Silver Eagles vs Generic Rounds

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Should I buy Silver Eagles or Generic Rounds?

A lot of beginning investors ask whether they should start buying generic rounds or American Silver Eagle coins. Most people will answer by telling the person to buy generic rounds because they are cheaper and can be bought closer to spot price. While this may at first seem like sound advice, it is more likely to be bad advice.

When considering whether to buy Silver Eagles or generic rounds one needs to consider the “round trip” cost of buying and selling.

Imagine the scenario where spot price is $16.65. Buying random year ASEs might cost $19.00 ($2.35 premium), a generic rounds might cost $17.65 ($1.00 premium).

A dealer is going to buy back ASEs at a higher price than generic rounds. For example, it is fairly common throughout the US that local coin stores will buyback Silver Eagles for around $1.00 over spot. However, most will usually pay $1.00 or so under spot for generic rounds.

If I sold (1) Silver Eagle and (1) generic round back to the dealer when spot was again $16.65. the dealer might buy the Silver Eagle for $17.65. The same dealer might only buy the generic round for $15.65.

The ASE actually “cost” me less when selling. In this case, I lost $1.35 premium I paid for the ASE, but I lost $2.00 on the generic round.

When considering the cost of buying and selling silver it may seem reasonable to buy generic rounds because they can be bought closer to spot. However, factoring in the cost of selling the same bullion, whether Silver Eagles or generic rounds, the cost of selling is less.

1 oz Silver Coins

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2018 American 1 oz Silver Eagle

1 oz silver coins are issued by various government mints around the world and are popular among investors and collectors for their silver content, as well as for their artistic and historical designs.

These silver coins are legal tender in the country they are minted, though their market value based on the silver content far exceeds their face value.

These coins are minted to cater to the demand from investors who invest in physical silver as a hedge against inflation, economic instability, or as part of a diversified investment portfolio. Investors buy 1 oz silver coins because they provide an accessible entry point into physical precious metals due to their relatively low cost compared to gold coins.

With unique and sometimes annually changing designs, these coins also appeal to collectors, attracting not only investors but also coin enthusiasts. Minting 1 oz silver coins allows countries to showcase their cultural heritage, national symbols, or commemorate significant events and figures.

Popular government bullion coins, such as the American Silver Eagle and the Austrian Silver Philharmonic are only minted in the standard 1 oz silver coin size. While larger size coins are available from other mints, they require a larger initial investment.

  • Compare the premium for different coins.
  • Coins with lower premiums are more cost-effective for pure investment purposes and as a store of value.
  • Coins from established, reputable mints are more trusted in terms of purity and quality.

Consider how easily the coin can be sold. Popular coins like the American Silver Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf are recognized worldwide and are more liquid.

For some investors, the joy of collecting and the aesthetic appeal of a coin are also important considerations. Remember that some coins might carry a higher premium due to collectibility, design, or other factors.

US Mint American Eagle 1 oz Silver Coins

2023 American Eagle 1 oz Silver Coin Obverse

The US Mint first issued the American Eagle 1 oz Silver coin in 1986 as a trusted store of value for investors. For more than 37 years,

Research and Continuous Learning

As with any investment, it is important to stay informed trends in the precious metals market, historical values of coins and new issues. It can be helpful to join online forums, such as /r/Silverbugs on Reddit and engage with other collectors and investors can help provide valuable insights.

There are following news sites that specialize in news related to the precious metals industry and the numismatic industry.

Larger Silver Coin Denominations

Some governments issue coins in larger denominations and weights. For example, the Mexico Silver Libertad is released every year in multiple sizes, as are several of the annual series’ from the Perth Mint. The sizes include full troy ounce weights including: