the disconnect, page-19

Speaking of kitco, an interesting article there replying to the claim that the physical is thin on the ground:

http://www.kitco.com/ind/nadler/aug182008B.html

To quote:

"All of this will pass, and things will return to normal. There is NO shortage of the raw materials required to make coin blanks or coins from (i.e. 400 ounce gold bars, 1000 ounce silver bars). A shortage of adequate supplies of coin blanks is not the same thing as a shortage of gold or silver bullion in the marketplace. Or of a 'huge' disconnect between futures and physicals, or of some other nefarious activity. However, various forums and newsletter writers have chosen to hype the situation and have called it anything from the precursor to confiscation, to a mass stampede into bullion by the public, to the end of the world as we know it. They could not be more wrong. Customers who understand the above, and who wish to buy the products that are slow in coming, should not hesitate to place orders and lock in prices (if they like the current levels) and simply and patiently wait for their bullion dealer to receive their coins and to ship same to them. Of course, if they simply cannot or will not wait, bullion dealers can offer them alternatives which are currently in stock. Shop around. You do not have to start with Kitco."

That said, I know Ainslie is very low on physical silver at the moment.