Published August 2026
What the ratio actually measures
The gold-to-silver ratio is simple division: gold’s price per ounce divided by silver’s price per ounce. At a gold price of roughly $4,360/oz and silver at roughly $65/oz, the ratio works out to about 67 — meaning it currently takes about 67 ounces of silver to equal the value of one ounce of gold. That’s a real, calculable number, not an estimate, and it updates every time either metal’s price moves.
How today’s ratio compares to history
| Period / benchmark | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Current (August 2026) | ~67 |
| Long-run average since 1971 | ~60.5 |
| Historic low (January 1980) | ~17 |
| Historic high (March 2020) | ~125 |
Ratio figures per current (August 2026) precious metals market data and long-run historical series published by bullion market data providers; the ratio is recalculated continuously and the figures above reflect a point in time.
What a “high” or “low” ratio does and doesn’t tell you
A ratio above its long-run average means gold is expensive relative to silver by historical standards; a ratio below average means the opposite. Some investors use a wide ratio as a reason to hold more silver relative to gold, on the theory the two will eventually converge back toward their historical relationship — but there’s no law of economics guaranteeing that convergence, or a timeline for it if it happens. The ratio touched 125 in March 2020 and normalized over the following years, but it also spent years drifting in the 80s-90s range without mean-reverting quickly. Whatever allocation decision you make between gold and silver inside an IRA still has to clear the same eligibility bar either way — 99.5% purity for gold, 99.9% for silver, held by a qualified custodian — the ratio doesn’t change those requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a high gold-silver ratio a buy signal for silver?
It’s a data point some investors weigh, not a reliable predictive signal — the ratio has stayed elevated for extended periods before, with no guaranteed reversion timeline.
Can I hold both metals in the same IRA?
Yes — a self-directed precious metals IRA can hold IRS-eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium together, each still subject to its own purity requirement under IRC §408(m).
Why was the ratio so extreme in March 2020?
Pandemic-driven market stress hit silver’s industrial-demand-linked price harder and faster than gold’s, which trades more as a pure monetary/safe-haven asset — the ratio normalized over the following years as conditions settled.
Regarding 11:24, gold is much more valuable than silver that combines an even greater store of value with physical presence and educational requirement. For example, on December 31, 1974, President Gerald Ford signed Executive Order 11825 which made it legal for Americans to buy and own gold again. On that day, the price of gold was $186.50 per troy ounce. At that time, the most popular gold bullion coin in the world was the South African Gold Krugerrand which contained one troy ounce of gold and could be bought for around $198 each. Fifty-two years later, the price of gold had risen tremendously to an astonishing $5,596.20 per troy ounce on January 29, 2026.
In 1964, a customer could go a bank and buy a new roll of twenty freshly minted uncirculated 1964 Kennedy 90% silver half dollar coins at their face value for $10. Each 90% silver half dollar contained 0.3617 troy ounce of silver and silver was worth $1.38 per troy ounce. Sixty-two years later on January 29, 2026, the price of silver had risen tremendously to $121.76 per troy ounce which means a roll of twenty 90% silver half dollar coins would be worth $880.80 instead of their original $10 in 1964. In other words, one 90% silver half dollar coin would be worth $43.96 each instead of 50 cents in 1964. For comparison, in 1964, the price of gasoline was 30 cents per gallon and one half dollar coin could buy 1.67 gallons of gasoline. Therefore a twenty gallon gasoline tank in a car could be filled for $6. The following year in 1965, the United States discontinued 90% silver coins for circulation and replaced them with cheap cupronickel clad over copper sandwich coins. Savvy people who understood Gresham's Law hoarded the silver coins for their precious metal content whereas they spent the cheap clad coins or deposited them into their bank account.
I am blessed so that my grandchildren have been exposed to precious metals and they each have a small stack… I love giving gold and silver as gifts.. That shiny metal make folks smile….
Ken AG. Thank you for your work… Thought provoking and entertaining….
I inherited the love of coins and bullion from my father. I love researching each coin or bullion piece and it's become a satisfying hobby.
Exactly right.