10 Signs The Takedown Of Paper Gold Has Unleashed An Unprecedented Global Run On Physical Gold And SilverMichael Snyder Will this massive run on physical gold and silver soon lead to widespread shortages of those metals? Instead of frightening people away from gold and silver, the takedown of paper gold seems to have had just the opposite effect. People just cant seem to get enough physical gold and silver right now. Those that wish that they had gotten into gold when it was less than $1400 an ounce are able to do so now, and it is absolutely insane that silver is sitting at about $23 an ounce. If the big banks continue to play games with the price of gold, we are going to see existing supplies of physical gold and silver dry up very quickly. And once reports of physical shortages of gold and silver become widespread, it is going to absolutely rock the financial world. But this is what happens when you manipulate free markets it often has unintended consequences far beyond anything that you ever imagined. The following are 10 signs that the takedown of paper gold has unleashed an unprecedented global run on physical gold and silver #1 According to Zero Hedge, the U.S. Mint set a new all-time record for the number of gold ounces sold on Wednesday #3 Individual dealers all over the country are confirming that we are seeing a voracious appetite for precious metals at the moment. For example, the following is what a spokesperson for JM Bullion had to say This appears to be a widespread phenomenon. Just check out what other dealers are reporting #4 Large international banks are also experiencing tremendous demand for physical gold and silver by customers right now. The following is what Keith Barron told King World News about what he is hearing #5 The demand for physical gold and silver is heating up over in Europe as well. For example, the following is from an emergency message posted on the website of a precious metals dealer in the UK #6 On the other side of the globe, demand for precious metals is skyrocketing as well. According to Bloomberg, people are running through the gate to get gold in Australia #7 Reuters is reporting that customers are waiting for up to three hours to buy gold in Japan #8 According to a Chinese article quoted by the Blaze, there is a mad rush to buy gold in China right now #9 According to Reuters, dealers in Singapore are having significant trouble finding enough of a supply to keep up with the intense demand for gold that has erupted this week #10 Bloomberg is reporting that over in India people are flocking to stores to purchase gold jewelry and coins If the big banks were trying to scare people away from gold and silver by crashing paper prices for those metals then they have utterly failed. Instead of being frightened away, the global appetite for physical gold and silver is now more voracious than ever. If the prices for gold and silver stay this low, we are eventually going to start seeing some very serious shortages in the marketplace. And once reports of shortages of the actual physical metals become widely circulated, it will cause an adjustment in the marketplace that will shock everyone. So hold on to your hats. We are entering a period of time when there will be unprecedented volatility for the prices of precious metals. It will be quite a roller coaster ride, but if you can handle the ups and downs it will be worth it in the end. This article first appeared here at the Economic Collapse. Michael Snyder is a writer, speaker and activist who writes and edits his own blogs The American Dream and Economic Collapse Blog. Follow him on Twitter here. 