Silver bullion from reputable Silver dealers is preferred by many investors because of its backing by a sovereign nation or central government. Silver can also be produced by private mints. Silver Bullion for Sale Online Although gold remains the king of precious metals for millions of investors, silver is a quiet hero that many investors turn to for diversity and affordability. One of the greatest assets silver has in its favor is not its affordability, but rather its diversity. Silver bullion is popular in modern investment portfolios because it typically has low to negative correlation with stocks and bonds, thereby enabling investors to diversify their risk profile. Investors also buy silver bullion as a hedge against inflation and as a 'currency of last resort' during times of political or economic instability.
Silver coins and sliver bars for bullion investors. Silver bullion is a lower cost way to get started in precious metals investing. Fast and reliable shipping. Silver coins are worth collecting as beautiful objects in addition to their investment value.
Silver Bullion Bars
Investing in silver is gaining popularity, and buying silver coins is not the only option for those looking to make an investment in silver. Silver bars are a smart way to invest in silver, for both the experienced investor who wants large quantities, as well as for the first-time investor. The multiple sizing options and low premiums make silver bars a smart way to invest in silver.
A Short History of Silver Bars
Silver Bullion For Sale
Silver bars are typically 99.9 percent pure silver that has been melted down and minted into bar form in myriad sizes. Silver bullion investors are always purchasing and selling these bars, making them one of the most popular ways to invest in physical silver.
Silver has been a monetary commodity for thousands of years, though the exact starting time period is still in debate among historians. Throughout history, it has been mined, bartered, and traded as currency. In the 20th century, silver stopped being used in legal tender. But silver's value as a precious metal means its production as bullion continued, with people buying coins and bars for the value of silver itself rather than as currency.
Why Silver Bullion Investors Prefer Silver Bars
Some people who invest in silver feel that silver bullion bars are a better investment than silver coins, because they cost less to purchase, and they are easy to store given their uniformity. If an investor wants physical wealth, silver bars are a good way to store a large amount in a relatively small space. Investors prefer the security of physically owning assets, because they're far safer from inflation and market crashes than paper investments are.
Investors in silver also like to collect silver bars, since different mints have different logos, and because certain editions of bars have stopped being produced, making them more valuable than just the current cost of silver.
Sizes and Mints
Silver bars come in probably the widest variety of sizes ranging from 1 gram to 1,000 ounces. With all of these options available, ten ounce bars and kilo bars are popular among investors, though you can also purchase smaller increments like 5 ounces and 1 ounce. One-thousand ounce bars exist, as well, though they're generally too large for individuals.
Both private mints and government mints make silver bars. Some private mints known for their quality are the Sunshine Mint and SilverTowne. Mints such as the US Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, and the British Royal Mint sell silver bullion, but only certain government mints (like the Royal Canadian Mint) sell silver bullion in the form of bars.
Pricing, Quality, and Purchasing
Silver bullion bars have a lower premium than coins in most cases, because it is cheaper to create silver bars than it is to mint coins. The larger the size of the silver bar, the lower the cost of production per ounce, since so many ounces are accounted for in a single bar. So, the larger the silver bar, the lower the premium paid per ounce.
First-time investors should be aware that sterling silver is not the purest form of silver. Almost 8 percent of sterling silver is actually copper. Silver bullion purity is denoted as .999 or .9999, meaning 99.9 percent or 99.99 percent pure. Generally, each mint is going to have its own design stamped on the bars. Along with that, the size and the purity will be stamped on the bars, as well.
When buying bars second-hand, be aware of the condition. Scratches or dents make the bar harder to resell, but that doesn't mean all second-hand bars are in bad condition. However, second-hand bars will run much cheaper because they lack the extra costs associated with newly minted bars.
Where to Get Silver Bars
Silver bars are available from online retailers, such as ourselves, directly from private mints, physical silver and gold shops, auction sites like eBay, and in some countries directly from banks. Bars produced by certain mints are more readily available than others. Silver.com can help an investor find the correct size and mint, as well as offer introductions to previously unconsidered options. Some sizes are far more common than others, making them more readily available to purchase. Ten and 100 ounce sizes are much more common than 25 and 50.
