Silver**Silver Coins
Silver coins are no longer produced for circulation in the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to find silver coins to buy. Bullion silver coins are available from sovereign mints around the world and a select few private mints contracted to work with foreign reserve banks. These coins range from annual-issue, investment-grade silver bullion coins to limited-edition proof silver coins. There’s no shortage of variety when it comes to buying silver coins. You only have to decide which coins catch your eye and are worthy of your investment!
The average investor prefers to purchase silver coins issued by sovereign mints. These coins are known commodities around the world. Each one features the same weight and metal content with every release year. A central government and/or central bank backs the purity and weight of each, and in most cases issues a nominal face value for the coin even though the value of its silver content outweighs any denominational value. There is great diversity in the silver bullion coin market, with the following coins representing the most popular from mints around the world:
These coins are just a few of the many popular silver bullion coins available for purchase. Remember, silver bullion coins are typically available only in 1 Troy oz weights with .999 or .9999 pure silver content. The coins mentioned above are struck every year in an investment-grade option, making them an ideal annual addition to any portfolio.
With that said, it’s worth noting that many silver bullion coin programs also have proof collectible options. These coins offer the same design as their bullion counterpart but deliver collectible value courtesy of a more visually brilliant design finish and lower, set mintage figures. The Proof American Silver Eagle Coin and the Proof Australian Silver Kangaroo are just two examples of silver bullion coin available in a collectible version as well.
Available with limited mintage figures, gilded silver bullion coins contain a thin layer of 24-karat gold applied to the primary design on the surface of coins. The layer of 24-karat gold is not enough to alter the overall weight of the coin and does not add significant value to the coin based upon its metal content. However, gilded silver bullion coins do have added numismatic value as a result of the visual beauty and low availability. Popular coins such as the American Silver Eagle, Austrian Silver Philharmonic, and Somalian Silver Elephant are all available on an annual basis with a gilded finish. In the case of most of these coins, the gilded layering is applied by a third-party and not the issuing mint.
Another popular means of adding numismatic value to silver bullion coins is the application of a colorized lacquer. This too is typically applied only to the primary design of a coin on one side. For example, Colorized American Silver Eagle Coins feature brilliant hues and the red, white, and blue of the American flag on the image of Walking Liberty. The colorized lacquer does not change the weight of the coin, nor does it impact the silver content in any way. It is simply a means of adding a collectible twist to popular silver bullion coins.
Finally, you’ll find as you shop our silver for sale that there are various silver bullion coin programs issued with beautiful finishes, unique weights, and low mintage figures. The designs in these issues are typically offered for a limited time and can feature as a few as one or two designs in a collection, or offer a robust number of different designs. The following are just a few examples of special issue silver bullion coins:
If you’re looking for a real deal on silver, consider purchasing bulk volumes of former US circulation coin designs. Until 1964, the United States issued all of its circulation silver coins with a 90% silver content. This includes items such as the Barber Coinage (1892-1916), the Mercury Dime (1916-1945), and the Walking Liberty Half Dollar (1916-1947). These coins are often available in bulk linen sacks and showcase signs of wear and tear as they were previously in circulation. No matter the condition of the designs, the coins still contain 90% silver content and are an affordable option for first-time investors in particular.
You’ll also find 40% silver coins available from the United States Mint. Amid rising silver prices in the 1960s, the US Mint briefly issued Kennedy Half Dollar coins with an effigy of President John F. Kennedy using 40% silver content. These were only available from early 1964 to 1969 before cupro-nickel clad coins became the norm in the US.
As you can tell, there are plenty of options to choose from when you buy silver online. If you have any questions about our silver coins, please don’t hesitate to ask. JM Bullion customer service is available to you at 800-276-6508, online using our live chat service, and via our email address.