetary surrogate.
The situation as of writing this (April 2019) is that for many decades now, the value of silver has been unusually low (equals high ratio) That is because when Gold is not in circulation as money, then silver’s use as money’s surrogate is close to zero. Today, the value of silver is determined by industrial use and the miniscule demand of investors.
When Gold begins to circulate again, then silver’s value will rise.
In more civilized times, when money has been in circulation, the Gold to silver ratio has ranged from around 12:1 to 15:1.
Maybe we will see that again, but not until money circulates.