Welcome to Smalls Auctions Sale 332. This week gold and silver soared to record levels as leaders representing nearly half the world’s population gathered in Beijing for the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan, an event capped by a military parade and SCO Forum attended by Russia, India, Iran, and other Asian nations. From afar, Trump derided President Xi while presiding over a chaotic presidency that has already coincided with a 20% rise in bullion prices as investors hedge against uncertainty. Many believe nations unsettled by Trump’s unilateral tariffs are shifting wealth away from US bonds into hard assets, reviving the traditional role of precious metals as a store of value. While gold and silver lost prominence after WWII when strong fiat currencies dominated, the erosion of WTO trade rules and doubts over America’s reliability are accelerating the search for alternatives. China’s ambition to displace the US Dollar in global trade is finding sympathetic ears, but until new systems emerge, investors are turning back to metals as a safe haven. Against this backdrop, our sale includes a diverse range of silver collectables and coins, many priced close to their intrinsic value. This offers buyers a rare opportunity to acquire desirable pieces underpinned by solid metal worth, combining collectible appeal with long-term security.