silver

I saw that silver prices were like a hockey stick lately. Thought I'd take an inventory. The kids have a few silver dollars that were gifts from grandparents. I have some Franklin half dollars from my father-in-law's coin pile.

But this one I'm keeping regardless. When my grandfather was 17 he was a promising athlete with scholarships lined up. His father, however, made his son get a job at the smelter to support his second-marriage kids (and most likely support his vices). So my grandfather spent his days behind a shovel. After decades, eventually became a union foreman, even taking a few beatings from union-busting mercenaries. In his 50s, the plant closed and he got retirement, this 15oz bar, and probably the cancer that took him down years later.