Start investing in silver bars today, or expand an existing silver bullion collection by purchasing silver bars from Silver.com.
Silver Bullion Investments
Silver is not only used in modern industry, but is also bought and accumulated for investment purposes. In fact, it has been used for this purpose for over 5000 years now. Silver and other precious metals, such as gold and platinum, are considered a store of value. Silver has been used in currencies for a very long time, as well. It was first used as a form of currency all the way back in 700 B.C. From the ancient Greeks, to the ancient Romans, to the British, silver has been part of currency trading for ages.
Unlike paper currency that is issued by governments and central banks, silver is backed up by the physical metal itself — and it can be transacted anywhere in the world. In other words, it is a hard and tangible asset. This is what makes silver and other precious metals so attractive. In addition, silver has only a finite supply, which is why the laws of supply and demand are a key factor in precious metals investments today.
Silver Prices
Silver spot prices are extremely important in the buying and selling of precious metals. The spot price of silver refers to the price per troy ounce traded on various Commodity Exchanges; it is updated every second during market hours. The troy ounce has been the standard measurement for precious metals since the 1800s in the US and much longer in other parts of the world. Silver prices, like the prices of other precious metals such as gold, are subject to volatile price swings. The prices of our silver products are determined by the current spot price of silver, in addition to our premiums for each product. The current silver spot price is determined by many factors, including but not limited to the state of the economy, futures market, OTC (Over the Counter) market, world events and strength of other currencies. At Silver.com, our up to the minute spot prices are provided by Xignite.com, a leading provider of market data cloud solutions.
Silver Uses
Silver has many different uses both industrially and as an investment vehicle. Silver is a very interesting precious metal which has unique malleability, strength and ductility. It can endure extreme temperature changes, and its electrical and thermal conductivity make it extremely versatile in modern industry. The fact is, silver can accomplish things that other elements cannot come close to and, therefore, demand for it is likely to continue to rise. Silver is most commonly used today in electrical components, silver oxide batteries and various areas of radiography
What Exactly Is Silver Bullion
The term silver bullion refers to pure silver in bar (ingot), coin, or round form. The term Bullion supposedly came from a French aristocrat named Claude de Bullion, while others have suggested that the term stems from the French word bouillon, which means 'boiling' and was perhaps referencing a melting or minting house. Silver bullion products are manufactured to offer investors a convenient means of making investments in precious metals. Below we will take a look at some of the various types of silver bullion available today.
Silver Bars
Bars come in various shapes and sizes and are made by different fabricators or mints from all over the world. Silver bars can offer investors a simple and easy way to accumulate varying amounts of silver in its purest form. Common silver bar sizes include 1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilogram and 100 oz. Some of the more common producers of these silver bars are Johnson Matthey, OPM Metals, Engelhard, NTR Metals, Sunshine Mint, SilverTowne and the Royal Canadian Mint.
Silver bars may be purchased and stored at home, in safe deposit boxes or in other secure storage facilities, such as third party vaults. Silver bars are typically made from 99.9 percent pure silver, while some producers, like the Royal Canadian Mint for example, use .9999 percent fineness. Silver bars are always stamped with markings to note the purity, manufacturer and weight of the bar. Because of the small premiums over the silver spot price they typically carry, silver bars are one of the most affordable ways to invest in silver bullion.
Silver Coins
Coins are another very popular way to invest in silver bullion. Silver coins, like bars, can offer investors a simple and convenient way to invest in the precious metal. There are many different types of silver coins available today produced by various governments throughout the world. Some of the most common bullion coins are the American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Chinese Silver Panda and British Silver Britannia. Silver bullion coins come in various sizes with the 1oz variation being the most popular. In addition, one can buy tubes or monster boxes of multiple coins for convenience at at reasonable cost over spot price.
Like silver bars, silver coins are often 99.9 percent pure. Some coins, such as the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, for example, can be as high as .9999 percent pure. Silver bullion coins do also carry a face value and, therefore, must be produced by government mints. For example, the American Silver Eagle has a face value of $1 USD. The American Silver Eagle seems to be one of the most popular and most trusted coins in the world.
