Silver’s been in high demand since this summer. According to The Northern Miner, “Globally, silver bullion coin sales reached an all-time high of 32.9 million oz. in this year’s [2015] third quarter.”
This increased demand has put pressure on mints around the world. Now 5 major mints are limiting silver coin distribution—the U.S. Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, Australia’s Perth Mint, British Royal Mint, and the Austrian Mint.
Key factors contributing to these precautions include low silver prices, trends of geopolitical/economic instability, and the gold-to-silver ratio. Investors keen on possible appreciation from the white metal are taking note of the ongoing supply and demand of silver in hopes of making gains on the metal in the near future.