Storing Silver at Home

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Silver bullion typically does not need special treatment when it comes to storing at home. Many people are able to store their silver in a basic hiding place somewhere around their house.

Finding a place in your home to store silver does not need to be complicated. Simple is better, most of the time.

Some common hiding places that people choose may include places where other valuables are stored. Such as the drawer of a nightstand or desk, a bookshelf or a lockbox.

There are many options for storing 1 oz silver rounds at home. One of the easiest option is a plastic storage tube designed to store silver coins and rounds that has the same (or similar) diameters as the coins. These are similar to the plastic coin tubes that are used by the US Mint for silver eagle packaging.

Storage tubes are made from molded plastic that is specifically shaped and sized to fit specific coins and rounds based on their dimensions.

Many of the modern 1 oz silver rounds that are released by private mints are 39 mm in diameter. You can measure the specific silver rounds in your collection to ascertain the specific dimensions. Finding storage tubes that are the right size for your silver rounds is as easy as searching on Amazon or eBay.

Many reputable coin supply vendors sell their products through various online marketplaces to make it easy for collectors and investors to easily locate the items needed to protect your investment.

Plastic coin tubes are also available in rectangular shape that are designed specifically to hold up to twenty 1 oz silver bars. The compact size and shape of these coin tubes make it easy to store up to 20 oz silver in a small amount of space virtually anywhere in your home.

At Home Safe or Lockbox

Over time, many silver investors will look for better, more secure storage for their investment.

Firearms owners may already own a safe to keep firearms secure. It’s a logical and practical choice to store silver alongside of firearms at home.

With most 10 oz silver bars being of a similar size and shape as a deck of playing cards, a couple of them can be neatly stacked alongside boxes of ammo.

Various other options are plentiful for those new to precious metals that may not already have a gun safe at home.

For a secure installation at home, a safe should be mounted to part of the foundation of the house. This is not always possible due to the many variations in construction. Many will, instead, use bolts and mounts to secure the safe to the floor or wall framing.

Some silver stackers may even set up a diversion safe or a honeypot in a spot that would be obvious to thieves looking for a quick score. While keeping the real shiny stashed away in a less obvious location or in a diversion safe of some sort.

Diversion Safes

Diversion safes come in a variety of disguises that look like ordinary household objects. Most often used as a clandestine way of storing herbs and other medicines, these are also a great way for investors to keep their investment secure without having to invest in a large safe.

One of the first things to come to mind for many is the simple soda can safe. They are a basic and simple way to store silver in your refrigerator.

Other options include picture frames, book safes, hanging safes, in-wall safe disguised as an electric outlet. You can find hundreds of simple and effective options for hiding a couple of ounces in plain site.

It is a good idea when storing silver at home to be prepared. It doesn’t take long very long to fill a small safe with shiny metal. So when you are investing in a safe it is a good idea to plan ahead.

After a while, most investors will develop some diversity to their collection that may include a mix of silver bars of different sizes, 1 oz silver rounds and coins.

Ammo cans, either metal or plastic are a good size for storing various size silver bars and coin tubes together. They are strong, durable, air-tight, waterproof, lockable and are easy to keep hidden away.

They’re also portable and easy to grab if you need to pack up in a hurry. However, they’re also easy for a thief to grab unless they are secured.

While ammo cans are a good option in some scenarios, they are still not match for a good safe.

When buying a safe, you should consider your future plans. How much silver do you plan to buy per week? per month? per year? Will you trade silver for gold in the future?

A good home safe can be a significant investment that you don’t want to find yourself repeating every six months to a year.

There are a variety of consumer-grade home safes that can provide adequate protection for most investors that can be suitable for storing up to a few hundred ounces of silver.

Demand for Silver Eagles Spikes, Along with Premiums

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It’s become pretty indisputable that the economy is in the worst state that many Americans can remember since the 2008 financial crisis and the deep recession that followed.

As a result, investors are clamoring for gold and silver bullion like never before. Demand for government issued coins, like the American Silver Eagle and the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf have skyrocketed in recent weeks since the start of the banking crisis.