Silver Rounds
A silver round is exactly what it sounds like. It is a round piece of pure silver. This form is similar to a coin, but unlike a coin it does not carry any face value. Because silver rounds cannot be used as legal tender, these bullion products may be produced by government and private mints, as well. Silver rounds come in various sizes, but like silver bullion coins the most common size is 1oz. Silver rounds carry the smallest premium over the spot silver price, making them a very good choice for investors looking to accumulate silver.
The History Of Silver
The mining of silver began some 5000 years ago and was first discovered and excavated in what is now modern day Turkey. The center of silver mining eventually shifted to Greece and later to Spain. The Spanish went on to become the major silver supplier to the Roman Empire and played a vital role in Asian trade along the spice routes. Following the Moorish invasion of Spain, mining slowed in the region and began to spread to other parts of Europe.
Perhaps the biggest factor in the growth of silver mining, however, was the Spanish discovery of The New World in 1492. Production in the Americas by far exceeded anything that had been done previously. Silver mining continued to grow and flourish, and eventually new discoveries were made in other parts of the world such as China, Canada, Australia and Africa. In the past century, the technological advances made by humans have helped drive silver production to new heights and are ever increasing its demand. In fact, global mine production of silver now averages 671 million troy ounces per year!
How To Buy Silver Bullion
Buying silver bullion at low silver prices is not the daunting task that many seem to think it is — in fact, buying silver bullion has never been easier. There are, however, some basic guidelines that one will want to follow when looking to buy silver. Although this list is not all inclusive, it is a good starting point:
Am I in a financial position to invest in precious metals?
As with any investment, precious metals investments can lose value and investors can experience losses. Make sure you are comfortable with the risks associated with buying precious metals before investing.
Silver Bullion Investments
Silver is not only used in modern industry, but is also bought and accumulated for investment purposes. In fact, it has been used for this purpose for over 5000 years now. Silver and other precious metals, such as gold and platinum, are considered a store of value. Silver has been used in currencies for a very long time, as well. It was first used as a form of currency all the way back in 700 B.C. From the ancient Greeks, to the ancient Romans, to the British, silver has been part of currency trading for ages.
Unlike paper currency that is issued by governments and central banks, silver is backed up by the physical metal itself — and it can be transacted anywhere in the world. In other words, it is a hard and tangible asset. This is what makes silver and other precious metals so attractive. In addition, silver has only a finite supply, which is why the laws of supply and demand are a key factor in precious metals investments today.
Silver Prices
Silver spot prices are extremely important in the buying and selling of precious metals. The spot price of silver refers to the price per troy ounce traded on various Commodity Exchanges; it is updated every second during market hours. The troy ounce has been the standard measurement for precious metals since the 1800s in the US and much longer in other parts of the world. Silver prices, like the prices of other precious metals such as gold, are subject to volatile price swings. The prices of our silver products are determined by the current spot price of silver, in addition to our premiums for each product. The current silver spot price is determined by many factors, including but not limited to the state of the economy, futures market, OTC (Over the Counter) market, world events and strength of other currencies. At Silver.com, our up to the minute spot prices are provided by Xignite.com, a leading provider of market data cloud solutions.
Silver Uses
Silver has many different uses both industrially and as an investment vehicle. Silver is a very interesting precious metal which has unique malleability, strength and ductility. It can endure extreme temperature changes, and its electrical and thermal conductivity make it extremely versatile in modern industry. The fact is, silver can accomplish things that other elements cannot come close to and, therefore, demand for it is likely to continue to rise. Silver is most commonly used today in electrical components, silver oxide batteries and various areas of radiography
What Exactly Is Silver Bullion
The term silver bullion refers to pure silver in bar (ingot), coin, or round form. The term Bullion supposedly came from a French aristocrat named Claude de Bullion, while others have suggested that the term stems from the French word bouillon, which means 'boiling' and was perhaps referencing a melting or minting house. Silver bullion products are manufactured to offer investors a convenient means of making investments in precious metals. Below we will take a look at some of the various types of silver bullion available today.
Silver Bars
Bars come in various shapes and sizes and are made by different fabricators or mints from all over the world. Silver bars can offer investors a simple and easy way to accumulate varying amounts of silver in its purest form. Common silver bar sizes include 1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilogram and 100 oz. Some of the more common producers of these silver bars are Johnson Matthey, OPM Metals, Engelhard, NTR Metals, Sunshine Mint, SilverTowne and the Royal Canadian Mint.
