Gold/Silver Ratio
How many ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold. One of the oldest and most-watched metrics in precious metals markets.
Low — Silver may be overvalued vs gold
24h change: +3.29 (+5.85%)
Historical Context
| Period | Ratio | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Egypt | 2.5:1 | Silver rarer than gold in Egypt |
| Roman Empire | 12:1 | Standard bimetallic ratio |
| US Coinage Act (1792) | 15:1 | Legally fixed by Congress |
| 1980 (Hunt Brothers) | 17:1 | Silver squeeze to $50/oz |
| 2011 Rally | 32:1 | Silver hit $49/oz |
| 20-Year Average | ~68:1 | Modern era baseline |
| COVID Peak (2020) | 125:1 | All-time high ratio |
How Investors Use the Gold/Silver Ratio
The Gold/Silver Ratio tells investors how many ounces of silver equal one ounce of gold at current prices. Historically, this ratio has served as a gauge of relative value between the two metals.
When the ratio is high (above 80), silver is historically cheap relative to gold. Some investors use this as a signal to shift allocation toward silver. When the ratio is low (below 50), silver is relatively expensive compared to gold, and some investors rotate back to gold.
This “ratio trading” strategy is popular among long-term precious metals investors. While not a timing indicator on its own, extreme readings have historically preceded significant moves in silver prices.
Get real-time ratio alerts, historical charts, and AI-powered interpretation in the SilverOfTruth app for iOS.