However, the US Mint continues to be slow and unable to meet demands, which has caused significant increases in recent weeks to a recent high of around 60% over spot price. Some dealers, such as APMEX and JM Bullion are currently showing premiums for silver eagles at over 88% above spot price.

The US Mint outsources the manufacturing of planchets, which are coin blanks that are pressed by the mint to produce the coins. Working only with a handful of select manufacturers that meet the requirements.

Disruptions to both global and domestic supply chains effecting precious metals continue to impact investors and industry.

The raw materials used to mint Silver Eagles must be sourced from domestic silver mines, as prescribed by law.

The Mint has been unable to meet demand since 2021 when more than 28 million coins were sold. While investor demand remained strong in 2022, the Mint was only able to produce around 16 million coins.

So far in 2023, the Mint has reported sales over more than 6 million coins. However, numerous reports state the mint shifted production in late 2022 to start producing coins for the current year, which is the main reason the Mint was able to report 3,949,000 coins sold in January.

Sales reports show only 900,000 coins being sold in each month of February and March which is far below the Mint’s production capacity.

In 2015, the Mint sold 47,000,000 Silver Eagle bullion coins, the highest on record.

Year 1 oz ASE bullion coins
201914,863,500 coins
202030,089,500 coins
202128,275,000 coins
202215,963,500 coins
2023
(4 months)
6,199,000 coins
Recent Years Sales and Mintage Totals of 1 oz Silver American Eagle coins

It’s pretty indisputable that the economy is in the worst condition many Americans have seen since the 2008 financial crisis and the deep recession that followed.

This time around, the economy has been wrecked by a record combination of prevailing events.

It began before COVID was even a thing in September 17, 2019.

Repurchase agreements, often referred to as “repos” are short term loans between banks and financial institutions. That morning, interest rates on overnight repurchase agreements more than doubled. By the end of the trading day the rates had increased by 500%.

The Fed responded to the crisis by injecting $75 billion PER DAY in new liquidity into the repo market for a week to prevent a collapse.

Once the rates began to stabilize, the Fed continued their daily injections of fresh liquidity into the repo market until October 10.

During that three week time period, some estimates put the total amount of liquidity injected by the Fed at over $500 billion.

A few months later, the Biden administration put the entire country into lockdown, effectively shutting down every sector of the economy, aside from companies like Amazon, Walmart and other select corporations deemed “critical”.

Rising inflation began to take hold as the Fed continued to print more money to fund the pandemic with stimulus checks and other government handouts.

To combat the inflation crisis, the Fed responded with multiple steep increases in key interest rates that come faster than has happened decades.

Several Dealers Increase Order Minimums and Shipping Times

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Over the last week, APMEX, JM Bullion, SD Bullion and Money Metals Exchange have announced either increases in minimum order amounts or have added a few days to their shipping policies.

The updates includes:

Gold has been trading steadily above $2,008 per troy ounce and silver closed the week at $25.07.

The demand for Silver Eagles have quickly increased because they are seen a trusted store of value over keeping cash with record inflation. Currently, the cheapest Silver Eagles have a premium of over 50% above spot price.

Other sovereign government coins with a lower premium are also reliable alternative for investors looking for a lower premiums.

Britannia, Philharmonic and Kangaroo have become the go to silver 1 oz coins that make an excellent store of wealth and are easy to stack and store at home.

According to inventory tracking of APMEX stock, it’s been reported that APMEX sales of silver on Thursday April 6 reach over 135,000 troy ounces, slightly higher than the Thursday following the collapse of SVB bank and the start of the current banking crisis.

SD Bullion Updates Shipping Times, Raises Order Minimum to $500

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SD Bullion notified customers today that increases in sales volume in recent weeks has led to delays in order processing and shipping. The company cited a huge demand in precious metals sales that began with the announcement of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse several weeks ago.

Under normal circumstances, the company typically ships orders within 1 to 3 business days of payment clearance.

