The statement is directly confirmed by the evidence. Source 8, a post by credible economist Mohamed El-Erian, explicitly states, 'Silver price surpasses $44 per troy ounce on Comex first since August 2011'. This is corroborated by Source 9, which reports silver reaching a 'new 14-year high', a timeframe consistent with the period since 2011. Other provided sources confirm that silver's price was well above $44 in early 2011, providing historical context for the claim.