Silver Bars
Posted on March 26, 2012
Silver bars are the primary vehicle used when investing in silver bullion. Silver bars come in many different weights and are produced by many different companies. The difference between bars and coins is largely found in their premiums over spot. With most bars, save for rarer editions that are collected, the price over spot is going to be relatively minimal per ounce.
Coins, however, can carry added premiums per ounce that range from a few dollars all the way up to hundreds and even thousands of dollars. With silver bars, as well as rounds, your money is going almost exclusively to the pure metal content vs. the collectible value that you will find in other silver items like coins. This is the primary reason why silver bars are most popular among investors.
Sizes of Silver Bars
Silver bars come in many different sizes, with most ranging from 1 oz. to 100 oz. The 1 oz. bars will carry the highest premium over spot per individual ounce, while 100 oz. bars tend to have the lowest mark up over spot per ounce. The difference in pricing for 1 oz. and 100 oz. bars will be dwindled as you increase the quantity of a 1 oz. bar order. In the end, the main function in silver pricing is the number of ounces ordered and not so much the type of silver bought.
1 oz. bars are most frequently found in the portfolios of entry level buyers. With that said, even the biggest owners of silver bullion in the world will own some amount of 1 oz. bars. They are very easy to sell, buy, and trade, are widely available, and are very affordable. Many people will start off with 1 oz. varieties of silver bars to get a feel for what real silver is like. One oz. bars are not going to break the bank and are an ideal way to start investing in silver.
5 oz. bars are the next step up from 1 oz. bars (with the odd 2 oz., 3 oz., etc. bars also floating around), but they are not nearly as in demand as the 10 oz. types. 10 oz. bars are so heavily sought after because they serve as an ideal middle ground between smaller investments (1 oz. and 5 oz.) and very sizable investments (kilo and 100 oz. bars). These bars will also normally carry a somewhat low premium over spot price. If you have the funds available to order 10 oz. of silver and would like to get the most silver content for your dollar, 10 oz. bars would be more logical than 1 oz. bars. If you intend to sell off a fraction of your 10 oz., however, smaller bars would then make more sense.
Silver Bar Mints
Mints from all over the world create and distribute silver bars. Perhaps the most well known minter of silver bars is Engelhard. They are recognized as one of the most reputable and popular brands in the entire bullion industry. The surprising thing about the demand for Engelhard is found in the fact that they have not been in business for over 20 years. The demand for these brand bars is so strong that some of them carry values that rival those of coins. Like coins, some silver owners collect bars as well, especially the rarer editions that are no longer in production.
Aside from Engelhard, there are also many other companies who are known for their silver and gold bars. These mints include, but are most definitely not limited to:
- A-Mark
- Atlantis Mint
- Geiger
- Highland Mint
- Johnson Matthey
- NTR
- OPM Metals
- Royal Canadian Mint
- SilverTowne
- Sunshine
- Valcambi
Aside from the above mentioned brands, there are also countless others though these tend to be the most popular. Many bars that you will run across are going to be stamped with unique images or logos. The only thing that you really need to look for is the weight and purity of the bar. So long as it is .999 and notes the weight, all silver bars are going to be equal in value based on their silver content.
All Market Updates are provided as a third party analysis and do not necessarily reflect the explicit views of JM Bullion Inc. and should not be construed as financial advice.
FAQs
However, exploring JM Bullion revealed a broader range of collections and product offerings. Simply put, the APMEX website allows you to invest in gold, silver, platinum bullion, and rare coins, with various products in each category. On the other hand, JM Bullion also supports investment in palladium and copper items.
Is it good to buy gold from JM Bullion? ›
Is JM Bullion legit? JM Bullion has been in business for over 12 years and has sold over $7 billion worth of precious metals. On its site, there are over 300,000 customer reviews from the past 10 years. All purchases are insured when shipped, so you are covered if anything happens to your package while it's en route.
How to get free shipping with APMEX? ›
APMEX offers free shipping to our customers when you spend over $199†. We have no minimum order requirement; however, orders under $199 will be charged a shipping fee of $9.95.
