Widsith

Congratulations @Widsith & @HerbertDTurbot!  

Congrats @Widsith and @HerbertDTurbot that is a brilliant prize! 

Congrats @Widsith and @HerbertDTurbot!

Congrates to both winners.
I need to remember to participate, got to be in it to win it . 

Lucky guys!!!
Congratulations @Widsith and @HerbertDTurbot
What an awesome win!

Congratulations both! Nice prize

@Widsith and @HerbertDTurbot, Huge congrats on the win! And a tremendous Thanks to @Lr103 for his generous donation with the prize silver!

To clarify this one is a forum sponsored draw. While I have donated prizes in the past, this time I’m only helping with logistics 🙂

Congratulations to both @Widsith and @HerbertDTurbot - nice looking bars - enjoy!!

What a win! 
These cast bars are great and absolutely stunning in hand! 
Congrats @Widsith & @HerbertDTurbot  👍🏻

Dear All,
I often see comments about silver's diamagnetic nature when discussing using the magnet slide test.  In my opinion, this is a mistake. 
Silver is a conductive material.  It is its conductivity that 'slows it down'.
When a magnetic field moves through a conductive material (like when sliding across a conductive coin) small currents of electrical current are formed in the coin. These are called 'eddy currents'. They are in a closed loop of current flow in the metal. These currents, in tern, create a magnetic field in opposition to the field that produced them (from the magnet). This results in a counter force that 'slows down the' magnet on its slide journey due to gravity.
How much current that flows in the eddy currents are due to the conductivity of the material (based on 'identical' coin geometries). Copper has a lower conductivity and so the eddy currents will be smaller and the retarding force will also be smaller.  So the magnet will experience a lesser retarding force and will slide faster. The same sort of thing will happen with other metals that are diamagnetic. The diamagnetic aspect just means that the magnet will not 'stick' to non-ferromagnetic materials.  However, there are non-magnetic stainless steels and so the same argument (above) will apply there.  
Here is a vid that may help:  
 

I have been thinking about making a slide with optical sensors to detect when a coin passes. It may be enough to detect the difference although it may only be good for coins with the same friction due to the embossing.  I will thike about it further.

I used to be a scientist when I was younger.

Dear All,
I often see comments about silver's diamagnetic nature when discussing using the magnet slide test.  In my opinion, this is a mistake. 
Silver is a conductive material.  It is its conductivity that 'slows it down'.
When a magnetic field moves through a conductive material (like when sliding across a conductive coin) small currents of electrical current are formed in the coin. These are called 'eddy currents'. They are in a closed loop of current flow in the metal. These currents, in tern, create a magnetic field in opposition to the field that produced them (from the magnet). This results in a counter force that 'slows down the' magnet on its slide journey due to gravity.
How much current that flows in the eddy currents are due to the conductivity of the material (based on 'identical' coin geometries). Copper has a lower conductivity and so the eddy currents will be smaller and the retarding force will also be smaller.  So the magnet will experience a lesser retarding force and will slide faster. The same sort of thing will happen with other metals that are diamagnetic. The diamagnetic aspect just means that the magnet will not 'stick' to non-ferromagnetic materials.  However, there are non-magnetic stainless steels and so the same argument (above) will apply there.  
Here is a vid that may help:  
 

Dear All,
I often see comments about silver's diamagnetic nature when discussing using the magnet slide test.  In my opinion, this is a mistake. 
Silver is a conductive material.  It is its conductivity that 'slows it down'.
When a magnetic field moves through a conductive material (like when sliding across a conductive coin) small currents of electrical current are formed in the coin. These are called 'eddy currents'. They are in a closed loop of current flow in the metal. These currents, in tern, create a magnetic field in opposition to the field that produced them (from the magnet). This results in a counter force that 'slows down the' magnet on its slide journey due to gravity.
How much current that flows in the eddy currents are due to the conductivity of the material (based on 'identical' coin geometries). Copper has a lower conductivity and so the eddy currents will be smaller and the retarding force will also be smaller.  So the magnet will experience a lesser retarding force and will slide faster. The same sort of thing will happen with other metals that are diamagnetic. The diamagnetic aspect just means that the magnet will not 'stick' to non-ferromagnetic materials.  However, there are non-magnetic stainless steels and so the same argument (above) will apply there.  
Here is a vid that may help:  
 

