Best Silver Coins to Buy

Invest in the Best Silver Coins

Top Silver Coins for Investment

In today’s investment universe of cryptocurrencies, futures and shares, having an asset that you can hold in your hand and easily sell is an important part of a well-rounded investment strategy. Once you have chosen the best silver coins to buy, they will be easy to buy, easy to sell and hold their value over an extended period of time.

Since ancient times, silver coins have been a popular form of payment. If you are looking into investing in a timeless asset that has been in circulation for more than 4,000 years, it is worth your while carefully deciding which are the best silver coins to buy.

Why Buy Silver Coins?

There are several reasons to purchase silver coins. Silver, as well as gold, is a long-term hedge against inflation. When inflation was rampant in the 1970’s, the price of silver soared. When markets are volatile, investors prefer something tangible that can easily be converted into cash.

Another reason to purchase silver is as protection against a worst-case scenario, such as a financial meltdown. The purchase of gold coins, because of their higher value, makes it more difficult to dispose of as there will be less demand for gold. In the most basic sense, you would rather pay for food with a silver coin than a gold one.

Types of Silver Coins on the Market Today

When choosing the right type of coin for you, there are several kinds of silver coinage to choose from:

Numismatic coins

These coins have usually been minted for general use as currency and due to their rarity and condition are now sought after by collectors. Their value is determined not by the face value, or their weight in silver, but by their rarity and condition.

One of the most expensive coins in history is the Liberty Head Nickel of which only five made it into circulation. One of these coins was bought for US$3.7 million. Not a bad increase at all!

However, this is quite a specialized field and in order not to lose money on your purchase you need to understand the market and be very wary of counterfeited coins. If you are in any doubt, having a specialist evaluate your coin will be worth your while.

Silver Rounds

“Rounds” are coins that have been minted by private mints and are not backed by a government. This means that rounds are usually more affordable to buy than bullion coins.

A round’s value is based solely on its precious metal content, though there is a small collector’s market for them due to their rarity and design.

Interestingly, to prevent fraud, rounds cannot share the same weight and dimensions of any coin minted in the world.

Silver Bullion Coins

These coins are usually minted by a government mint and are almost pure silver. They are also called “sovereign” coins because they are manufactured and backed by a government mint. Their face value does not reflect the actual value of the coin and is independent of the actual silver content.

Bullion coins sell at a premium over the market price of silver. This premium varies according to the manufacture, storage, and distribution, as well as market demand. If you are going to buy bullion coins, investigate the premium the company charges for the coins and compare it to the price of purchasing directly from the government mint. Some governments do not sell directly to the public, but checking is worth your while.

Bullion coins are divided into standard bullion coins and commemorative coins, which are favored by collectors. Commemorative coins usually celebrate a country’s heritage or famous citizens and are often an interesting history lesson in themselves!

The Best Silver Coins to Buy

Here of some of the best silver coins to buy to start your collection:

1. The American Eagle 1 Oz Silver Coin

Silver Eagle Coins

This coin is the only silver coin that is recognized and backed by the United States government and is considered legal currency in the country.

The design is instantly recognizable by the Walking Liberty on the one side and the United States Heraldic Eagle on the reverse. It is also produced in two other finishes, proof and burnished.

2. Canadian Maple Leaf Silver Coin

Silver Maple Leaf Coins

These coins are amongst the world’s most recognizable silver coins. They were first issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1988. Canadian Maple coins are the purest bullion coins available at 99.99% percent silver.

The reverse image of the coin reflects the iconic Canadian Maple Leaf and as with all legal tender in Canada, the obverse of the coin has an image of Queen Elizabeth II.

These coins are not sold directly by the Royal Canadian Mint and can only be purchased through dealers. Due to their limited mintage, they increase in value faster than the America Eagle.

3. Great Britain Silver Britannia Coin

1 Oz Silver British Britannia Coin

This coin is produced by one of the oldest mints in the world, the Royal Mint and has a face value of 2 GBP. It shows Britannia holding a shield in her left hand and a trident in her right.

The designer, Phillip Nathan, was inspired not by Greek mythology, but Boudicca, queen of the Iceni tribe who revolted against Roman rule in 60 AD.

Since 2013 the Britannia coin is minted with 99.9% silver and in 2017 the Britannia Coin celebrated her 30th anniversary.

4. South African Silver Krugerrand

1 Oz Silver Krugerrand Coin

The South African mint issued the first Silver 1oz Krugerrand in 2017 on the 50th anniversary of the first gold Krugerrand, amid high global expectations. This coin follows the legacy of the gold Krugerrand. There are more gold Krugerrands in circulation than the sum of all other government and private gold bullion coins.

The obverse side of the coin shows the profile of Paul Kruger, the president of the Transvaal Republic when gold was found in 1886, and the reverse depicts the Springbok, the national animal of South Africa.

5. Vienna Philharmonic Silver Coin

Austrian Mint Philharmonic Silver Coin

This is a coin that triumphs over all other coins in terms of beauty and high definition. It is the only coin that is denominated in euros, and thus is a favorite among European investors.

The coin was first issued in 2008 by the Austrian Mint. Since then it has become a huge success and over 54 million units were sold between 2008 and 2012.

One side of the coin depicts instruments played by the Austrian Philharmonic Orchestra, while the obverse reflects the Golden Hall in Vienna, considered one of the finest concert halls in the world.

Conclusion

Silver has been an enduring and constant form of currency across the ages, and until today continues to do so. If you would like an asset that will hold its value over the long term and can quickly be disposed of, one of the best decisions you can make is purchasing silver coins.

If you start your collection with the coins mentioned here, you can slowly increase your silver holdings and be assured that their value will only increase over time.