What is the most trusted place to buy gold and silver? ›
Some of the most trustworthy and well-known gold dealers include JM Bullion, American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX) and American Hartford Gold.
What is the most reputable online gold dealer? ›
The best places to buy gold online
- Best overall: American Hartford Gold.
- Best for investment support: Lear Capital.
- Best buy-back program: Goldco.
- Best metal descriptions: Noble Gold.
Our top picks, listed alphabetically, include American Hartford Gold, APMEX, Goldco, JM Bullion and Orion Metal Exchange.
What is the lawsuit against JM Bullion? ›
Plaintiff Samuel Suk ("Plaintiff") filed this action against defendant JM Bullion, Inc. ("Defendant"), alleging a claim for breach of contract. Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiff's complaint on the ground that he fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
Who is the most reputable gold bullion dealer? ›
Best Online Gold Dealers for May 2024
- Best Overall: APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange)
- Best Customer Experience: JM Bullion.
- Best for Gold Coins: BGASC.
- Best for Buybacks: Money Metals Exchange.
- Best Low-Price Option: SD Bullion.
- Best Reputation: Golden Eagle Coins.
Here are some of the ways you can buy gold cheaply:
- Buy in Bulk. ...
- Consider Investing in Other Forms of Gold. ...
- Look for the Best Deals. ...
- Use a Gold IRA. ...
- Physical Gold. ...
- ETFs. ...
- Mining Stocks. ...
- Gold Futures.
APMEX is required to report certain transactions to the IRS if they meet specific criteria as per the law. For example, cash transactions over $10,000 or precious metals transactions involving particular amounts and types of metals may be reported.
Is APMEX legit? APMEX is not only legit, but after 20+ years in business, they are one of the country's most credible and reliable precious metal exchanges. A team of numismatists who are experts in coins, paper currencies, and precious metals vet APMEX's products.
Is APMEX real silver? ›
Here at APMEX, we spend a great deal of time, money and talent on testing and verifying the authenticity of every single Gold and Silver bar and coin that is purchased on the secondary market.
What does Dave Ramsey say about buying gold and silver? ›
I'd stop investing in gold and silver completely. I don't put money in precious metals at all, because they have a lousy long-term track record. — Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions.
Is it better to buy gold coins or bars? ›
Investment Purpose: If your primary goal is to preserve wealth and invest in a tangible asset, gold bars may be the better choice due to their higher purity and lower premiums. On the other hand, if you have an interest in collecting and appreciate the artistic value of coins, gold coins might be more appealing.
Is Costco a good place to buy gold? ›
Costco is selling the coins at a premium to spot price, but for significantly less than other precious metal sources. Gold isn't the same kind of investment as stocks, mutual funds, and ETFs, but it could still be a wise purchase in some cases.
Which bullion brand is best? ›
What are the best gold bar brands to buy as an investor? Investors should always look towards the most respected, internationally recognized manufacturers when buying gold bars. We recommend PAMP Suisse, The Perth Mint, Valcambi Suisse, The Royal Canadian Mint, and Credit Suisse gold bars.
How trustworthy is APMEX? ›
APMEX customer satisfaction
APMEX has been accredited by the BBB since 2004; however, despite its A+ rating with the BBB, the company has received more customer complaints as a percentage of total reviews than other gold dealers Money has reviewed.
Why is APMEX spot price higher? ›
Spot prices are determined by supply and demand, which may be impacted by various factors including global economic conditions and political instability. In general, when global economic conditions are weak and political instability is high, Gold and Silver spot prices are higher.
Who makes the best gold bullion? ›
So what are some of the best or most popular Gold bars to buy? Some of the best brands of Gold are Pamp Credit Suisse Gold Bars, Johnson Matthey Gold Bars, Perth Mint Gold minted Bars, Valcambi Gold CombiBar, Engelhard Gold Bars, Royal Canadian Mint, and Scottsdale Mint.