Current backlog for some orders is reportedly extending out 7 or more business days. In addition, they are temporarily limiting new orders to over $500.

Money Metals Exchange provides a note on their website stating to expect order delays of up to an additional 1 to 2 business days.

In discussions across various online forums, precious metals buyers assert strong sentiment about fear about the true state of the economy and cited an overall lack of confidence in current leadership.

Wholesale and secondary market inventories have been drying up across the industry. One major industry wholesaler shows shipping delays on many common gold bullion products extending into April.

The same wholesaler is reported extended delays of newly minted 1 oz silver rounds extending to mid-to-late April.

Long shipping delays on the wholesale level are often indicative of underlying issues with the supply chains feeding the refineries and private mints. Reports from COMEX have shown a tremendous outflow of silver in recent weeks as more paper contract holders are opting to take physical delivery.

Analysts are predicting the most recent rate hike may likely be the last and are forecasting that lower rates will be coming in a future cycle.

Intaglio Mint Silver Rounds

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The Intaglio Mint creates unique and thoughtful designs that inspire thinking. For 2023, the Mint is releasing a variety of silver rounds that encompassing a wide array of thought provoking artwork that includes modern feline house cats, mythical creatures from folklore and literature as well as patriotic and military themes derived from ancient latin philosophical proverbs.

These silver medals are available from bullion dealers with incredible high-relief compositions that are minted in limited quantities of pure .999 fine silver.

Latin Allure Silver Rounds

The Latin Allure silver medallions incorporate phrases and quotes from ancient philosophers into unique modern works of collectable art. The coin series is popular for its military and patriotic themes around honor, death and life.

For 2023, the series includes both 1 oz and 2 oz silver rounds with intricate high relief designs that are only minted in limited quantities.

Morte Prima di Disonore Silver Round

Memento Mori Silver Round

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Silver Round

Amor Fati Silver Round Silver Round

Cryptozoology Silver Rounds

Crytozoology is a pseudoscience that studies, searches for and catalogs unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose historical existence is disputed or unsubstantiated with modern evidence. It is more closely related to the investigation of cultural folklore as opposed to the science and study of animal species.

For 2023, the Intaglio Mint has created designs of creatures that have been part of the folktales for decades, sometimes even centuries.

  • Unicorn Silver Round – The unicorn is a mystical and powerful horse or goat-like creature that is said to have magical healing powers and the ability to produce drinkable water from poison. The sculptures and artists from the Intaglio Mint capture the spirit of the unicorn that has a storied history across countless cultures.
  • Jersey Devil Silver Round – The Jersey Devil is thought to have lived in the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey in the United States. The legend dates back to the 1700s. Sitings of the monster are still regularly reported and it has been blamed for the slaughter of livestock and other horrific events.
  • The Kraken Silver Round – The Kraken is a legendary enormous sea monster that is said to have lived off the coast of Norway around Scandinavia. The creature has a giant squid-like appearance with strong tentacles capable of grabbing onto a ship and pulling sailors to their death on the ocean floor.

Sleeping Cats

The Sleeping Cat silver round collection features the lovable and adorable feline companion enjoying one of their favorite ways to pass time. When asleep, cats will tightly wind themselves into a ball as a way to conserve body heat and keep warm. You can often find them curled up and cuddled together.

Available with three high-relief obverse images of felines posed in various sleeping positions. These rounds are minted from .999 fine silver and are available in limited mintage amounts each weighing either 1 troy oz and 2 troy oz.

The series consists of three silver rounds that are an homage to one of our most loved pets.

The reverse shows curved radial lines emanating from behind the center hallmark logo with inscriptions included for the weight and purity.

Intaglio Mint is a boutique private mint that was established in Sedalia, Colorado in 2010.  They are an innovative manufacturer of coins, tokens and medallions commemorating events, places and historic remembrances. They also mint silver rounds with their own unique and creative designs that feature incredibly detailed and highly collectable themes.

Greek Mythology

The current year of the Greek Mythology coin series from Intaglio includes three fresh designs based on venerable gods and goddesses minted into 1 oz silver rounds.

