Regular readers know I don't venture into the arena of investment advice. My crystal ball has been hazy since the beginning, and it's difficult to decipher what it's saying because of its many cracks. But looking backward can speak volumes. I've found it's valuable to judge the future based on the past.

At this late date, there are always fathers, grandfathers, uncles and the like who have paid no attention to the fact Christmas is upon them. And at the last minute, they need to come up with something to put in the stockings of their young offspring and relatives.

As far back as 100 years ago, and as recently as last year, many have found the U.S. silver dollar the ideal gift to excite young boys and girls. This particular denomination of coin has just the right weight, sparkle, history, intrigue and precious-metal content to pique anyone's interest — especially on Christmas morning.

What is ideal about the coin is that its value has remained constant through the years. By that, I mean its buying power. A century ago, it had a face value of $1, and back then, a dollar could buy an entire meal for a family and then some. Today, it's doesn't have the $1 face value but rather the silver-content value. Now, at $20, it can still buy a family dinner at the grocery store.

None of this is breaking news. U.S. silver dollar coins have always had universal appeal in the states and abroad. In fact, in many foreign countries, U.S. silver dollars are worth far more than home currencies simply because of the allure and fiscal solvency of the U.S. dollar.

Naturally, today's silver dollars are different from the vintage Morgan and Peace varieties of the 1800s and early 1900s. We have the American Silver Eagles produced in quantity by the U.S. Mint. This year, a record 40,175,000 of the one-ounce coins were minted and sold, eclipsing the previous record. Of course, the coins are attractive, patriotic and emblematic of America. But might there be another reason the coins are flying off the shelves right now?

If we look to the past, the reason may be clear. At exactly this time last year, the price of silver was $33 an ounce, meaning uncirculated U.S. silver dollar Eagles would have cost roughly $38 per coin. But in the following 12 months, silver showed a steady decline.

Presently, silver is barely hovering at $20 per ounce, close to the lowest it has been since 2010. Comparatively speaking, that makes it something of a bargain. Is this as low as silver will go? Sorry, that's asking me to refer to that hazy and cracked crystal ball. But, if history is any indicator, there is plenty of an upside, depending, of course, on what the rest of the commodities market does.

Whatever your choice, please remember: If you visit the Mint's website right now to buy a silver Eagle coin, you'll pay $43.95 plus shipping for it to come in a plastic holder inside a pretty box. Unless you're a hardcore collector needing a certificate of authenticity, which comes with the purchase, DON'T DO THAT!

Rather, call or visit a local dealer near you. A listing of dealers around the country authorized to buy and sell the dollars they buy in bulk from the Mint are listed on the department's website. These dealers sell just the bulk coins — without a box, plastic holder or certificate. At a silver bullion price of $20 an ounce, many were selling the coins for just under $25 each at last check.

There is one more option. Many dealers also offer the classic Morgan and Peace silver dollars in "very good" or "fine" condition for about the same $25. They aren't as shiny or full of detail but are plenty historic. Looking backward shows it's a Christmas or New Year's gift that hasn't failed for over a century.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of a 2013 America Eagle silver coin has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.