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Quick Glance Compare Silver Prices chart

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Some users have suggested that we provide a quick one page summary of some of the top silver bullion items. Based on users’ feedback we built a one page quick glance compare silver prices chart.

The chart features some of the most sought after and top searched silver bullion items.

Across the top of the chart we have the silver bullion items. The items displayed are based on the popularity of a wide variety of products here on the site. Those products are:

  • American Silver Eagle coins, both random year and 2018
  • Generic Silver 1 oz rounds
  • Random year Silver Canadian Maple Leaf coins
  • Random year Austria Philharmonic coins
  • $10 Face Value Junk circulated coinage
  • Generic 5 troy ounce silver bars
  • and generic 10 troy ounce silver bars

This page consolidates 8 of our top products into a single page that allows you to find the lowest price for any of these items at a quick glance. The lowest price across 12 reputable and trusted dealers is highlighted in green making it easy to find.

The dealers in the list carry most of the top products with a couple small exceptions, and when items are out of stock a price will not be displayed.

The list of dealers includes:

  • APMEX
  • BOLD Precious Metals
  • Monument Metals
  • Golden Eagle Coins
  • BGASC
  • Bullion Exchanges
  • SD Bullion
  • Provident Metals
  • Silver Gold Bull
  • JM Bullion
  • Silver.com
  • and Money Metals Exchange

Check out the quick glance compare silver prices page and let us know what you think.

Don’t forget to check out the current silver at spot price deals that are available as well.

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NGC Certifies Rare 2016 Silver Eagle Die Clash Error

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2018 American 1 oz Silver Eagle

A collector recently submitted a unique and rare example of an American Silver Eagle mint error coin to NGC for certification.

NGC has confirmed that the error on this coin is due to a die clash.

A die class occurs when the obverse and reverse parts of the die come together without a planchet between them. In some circumstances part of each side of the die is transferred to the other side. This causes part of the reverse to be imprinted on the obverse, and a vice-versa.

Subsequent coins that are struck after the die clash will show signs of the die clash.

According to CoinWeek.com NGC has certified around 20 coins showing less severe die clash errors for the 2017 mintage and even fewer of previous mintages.

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Buying silver online, How to choose bullion dealers

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silver rounds

Some frequent questions new precious metals investors ask are :

  • Which online bullion dealer is the best?
  • Which online bullion dealer has the best prices?
  • Which online bullion dealers are reputable?
  • Does anyone have experience ordering from XYZ dealer?

Choosing which online bullion dealers to order from can be confusing for those just getting started in precious metals.  It’s important to trust the online bullion dealers that you buy from because there have been a lot of well publicized scams and there are lots of counterfeit products floating around out there.

How do you choose which bullion dealer to buy from?

There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing which online bullion dealers to buy from. All of the major, reputable online bullion dealers carry many of the same products. Oftentimes, the pricing on what is the exact same product vary greatly from dealer to dealer.

Reputation and Trustworthiness

The best way is to conduct thorough online research to identify well-known bullion dealers. Look for established dealers with a solid reputation in the industry. You can research customer reviews, ratings, and testimonials on trusted review websites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau and FindBullionPrices.com. There are also many existing threads on online forums and social media platforms like /r/SilverBugs and others on Reddit.

Pay attention to feedback regarding reliability, order processing times, shipping times, customer service, and overall customer satisfaction. Verify that the dealer accepts your chosen payment method. Many will have minimum order amounts for wire transfers and some other payment methods. Crytpo payments are an option for some dealers as well, making it easy to exchange digital tokens for physical metals.

Consider dealers with a history of transparent and ethical business practices.

Customer Service

How dealers handle issues that arise is one of the biggest differentiators in how to choose which bullion dealers are best for you. Some questions to ask yourself when evaluating

  • Does the dealer have a track record of handling complaints and responding quickly to even minor inquiries?
  • Does the dealer have open inquiries with the Better Business Bureau?
  • What’s the dealer’s TrustPilot rating?

Product Selection

Online bullion dealers will carry a wider product selection than your local coin store. The product selection offered by online dealers will always include a wider selection of sovereign government bullion coins from numerous countries in addition to a large volume of generic silver bars and rounds in many sizes and weights.

Once you’ve identified a reputable dealer, browse their online inventory to explore the silver products available. Look for different types of silver, such as coins, bars, or rounds, and consider factors like weight, purity, and design to find the products that best suit your preferences and investment goals.