Scylla Silver Round – In ancient Greece, the Scylla was a female creature with six-heads each with a mouthful of shark-like, razor sharp teeth. She walked on twelve feet and the heads of six baying dogs are said to extend from her loins.

Aphrodite Silver Round – The goddess of love, beauty, desire, and all aspects of sexuality was capable of seducing both gods and men gods and men with her incredible and whisper in the ear.

Bellerophon, Pegasus and the Chimera Silver Round – The Chimera was described by Homer as flying monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent or snake that could breath fire. Bellerophon was a hero of the ancient Greeks for capturing and taming the Pegasus and riding it in battle against the Chimera.

2023 Germania Silver Rounds

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2023 1 oz germania silver round obverse

The Germania Silver Coin series is the namesake collector series from the Germania Mint.

The Germania was a book published in 98 AD by Ancient Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus. The work was originally titled On the Origin and Situation of the Germans. The book was described the German people who lived outside the Roman Empire. Tacitus never visited the regions described in his book, but the descriptions and stories are those he heard second hand.

The figure of Germania personified also first appeared in Roman times, as noted on coins discovered from that era. During the Middle Ages, she arose in homages to the Holy Roman Empire.

Germania evolved during the 17th century into a patriotic nationalistic warrior throughout literature, poetry and artwork celebrating Germanic heritage.

The artwork on obverse of these modern coins depicts Germania as a brave woman that is the guardian and protector of the nation.

For 2023, she is shown as a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair with a victory wreath of laurel on her head. Her dress is blowing in the wind. The Amazon holds in her left hand an imperial sword ( named Reichsschwert. She carries a medieval shield with the image of a two-headed eagle, which is also the featured of the reverse.

The weight, purity and year of minting are inscribed around the front.

The reverse features the Germania Mint coat of arms hallmark that features a two-headed eagle in the center.

Specifications:

  • Minted from .9999 fine silver (99.99% pure)
  • Rounds are packaged by the mint in a special lenticular protective plastic capsule that allows you to see the fine artistry with incredible detail.
  • Available in four different bullion weights:
    • 1 oz – 38.61mm diameter, 25,000 piece mintage
    • 2 oz – 50mm diameter, 2,500 piece mintage
    • 10 oz – 70mm diameter, 1000 piece mintage
    • 1 kilogram – 100mm diameter, extremely limited to just 100 pieces
  • Proof Finish rounds are available 1 troy ounce gold and silver.
  • Manufactured by the Germania Mint in Poland.

The 2023 Germania Silver Coin series is limited in minted quantities which leads to these highly collectible coins to sell out quickly.

FindBullionPrices.com tracks the online dealer prices for Germania silver coins to help find the lowest prices.

2023 Noah’s Ark Silver Coin from Armenia

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This 2023 Armenia Noah’s Ark coin series is one that many collectors and investors adore for the biblical theme.

The reverse theme of the coin pays homage to the story of Noah and the Ark as described in the Book of Genesis, chapter 8. A peaceful dove is shown flying above the ark at the end of the rainstorm with the sun beginning to rise over Mt. Ararat in the background.

The image is surrounded by inscriptions around the design field that reads “NOAH’S ARK” in both Armenian and English.

On the flip side, the obverse features the Armenian Coat of Arms. It includes inscriptions for weight, purity, year of minting, and the denomination.

The outer rim is inscribed with the words “REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA”, again translated in both English and Armenian.

Each element in the design is crafted with masterful detail and precision with artisans applying different textures to bring the scene to life.

2023 Noah’s Ark Silver Coin Specifications

  • Minted in 1 kilo, 10 oz, 5 oz, 1 oz plus a wide variety of fractional ounce sizes.
  • Twelfth annual year of minting.
  • Limited annual mintage.
  • Minted with .999 fine Silver BU.
  • The obverse shows the Republic of Armenia Coat of Arms, with assay and minting inscriptions.
  • The reverse design portrays the story of Noah’s Ark from the Old Testament of the Bible.
  • Legal Tender coins backed by the Republic of Armenia.