Dear All,
I often see comments about silver's diamagnetic nature when discussing using the magnet slide test.  In my opinion, this is a mistake. 
Silver is a conductive material.  It is its conductivity that 'slows it down'.
When a magnetic field moves through a conductive material (like when sliding across a conductive coin) small currents of electrical current are formed in the coin. These are called 'eddy currents'. They are in a closed loop of current flow in the metal. These currents, in tern, create a magnetic field in opposition to the field that produced them (from the magnet). This results in a counter force that 'slows down the' magnet on its slide journey due to gravity.
How much current that flows in the eddy currents are due to the conductivity of the material (based on 'identical' coin geometries). Copper has a lower conductivity and so the eddy currents will be smaller and the retarding force will also be smaller.  So the magnet will experience a lesser retarding force and will slide faster. The same sort of thing will happen with other metals that are diamagnetic. The diamagnetic aspect just means that the magnet will not 'stick' to non-ferromagnetic materials.  However, there are non-magnetic stainless steels and so the same argument (above) will apply there.  
Here is a vid that may help:  
 

For information, the following table shows the electrical conductivity of some common metals. The densities are also noteworthy. Lead is similar in density to silver, and tungsten is very similar to gold. The magnetic susceptibility indicates whether the metal is paramagnetic (+ve) or diamagnetic (-ve). Tungsten is paramagnetic, so it will be attracted by a permanent magnet, while gold, silver and copper are diamagnetic.

silver needs to be diamagnetic so that the silver is not stuck on the closest magnet when sliding.
it needs to be more conductive than copper for the energy required for the slide to be noticeable
given a fixed magnet set up.
so I'm guessing it needs both.
 
HH

You are quite right. The slowing up effect is an instance of Lenz's law, and is in effect a form of magnetic braking. It has nothing to do with diamagnetism. What the test is measuring is the electrical conductance of the metal. Lead, for example, has less than a tenth of the conducitivity of silver, so the difference would be very marked. Copper on the other hand is almost as conductive as silver, so the magnet test would be no good on a copper coin or bar that was silver plated.

I  have 1980's electronic devices.  In 1990 I was skint and tried to sell one for way under 'spot'. I could not give it away. Now they are worth ~£2k and sell in seconds. 10 years ago they were a fraction if this price.  I think this is why I have the pre-47 buying mindset I have.  It is a coin hobby, I like them and they are not that pricy for me even if over the current spot.  I know it is a risk but as others have said, but silver may be undervalued and demand is set to increase. If they value is being artificially held low, then there may be a time that the price suppression is breached and I will have something of value.  However, will we have anyone to sell to then (individual to individual) if disposable income declines?  I do wonder if scrap might be the main option then.
I don't see this a flipping opportunities but longer haul.

But what do I know? I am a noob.

I  have 1980's electronic devices.  In 1990 I was skint and tried to sell one for way under 'spot'. I could not give it away. Now they are worth ~£2k and sell in seconds. 10 years ago they were a fraction if this price.  I think this is why I have the pre-47 buying mindset I have.  It is a coin hobby, I like them and they are not that pricy for me even if over the current spot.  I know it is a risk but as others have said, but silver may be undervalued and demand is set to increase. If they value is being artificially held low, then there may be a time that the price suppression is breached and I will have something of value.  However, will we have anyone to sell to then (individual to individual) if disposable income declines?  I do wonder if scrap might be the main option then.
I don't see this a flipping opportunities but longer haul.

But what do I know? I am a noob.

I think silver will take off within 2 years.  Watch for gold hitting $2500 - $3500 and that tells you the rich are flocking there for a safe haven.  At that pont people start looking seriously at the value of Silver and they will notice the ridiculous valuation it has now 123:1 Gold Silver ratio and that is the highest in all of history.    This is why I started buying it 5 weeks ago.
I am not an expert and the statements I put out are my own reasons for buying silver.  I do advise people do their own research.

The spot price is moving that is what I am referring to.  I just posted on the deals thread that I bought a 1kg casting bar of silver from Baird in London 3 weeks ago for a total including VAT and delivery for £496.  This morning I did a fake buy for the same bar and it is now £530.  Same with junk silver pre 1947 are 0.5 % silver if spot moves up to twice its posiiton now then it is all relative 🙂

Too early to say if it is crazy pricing.  If gold goes to $3000 an ounce as Bank of America forcast the other day and some think that is a very conservative prediction and it could go to the moon!  Silver which is already very undervalued running at 123:1 gold to silver ratio could be $50 dollars an ounce in no time and past $100 per ounce in the medium term.  If these predictions from smarter people than I come true and the stackers like me believe it or at least are willing to take a punt on that analysis then these "crazy prices" become a wise and rewarding investment. 
My views are not advice to anyone and I am just another fool trying to make his way in the world.  I know nothing more than anyone else just trying to make the best of information and educate myself in economics and silve stacking 🙂

I thought I would mention oxygen-free copper. It is worth more than ordinary copper. Just a useless fact. 
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen-free_copper