Silver bars may be purchased and stored at home, in safe deposit boxes or in other secure storage facilities, such as third party vaults. Silver bars are typically made from 99.9 percent pure silver, while some producers, like the Royal Canadian Mint for example, use .9999 percent fineness. Silver bars are always stamped with markings to note the purity, manufacturer and weight of the bar. Because of the small premiums over the silver spot price they typically carry, silver bars are one of the most affordable ways to invest in silver bullion.
Silver Coins
Coins are another very popular way to invest in silver bullion. Silver coins, like bars, can offer investors a simple and convenient way to invest in the precious metal. There are many different types of silver coins available today produced by various governments throughout the world. Some of the most common bullion coins are the American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Chinese Silver Panda and British Silver Britannia. Silver bullion coins come in various sizes with the 1oz variation being the most popular. In addition, one can buy tubes or monster boxes of multiple coins for convenience at at reasonable cost over spot price.
Like silver bars, silver coins are often 99.9 percent pure. Some coins, such as the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, for example, can be as high as .9999 percent pure. Silver bullion coins do also carry a face value and, therefore, must be produced by government mints. For example, the American Silver Eagle has a face value of $1 USD. The American Silver Eagle seems to be one of the most popular and most trusted coins in the world.
Silver Rounds
A silver round is exactly what it sounds like. It is a round piece of pure silver. This form is similar to a coin, but unlike a coin it does not carry any face value. Because silver rounds cannot be used as legal tender, these bullion products may be produced by government and private mints, as well. Silver rounds come in various sizes, but like silver bullion coins the most common size is 1oz. Silver rounds carry the smallest premium over the spot silver price, making them a very good choice for investors looking to accumulate silver.
The History Of Silver
The mining of silver began some 5000 years ago and was first discovered and excavated in what is now modern day Turkey. The center of silver mining eventually shifted to Greece and later to Spain. The Spanish went on to become the major silver supplier to the Roman Empire and played a vital role in Asian trade along the spice routes. Following the Moorish invasion of Spain, mining slowed in the region and began to spread to other parts of Europe.
Perhaps the biggest factor in the growth of silver mining, however, was the Spanish discovery of The New World in 1492. Production in the Americas by far exceeded anything that had been done previously. Silver mining continued to grow and flourish, and eventually new discoveries were made in other parts of the world such as China, Canada, Australia and Africa. In the past century, the technological advances made by humans have helped drive silver production to new heights and are ever increasing its demand. In fact, global mine production of silver now averages 671 million troy ounces per year!
How To Buy Silver Bullion
Buying silver bullion at low silver prices is not the daunting task that many seem to think it is — in fact, buying silver bullion has never been easier. There are, however, some basic guidelines that one will want to follow when looking to buy silver. Although this list is not all inclusive, it is a good starting point:
Am I in a financial position to invest in precious metals?
As with any investment, precious metals investments can lose value and investors can experience losses. Make sure you are comfortable with the risks associated with buying precious metals before investing.
Silver Bullion For Sale
What are my investment objectives and goals?
Why are you buying silver? Is it to hedge against inflationary risks or perhaps currency depreciation? Are you interested in simple silver bullion or are you looking for more collectable types of silver? Know what types of silver you are interested in and why before buying. This will also help make the shopping process easier.
Where will I store my silver?
Have a storage plan for your silver. Obviously, small amounts of silver may be stored at home in safes or other secure places. Safety deposit boxes may be used, as well. For larger amounts of silver, one may want to consider third party secure vault storage. Know the pros and cons of each method and have a plan for your silver before buying it.
Should I buy from a local dealer or online?
Silver Bullion Spot Price
Buying from a local dealer and buying online may be two very different things. Brick and mortar coin dealers will often have significantly higher dealer premiums associated with their products. Online dealers, such as Silver.com, often have much lower overhead and move more inventory thus allowing us to offer bullion products for lower prices. To see what others are saying about buying precious metals online from us, you can read some customer reviews of Silver.com.