Mount Ararat is a dormant snow capped volcano in modern day Turkey along the border of Armenia. In the old testament Bible, Mt Ararat is described as the final resting place for the Ark that survived the great flood and holds a significant amount of cultural significance to both nations.

These bullion coins are minted by Geiger Edelmetalle on behalf of the Republic of Armenia. Geiger is one of the world’s oldest private mints.

The mint was founded in the 12th century in Germany and has been involved in the precious metals trade for centuries. The Geiger Edelmetalle mint is a member of the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) as a Good Delivery provider.

Cheaper Alternatives to Silver Eagles

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Historically, gold and silver have held their buying power through previous recessions and periods of high inflation.

Precious metals are often recommended as a safe-haven that financial advisors recommend during down cycles in the stock market.

Holding precious metals as part of your portfolio acts as a stable hedge against a recession, or worse.

This year is the 37th year that the American Eagle coin series has been produced by the US Mint. These coins have been minted annually since 1986.

Wholesale and dealer premiums on Silver Eagles have risen dramatically in recent years due to ongoing supply chain issues with mint suppliers.

1 oz Silver Coins

Sovereign governments around the world issue coins minted from precious metals. These coins are mainly for investors.

Although these coins are denominated in their local currency, many also qualify for inclusion in a precious metals IRA.

1 oz Krugerrand Silver Coin

The Krugerrand is the original bullion coin created in 1967. It was created by the South African government as a vehicle to encourage investment in government backed gold bullion. The 1 oz Silver Krugerrand coin is minted in .999 fine silver with an evergreen design.

The 2023 1 oz Silver Krugerrand coin has become popular with investors that want a trusted bullion coin without paying high premiums.

The obverse of the Krugerrand carries the image of Paul Kruger. The reverse features an national animal, the springbok antelope.

Krugerrand silver coins have some of the lowest dealer premiums and widely recognized worldwide. The South African mint produces these coins on demand so there is no mintage limit.

1 oz Perth Kangaroo Silver Coin

The Australia Kangaroo series comes from the Perth Mint. The 2023 Kangaroo 1 oz silver coins feature an indigenous red kangaroo bouncing across a grassy outback plain on the reverse.

The obverse of this coin has historically carried an effigy portrait of Queen Elizabeth. It is tradition for the reigning monarch to appear on coins minted by Commonwealth countries. However for 2023, the mint has announced that the Queen will remain on these coins until a suitable image of King Charles is acquired.

1 oz Britannia Silver Coin

The Britannia Series from the Royal Mint has become more popular with each annual mintage after increasing the silver purity in 2013.

This year, 2023 marks the 10th anniversary that the Britannia coin has been available in .999 fine silver.

The first wave of 2023 Britannia silver show the familiar portrait of Queen Elizabeth on the obverse side.

In January, the mint began producing a new 2023 1 oz Silver Britannia coin with a newly sculpted left facing effigy of King Charles III.

The reverse continues to feature the Nathan design of the mythological Britannia.

1 oz Philharmonic Silver Coin

The Austrian Mint began minting the Philharmonic 1 oz silver coin in 2008. It the only bullion coin available that is denominated in the Euro currency.

The inspiration for the design of these coins is attributed to the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra. Both the obverse and reverse designs feature elements related to orchestral music.

1 oz Maple Leaf Silver Coin

The Canadian Maple Leaf 1 oz Silver Coin is minted in .9999 fine silver by the Royal Canadian Mint. The coin is one of the purest government-backed silver bullion coins available in the market.

The Maple Leaf one troy ounce coins have a lower premium than the ASE.

Silver Maples have a familiar design that is easy to recognize. The obverse design includes a portrait of Queen Elizabeth, while the reverse incorporates an image of the Sugar Maple Leaf.

Various improvements have been made to the design throughout the lifetime of the series to help prevent counterfeiting. Coins minted since 2018 include a new rinse process during manufacturing that virtually eliminates issues with milk-spotting that was prevalent with earlier coins.