Pricing and Dealer Premium

Pricing and dealer premium are important factors to considered when choosing which online bullion dealers to buy from. When you buy silver and gold bullion, you are likely buying it as an investment or as a way of storing wealth or saving money for the future.

No matter what reasons you have that lead you to buy silver bullion, price will almost always be a top factor. The amount you pay above the current spot price when you buy silver is called the “dealer premium”. This is the markup that the dealer charges that will cover the dealer’s overhead costs, the dealer profit and in cases of free shipping, the shipping charges. The dealers that offer free shipping with a low minimum order typically have higher per piece premiums which can be of particular to note when making bulk purchases.

You always want to pay the lowest possible premium over spot price when you buy silver. In most cases, the spot price will have to rise higher than the price that you paid, including the dealer premium in order to profit from your investment.

Prices on precious metals are relatively stable and rise and fall slowly over time. It can take months or years before the spot price rises to an amount above what you paid in order to turn a profit on your investment, if that is one of your goals. The lower the dealer premium on the items that you buy the faster your investment becomes profitable.

Some items, such as American Silver Eagle coins will always cost more than silver spot price. One reason for this is because the US Mint charges wholesalers and dealers a premium over spot price in order to cover the cost of production and distribution. That premium gets baked into the cost is always past along to investors.

The US Mint has been experiencing ongoing production problems that began during the pandemic with supply chain shutdowns. In recent months, it’s been reported that the procurement of raw planchets continues to be an issue for the mint. The mint has been unable to keep up with the demand from investors, which has resulted in higher wholesale premiums and market prices.

Part of this premium can be recovered when selling Silver Eagles as dealers tend to pay above spot price. But you can’t always count on that.

Buying Silver Online

One of those deals is from Money Metals Exchange. They have a silver starter kit that comes with both a random year American Silver Eagle and a random year Canadian Silver Maple Leaf. The kits also comes with a one Troy ounce generic silver round, plus a half ounce fractional round and five 1/10th ounce fractional rounds. Together this starter kit comes with 4 Troy ounces of silver, including the two premium government bullion coins. Money Metals Exchange ships the starter kit for free.

The Money Metals Exchange silver starter kit price does fluctuate with the silver spot price.

This silver starter kit includes high premium government minted silver bullion, and 6 fractional silver rounds. With free shipping included it’s hard to pass up this offer at such a great price.

There are only a handful of wholesale bullion dealers in the country, most of the online bullion dealers are buying from the same sources. For the most part, they are also paying the same prices. Some of the larger dealers may get volume discounts, those may be offered as discounts to their customers.

Placing an Order with an Online Bullion Dealer

Once you’ve selected the dealer and the silver products you wish to purchase, add them to your cart. Most dealers will lock in the spot price that is used to calculate the order total for a few minutes while you continue browsing.

When you’re ready to check out, review your order in the cart to ensure accuracy and check the total cost. Verify the spot price, the lock-in time remaining, any applicable state sales taxes and shipping fees. Proceed to the checkout page and provide the required information, such as your shipping address and payment details.

Follow the instructions provided to complete the purchase. Verify all the details before finalizing the transaction. Some dealers may require additional steps, such as identity verification for larger purchases, as part of their compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.

After completing the purchase, you’ll receive an order confirmation screen followed by an email that will contain the order details. The dealer will then process your order and prepare it for shipment. Depending on the dealer and your location, shipping times may vary. Most dealers will provide you with notification of when your order ships and a tracking number may be provided.

Once your silver order arrives, carefully inspect the package for any signs of damage or tampering. Ensure that the contents match your order. If you have any concerns, contact the dealer immediately.

Sales Tax Varies by State

The reasons for states charging sales tax on bullion can vary. Some states have chosen to exempt bullion purchases from sales tax as a way to promote precious metals investing and attract bullion buyers. The specific sales tax policies on bullion vary from state to state, so it is advisable to consult the tax laws of your specific jurisdiction or seek professional advice regarding tax implications for bullion purchases.

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Reasons to Buy Junk Silver

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90% junk silver coins

Junk Silver Coins

Junk Silver Coins is a common term that refers to circulated coinage that was minted with silver. In the United States, coinage containing silver was in common circulation prior to 1965.

