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Silver Price in 1981

The silver price fell 47.4% in 1981, from $15.50 at the end of 1980 to $8.15. Its highest close was $16.30 on Jan 6, and its lowest $8.03 on Nov 23. The biggest one-day fall was −9.0% on Sep 18 and the biggest rise +7.2% on Sep 10. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 51.7%.

Change in 1981
−47.4%
$15.50 → $8.15
High
$16.30
Jan 6
Low
$8.03
Nov 23
After inflation
−51.7%
US CPI
Up days
118 of 251
longest run 5 up, 8 down
Below record
-83.5%
at the end of 1981

Silver Price, daily closes 1981

Numbers mark the events below
$9$12$16JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1Jan 20: Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages.2Jul 6: Bear market low: $8.20, 65.2% below the peak.3Sep 10: Biggest one-day rise of the year: +7.2%.4Sep 18: Biggest one-day fall of the year: −9.0%.5Sep 28: Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $11.24 (September 14, 1981).

Key Events in 1981

What happened, and how the Silver moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.

  1. 1
    Tuesday, January 20
    Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. Source
    Silver: +0.7% that day · −10.5% a month later
  2. 2
    Monday, July 6 From the data
    Bear market low: $8.20, 65.2% below the peak.
  3. 3
    Thursday, September 10 From the data
    Biggest one-day rise of the year: +7.2%.
  4. 4
    Friday, September 18 From the data
    Biggest one-day fall of the year: −9.0%.
  5. 5
    Monday, September 28 From the data
    Enters a bear market: 20% below its peak of $11.24 (September 14, 1981).

Biggest days of 1981

Best daysWorst days
Sep 10+7.2%Sep 18−9.0%
Feb 4+6.9%Aug 25−8.3%
Aug 18+5.1%Sep 28−8.1%
Aug 12+5.0%Mar 2−7.4%
Dec 3+4.9%Jun 26−7.1%

Volatility: 41.2% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).

Month by month

MonthCloseChangeHighLow
Jan$13.15−15.2%$16.30$13.05
Feb$12.53−4.7%$13.90$12.47
Mar$12.33−1.6%$13.31$11.26
Apr$11.07−10.3%$12.33$10.95
May$10.59−4.3%$11.42$10.24
Jun$8.30−21.6%$10.67$8.30
Jul$8.51+2.5%$9.02$8.20
Aug$9.15+7.6%$9.72$8.24
Sep$8.95−2.2%$11.24$8.77
Oct$9.12+1.9%$9.69$8.93
Nov$8.27−9.4%$9.17$8.03
Dec$8.15−1.4%$8.83$8.05

Other Markets in 1981

Change over the calendar year.

MarketChangeYear-end
Silver Price−47.4%$8.15
Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1981−9.2%875.00
S&P 500 in 1981−9.7%122.55
Nasdaq Composite in 1981−3.2%195.84
Gold in 1981−32.6%$397.50
US 10-year Treasury yield in 1981+1.55 pp13.98%
1980198119821983198419851986198719881989

Silver Price in 1981: FAQ

How much did the silver price fall in 1981?

The silver price fell 47.4% in 1981, from $15.50 at the end of 1980 to $8.15. Its highest close was $16.30 on Jan 6, and its lowest $8.03 on Nov 23. The biggest one-day fall was −9.0% on Sep 18 and the biggest rise +7.2% on Sep 10. Adjusted for inflation, it lost 51.7%.

What were the highest and lowest closes of the silver price in 1981?

Highest: $16.30 on January 6, 1981. Lowest: $8.03 on November 23, 1981. It closed higher on 118 of 251 trading days.

What happened to the silver price on January 20, 1981?

Ronald Reagan is inaugurated; Iran releases the 52 US hostages. The silver price rose 0.7% that day, and was −10.5% a month later.

Data: London silver fix from 1968 to Jan 2018 (gaps filled with Perth Mint spot), COMEX silver futures closes after that. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.