FindBullionPrices.com aggregates precious metals prices from dozens of precious metals brokers to help bring transparency and reduce the confusion of online dealer pricing.

Shop online dealers for the best prices for these and other 2023 Government Backed Silver Bullion Coins.

Survival: Prepping with Silver

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Not too long ago, the idea of prepping, and having the tools to survive in the event of a disaster seamed pretty far fetched.

These days, it’s wise to be planning ahead as even the CEO of Chase has offered only dire predictions for the coming year.

The conditions we saw at the start of the pandemic with empty store shelves and limited supplies of basic necessities are likely to return.

Liquidity in both the stock and crypto markets continues to suffer while more companies announce layoffs following a year of record profits.

A new survey, published in January 2023, shows that more than 56% of households are unable to cover a one-time $1,000 emergency expense from their savings.

The amount of emergency savings needed by each person depends a lot of their expenses and emergency expectations. LifeHacker recommends that to calculate what you might need, you can estimate a week’s worth of expenses for food, bottled water, medications and any other necessities for your family.

Silver Preps

Having some money saved in the event of difficult financial times is practical and common sense. Stagnant wages and high inflation have already been making things difficult.

One of the first notions that comes to mind is to having fractional silver on hand for bartering.

“Junk Silver” is the best option for having fractional silver at home. It’s readily available and easy to authenticate. Most importantly, it’s affordable and easy to make regular purchases on a budget.

The coins in everyday circulation minted prior to 1965 were made from 90% pure silver mixed with some copper for durability.

These are coins that are of little interest to most collectors since most will show some wear and tear from circulation .

Each silver half dollar, quarter and dime minted before 1965 has known and verifiable amounts of pure silver and a small amount of copper.

Bag full of Junk Silver Quarters
Pile of junk silver quarters

During the time when silver was still circulating, the coin had real intrinsic value.

Buying 90% junk silver coins is the most practical fractional silver to stack that is hard to counterfeit and simple to authenticate.

Identifying 90% Silver Coins

Visually, you can identify junk silver pretty easily by looking at the rim of the coin. Coin roll hunters often use this trick when searching through boxes of bank rolls.

Weighing the coins is also a simple method to determine genuine junk silver. You will need a scale that measures in either troy ounces or grams.

Most kitchen scales or the herb scale you can get at the local gas station or from Amazon is often sufficient.

The table below shows how many grams of silver contained in each denomination of 90% junk silver:

DenominationFace ValueGross WeightASW
Half Dollar50 cents11.34 grams10.206 grams (.328 ozt)
Quarter25 cents6.25 grams5.625 grams (.1808 ozt)
Dime10 cents2.5 grams2.25 grams (0.0723 ozt)

Each $1 USD of face value yields approximately .715 ozt of silver. So, a $10 Face Value roll of silver quarters has roughly 7.15 troy ounces of pure silver.

Holding onto even a small stack of silver helps to understand the intrinsic value and why it has been used as real money for hundreds of years. We’ve seen in the wake of hurricanes and other natural disasters that debit cards, Apple Pay and ATM machines don’t work when the power grid goes out.

Junk silver is the most logical starting point when it comes to financial prepping with precious metals.

  • It fits all of the characteristics that are important in a SHTF scenario.
  • It is naturally fractional.
  • It is easy to authenticate in the field.
  • It is difficult to counterfeit.

40% and 35% Silver Coins

From 1964 until 1970, the Kennedy half-dollar coin was minted with an alloy that contains 40% silver. Not long ago many investors overlooked these coins because of the reduced silver content. Though 40% Kennedy half dollars can often be found with much lower premiums.

The war nickel was minted during World War II. From 1942 until 1945, nickel was a critical metal needed for the production of tanks and armor for vehicles. The metal used for the coins was reformulated to an alloy containing 35% silver.

1 oz Silver Coins and Rounds

After building a stack of junk silver, the most practical .999 fine silver options are typically 1 oz silver coins, rounds or bars. This weight is very common to find available from online bullion dealers and marketplaces or local coin shops.

As the recession takes hold, one ounce silver coins and rounds have become a popular way to hold an investment in silver.

Many people have similar questions when prepping with precious metals.

What is the difference between a coin and a round?

There is only one single characteristic that distinguishes a silver coin from a silver round.

Coins are minted by governments and are designated as legal tender.

This provides a guarantee that the weight and purity of each coin is minted to the exact specifications as outlined in the law.

For example, the face value on bullion coins such as the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, is one Canadian dollar ($1 CAD). But the intrinsic value is based on silver spot price.

Silver rounds are similar to coins in shape, composition and dimension. They are designed to mimic the feel of coins and have the similar composition and silver purity.

The distinguishing factor is that silver rounds are produced and distributed by private mints and have no legal tender face value. One ounce silver coins and rounds share the exact same intrinsic silver value.

Premiums on silver rounds are lower than coins because of the face value and they have the backing of a trusted sovereign government.

Silver rounds from private mints will typically be less expensive than coins.

Comparing Government Minted Silver Coins

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Modern Silver Coins

Coins are minted by sovereign governments most often for circulating currency and coinage.

Coins are also minted for commemorative purposes. which creates opportunities for both collectors and enthusiasts of the topic being commemorated.

Governments also mint silver coins for investment purposes. These bullion coins can be the solid foundation that investors and stackers know will provide added financial security.

The economy already in a recession, inflation and interest rates are both out of control. Government silver coins can help provide some peace of mind during tough times that lie ahead.

Circulated or Junk Silver Coins

In the United States and Canada, coins minted from silver alloys were in common circulation until the 1960s. Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1965 after the assassination of Kennedy. The Act authorized the debasement of the dollar continued during President Johnson’s Administration. In the early 1970s Nixon removed the US from the gold standard entirely.

All coinage in the United States were minted of an alloy that contained 90% silver until 1964. With with the exception of the penny and nickel. Many of these coins were slowly removed from circulation by savvy savers. Coin roll hunters continue to find silver this way.

Each $1 in face value of circulated junk silver coins contains roughly .715 troy ounces of pure silver. The coins contain an alloy with copper to give it more rigidity and strength to endure day to day handling.

Junk silver is popular amongst investors, preppers and stackers. Circulated 90% silver coins can be bought, sold and traded locally at Pawn Shops, local coin stores, jewelers and “We Buy Gold” stores. However, the best deals can often be found with trusted and reputable online bullion dealers.

Premiums on a random selection of 90% silver coins can vary greatly from dealer to dealer.

Beginning in 1965, the silver alloy content for the 50 cents or half dollar coins was reduced to 40% silver.

Modern 1 oz Silver Bullion Coins

The first modern 1 oz silver bullion coin was the Mexican Onza. The Mexican Onza was first produced by the Mexico City mint in 1949. It would be another 29 years before the next release in 1978.

The more familiar Mexican Libertad coin was first released in 1982.

China introduced the world to the Panda bullion coin series in 1983.

The US Mint introduced the American Eagle silver bullion coin to investors in 1986.

The Royal Canadian Mint added a 1 oz Silver coin to the Maple Leaf series in 1988.

The Perth Mint of Australia produces a variety of silver bullion coins that are perfect for investors and collectors. The first edition of the Kookaburra 1 oz Silver Coin was minted in 1990. The design shows the native bird perched on a log surrounded by the jungle.

Over the last 30 years more and more sovereign governments have issued legal tender bullion coins for investors.

These coins have a legal tender face value. This means that they can be legally be used to pay for everyday goods and services in their respective country. However, the face value is nominal and doesn’t reflect the true intrinsic value of the silver bullion.

Austria Silver Philharmonic Coins

The Philharmonic is often the least considered. However, its history shows that it is one of the best sovereign coins for building a solid stack.

The Philharmonic series includes Platinum, Gold and Silver. The same design is shared coins in this series.