Silver bullion was used in the minting of all dimes, quarters, half-dollars and dollar coins before 1965. The silver in these coins is 90% pure silver. Nickel coins that were minted from 1942 to 1945 contained 35% silver content because the other metals were needed for the military efforts in World War II. The Kennedy Half-dollar coins minted between 1965 and 1969 were minted with 40% silver.

Together, these coins minted with 90%, 40% and 35% silver content are commonly referred to as junk silver because of their intrinsic value.

Why buy junk silver?

  • Junk is real, genuine bullion. Each $1 face value of 90% junk silver contains .715 troy ounces of silver. Junk silver is commonly recognized as real silver. It is something that has been commonly accepted based on its intrinsic worth.
  • Unlike other forms of bullion, Junk Silver is not commonly subjected to counterfeiting like other forms of silver. Junk silver does not have any numismatic value to collectors. It is collected as a store of value purely for the silver content. It is easy to buy junk silver.
  • Junk silver is fractional silver and is easily dividable. It doesn’t carry the same premiums as other fractional silver bullion. Junk silver can easily be split up and sold or traded if it becomes necessary. It can make bartering and trading for goods and services much easier than other forms of silver and gold bullion because of its fractional nature.
  • Junk silver has never been subject to government confiscation. In 1933 President Roosevelt ordered all gold coins held by citizens to be seized by the government. Those who failed to do so were subject to criminal penalties, fines and prison. When copper-clad coinage was introduced in 1965 many people hoarded the 90% silver coins.
  • Junk silver is easy and convenient to store and doesn’t require any special holders, containers or method of storage. It can be stored like any coinage and many investors keep them in standard paper bank rolls.
  • Junk silver carries a lower premium over spot price than other silver or gold bullion products. The price of junk silver is based purely on the silver content. With each $1 face value containing .715 troy ounces of silver.
  • Most coin dealers, pawn shops or other places that trade in silver bullion will often have bags of junk silver available for sale. Bags containing $100 face value or $1000 face value are common. For making smaller buys as a way to store wealth, smaller increments can easily be found. Many dealers sell $5 face value rolls of silver dimes, or rolls of quarters containing $10 face value. It is easy to buy junk silver any time you have extra money.
  • Junk silver with a lower silver content, such as war nickels (35% silver content) and Kennedy half-dollars from 1965 to 1969 (40% silver content) can often be bought for less than spot price. Some investors consider the lower silver content less desirable than other forms of bullion, which can lead to significantly lower premiums.
  • Junk silver is easy to liquidate and sell. Just as junk silver is readily available and easily bought, it can also be sold just as easily. Any local coin shop, pawn shop will readily buy junk silver in the event you need to sell it.
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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.

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Where to buy silver

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shipping silver bullion

Why Buy Silver Online

When looking your options for buying physical silver bullion, you can buy locally from a local coin store, an individual, a pawn shop or other retail location, or you can purchase from an online bullion retailer. There are pros and cons of each and you will need to make the choice for what’s best in your situation. In our experience we have found it best to buy silver online.

We recommend buying silver bars online for the following reasons:

  • No Sales Tax – In most states, one of the best benefits of buying online is that most online dealers will not charge sales tax on silver bullion unless. This isn’t always the case and will depend on which state you reside. However, in states where precious metals are subject to sales tax, local retails, coin shops and pawn shops may be required to charge and collect sales tax on silver bars and rounds.
  • Wider Selections – Local coin shops, pawn shops and other local retailers often have limited capital and will carry inventory of items that they know sell well. Online retailers will often have a wider selection of products. While your local pawn shop may have only a few silver bullion items in stock that they purchased from other customers, online dealers carry hundreds of popular and limited mintage silver rounds, silver bars and other silver bullion products.
  • Lower Prices – Local retails have high overhead items such as store front, local advertising, limited amounts of space to carry inventory, etc. Online retailers will almost always beat the price of your local dealer. Many online silver bullion dealers will include free shipping and insurance when the purchase meets a certain threshold.
  • Discrete Shipping – The majority of the major online dealers ship in discrete packaging which gives no inclination of the valuables inside. Shipments are insured against being lost or stolen.
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Buy Silver with Bitcoin

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Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have had a wild ride over the past year. Down more than 70% from it’s highs, the future of bitcoin as a viable security and cryptocurrency is still a risky investment. Now is a great time to buy silver with bitcoin profits.

