Santa Claus rally in gold and silver crowns a very good year It was a very good year for precious metals. Gold posted a nearly 19% gain and silver rose over 17%. As you can see in the chart below, the move higher began in early summer defying the annual summer doldrums, hit an impasse during autumn, then ended the year with a surprise Santa Claus rally that took it over the $1520 mark. Silver pushed briefly over the $18…