Because there is two kinds of silver, one being physical , the other on paper. Paper is oversold and manipulated on a regular basis. Paper silver can be sold up to 100 times. This means that the paper dealer can sell the same paper ounce to you and 99 others. Keep this in mind it is important. Soon people who have purchased paper silver will try to claim their ounce, guess what will happen! Only own physical silver in your possession. Then you will be secured. Here's what happens, the bankers dump tons of paper silver on the market and it drives the price down. They manipulate the market.