RE: Silver // go figureThe shortage simply indicates that their is insufficient minting capacity to keep up with periods of excess demand. There's plenty of Silver inventory to be minted they just can't bang them out fast enough. Hence the 12 week lead times for delivery. Demands needs to remain relentlessly strong to the point that it affects industrial demand and forces the price to rise. The only thing that will keep it artificially down are paper losses, margin calls on futures contracts, like what we saw last week.
Just because the bullion dealers tell you there are no silver coins, doesn't mean there is not silver, and what will happen is the premiums will rise. Try to buy as close to spot price as possible.