The obverse shows the Musikverein Pipe Organ which stands 36 feet tall and weighs 28 tons. The organ is operated with both manual and electronic controls and has 6,138 pipes. Some of the pipes used in the construction were recycled and reused from an 1872 Ladegast organ.

The reverse shows a variety of orchestral instruments that are part of the Vienna Philharmonic which performs at the Golden Hall.

Random Year Silver Philharmonics are a favorite for investors that keep close track of premiums and dollar-cost average the stack.

South African Silver Krugerrand

The silver Krugerrand bullion coin from South Africa was introduced in 2017 with a special proof finish. Beginning in 2018 the mint began to produce and export these coins with a bullion finish.

The Silver Krugerrand design is derived from the famous gold bullion coin of the same name.

The obverse design features a left facing portrait of Paul Kruger. He was a politician and former President of South Africa who was important in helping the country to gain independence.

Of all the currently minted sovereign coins the silver Krugerrand is often priced the lowest. Make no mistake, these coins are the same purity of eagles but with a much better price.

Secondary Market American Silver Eagles

Investor demand for silver bullion is the highest it has been since the Hunt Brother’s tried to corner the silver market in the 1980s. The premiums for the upcoming release of the 2023 American Silver Eagle coin series are the highest they have ever been in history.

Some investors and stackers insist on only buying sovereign silver coins due to the assurance that comes with government mints. In the secondary market, when Silver Eagles are traded back to a dealer by an investor, they become available to buy, often as a significant discount over newly minted coins.

Many of these coins are backdated silver eagle coins that had been originally sold in the year in which they were minted.

In many cases, these coins may still be in brilliant uncirculated (BU) condition still in the original mint tube. It is most common that these coins will exhibit some type of minor imperfections such as tarnish. They may also include slight fingerprints or maybe some tiny scratches or imperfections from being handled. Each coin will always maintain its intrinsic value.

This does not have any impact on the monetary value or intrinsic value of the gold. Buying previous year silver eagles is one ways investors can save on premiums.

Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins

The Canadian Maple Leaf Silver 1 oz Coin is the number one alternative to the American Silver Eagle Coin. The Silver Maple Leaf coin was introduced by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1988 after much demand from investors.

Since the introduction of the silver coin into this series, the obverse of the coin displays well known portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. With her death in 2022 it is likely that future versions of the coin will be minted with an effigy of King Charles.

The Maple Leaf 1 oz Silver bullion coin is produced from silver that has been refined to the highest levels of purity. The precious metals used for these coins is sourced from Canadian mines and then refined to 99.99% purity (.9999 fineness).

The reverse of the coin has a very simple design of a national symbol of Canada, the sugar maple leaf.

Britannia Silver Coins

The Britannia series began began in 1997 with a fineness of .958 purity. It was a unique silver coin at the time of it debut and most mintages maxed out with 100,000 coins. The 95.8% pure silver is historically referred to as Britannia silver and it is most often used as a component in making musical instruments, particularly the flute and other woodwind instruments.

In 2013 the Royal Mint began minting the Britannia .999 fine silver coin that continues to be produced annually. This was also the same year that future mintages of this coin would be unlimited, allowing for the coins to be manufactured with a “mint on demand” model in place with other sovereign mints.

The obverse side is adorned with a well known portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Since her death in 2022, it is assumed that coins beginning in 2023 will include a portrait of King Charles once his official coronation is complete.

2023 Britannia Silver Coins with the Queen obverse are already available and being shipped by dealers. It’s expected that the premiums will shoot up on these coins when the new effigy is introduced this year.

You can expect that these bullion coins sellout and will become extremely popular with enthusiasts and collectors of Royal Family memorabilia.

The reverse face contains the familiar Britannia mythical female warrior.

Previous year Britannia coins are a popular choice for those looking to buy a low premium 1 oz silver coin. The random year silver Britannia coins are bullion coin that are recognized for their .999 purity and legal tender backing.

Premiums are cheaper on previous year Britannia silver coins. Keep in mind that many bullion coins from the Royal Mint may show some milk spotting.`