Many online silver and gold bullion dealers have begun accepting bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a payment method. Many are using bitpay as the gateway.

The list of dealers that are accepting bitcoin or cryptos as payment continues to grow. We keep an updated list of online bullion dealer payment methods.

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Generic Silver Rounds : Best Places to Buy Silver Rounds

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silver rounds

Silver rounds are privately minted silver bullion that comes in the shape of a coin. Silver rounds are not legal tender such as silver coins that are minted by sovereign governments. Silver rounds are shaped similar to a coin and can come in a variety of weights from fractional sizes up to kilo. The most common size Silver Round is 1 troy oz.

Silver rounds are easily stacked and can be stored in rolls or tubes. In general, tubes of silver rounds will hold 20 rounds. Storing silver rounds in tubes is a convenient way to store, stack and ship silver rounds.

Silver bullion rounds can come in a wide variety of designs. Some silver rounds are very plain and generic with no real design other than the logo from the mint. Other silver rounds have very intricate designs and can become highly collectible on their own.

Are Silver Rounds as Good as Coins?

  • Silver rounds can be bought from any online bullion dealer for a very low premium over silver spot price
  • Premiums over spot price on silver rounds will be lower than those of sovereign government bullion coins
  • The value of each silver round is based on their weight in troy ounces and is based solely on silver spot price
  • Silver 1 oz rounds are a convenient size for stacking and can easily be traded or bartered if SHTF
  • Silver rounds come in a variety of weights, from fractional rounds as small as 1 gram, to large sizes up to a kilo
  1. You can buy silver rounds in a wide variety of sizes ranging from one troy ounce to kilo. One ounce Silver Rounds are the most popular
  2. Each silver round coin contains one full troy ounce of pure (.999) silver. Each round will be stamped with the weight and purity.
  3. It has a purity of .999 fine silver
  4. They are minted by private mints and are not valid as legal tender

Varieties of Silver Rounds:

Silver bullion rounds are minted by numerous private manufactures. Some of the private mints will brand each round with their logo while sound will have a generic design. Some of the more popular private mints include Sunshine Mint, Republic Metals Corporation (RMC), Silvertowne. Silver Rounds from these established private mints are popular amongst stackers and investors. Some privately minted Silver Rounds, such as those by Sunshine Mint, incorporate security features that are designed to thwart counterfeiting attempts.

Generic silver rounds may be produced by other private mints as well, including some that may no longer exist. In some cases, vintage silver rounds can be highly collectable and carry a significant premium over other generic silver rounds.

Some private manufacturers produce silver rounds that are intended to be collectibles and carry a higher premium such as the Privateer Series from Elemetal.

Most Valuable Silver Rounds:

Engelhard Silver Prospectors is the one ounce silver round that is most sought after by collectors. It was minted by Engelhard but has not been produced since 1988. This silver round is difficult to obtain and occasionally can be purchased on the secondary market.

Best Dealers to Find Silver Rounds

Silver rounds can be bought from any online bullion dealer. They are one of the most common precious metals investments and will have the lowest premium over spot price. We track the prices of generic silver rounds from over 25 of the most trusted and reputable online bullion dealers.

Pricing of silver rounds will vary amongst dealers. When you buy silver rounds be sure to look for volume discounts that some dealers offer. Purchasing in quantities of 10 or more ounces usually includes a discount on the dealer premium and may include free shipping.

Best All Around

Golden Eagle Coins provides the best overall value in terms of customer service, pricing and free shipping. They carry  1 oz Silver Rounds from a variety of leading manufacturers with a number of different designs available. The best value is their Random Manufacturer Generic Silver Rounds. These rounds will be dealers choice and may include new and secondary market silver rounds. Each will contain 1 troy ounce of pure .999 silver. Golden Eagle Coins has been in business since 1974 provides free shipping on all orders over $99.

Best for Quantity Orders

SD Bullion has been in business since XXXX. They carry a wide variety of generic silver rounds at the lowest premiums over spot price. For orders that are less than $2,500 they charge a small shipping fee which will increase the overall price per silver round.

Silver Bullion Rounds Summary

Silver bullion rounds are the most affordable, easy to store investment you can make in precious metals. They provide an excellent opportunity for anyone interest in precious metals investment to get started with silver bullion.

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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: