What To Do Before Buying Silver Bars

Silver has long been valued as a precious metal. Like gold, it has been used as currency for jewellery and decorative items.

Silver bars come in various sizes, from just a few grams to 100 ounces or more. Major mints and refineries produce silver bars of varying purity levels, with 99.9% pure silver being widespread.

These days, many investors purchase silver for its investment value. One popular way to invest in silver is directly buying a silver bar.

If you don’t know what to consider before buying a silver bar, this guide will give you insights into its key factors and helpful tips.

Consider Your Investment Goals

First, think about why you want to buy silver bars. Are you looking to invest long-term, collect silver from different mints, or use the metal to hedge against inflation? Your reasons for buying will help determine what type of silver bars you want.

Those investing for the long haul may want to stick with popular one-ounce to five-ounce silver bars from major mints like the Royal Canadian Mint, PAMP Suisse, and Sunshine Mint. These offer easy liquidity when it comes time to sell.

Collectors may seek out bars from various mints or unique hand-poured silver bars. Those hedging against inflation may want smaller denominations like 1⁄2 ounce or 1⁄4 ounce silver rounds.

Having clear investment goals will help you select the ideal silver bars to fit your needs. Think about why you want to add physical silver bullion and how long you are planning to hold it. This will inform your buying decision.

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Look for Reputable Silver Bar Refineries

Once you know your investment goals, it’s time to look for reputable silver bars from trustworthy mints and refineries. Buyers should stick with well-known government and private mints with a solid bullion industry reputation. These include mints like:

• Royal Canadian Mint
• Perth Mint
• PAMP Suisse
• Sunshine Minting
• Scottsdale Mint
• Johnson Matthey

Lesser-known mints can sometimes have quality control issues or questionable metal sourcing. Third-party vendors may sell counterfeit bars.

To avoid problems, stick with major, reputable mints and assayed silver bars. Silver bars should have markings indicating weight, purity, and the mint’s information. Research any mints you are not familiar with before purchasing.

Popular sizes of silver bars range from 1 troy ounce up to 100 troy ounces. One ounce is the most common size for investment purposes. Ten-ounce and 100-ounce bars may have higher premiums above silver value.

Smaller silver rounds in one-half-ounce to one-quarter-ounce sizes can be a budget-friendly option. Select reputable silver bars that fit your investment plan.

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Store Your Silver Bars Safely

Once you take delivery of your shiny new silver bars, you’ll want to store them safely and securely. Unsecured silver can be a target for theft. Here are some clever storage options:

• In-home safes bolted to the floor or hidden in walls
• Safe deposit boxes at your bank
• Privately owned secure facilities or vaults
• Third-party storage accounts

Avoid keeping silver in obvious places like dresser drawers or closets. Get a heavy, fire-resistant safe with solid security features. Bolting the safe to concrete can deter theft. Keep some silver secure at home and some in an off-site facility for added diversification.

Consider third-party private vault storage. Companies like GoldSilver and SDBullion offer fully segregated silver storage for clients. This allows you to buy and sell without taking physical delivery.

Just be sure to research any storage facilities thoroughly first. Proper silver storage keeps your investment secure.

Know the Silver Spot Price

The silver spot price refers to the current market price per troy ounce traded on commodity exchanges. It fluctuates daily based on supply, demand, and other market forces. Before buying silver bars, you’ll want to check the latest spot price.

You can find the current spot prices through sites like Kitco, APMEX, and JM Bullion. Precious metals dealers also post updated spot prices throughout the day. Bars will sell for a small premium above the prevailing silver spot price at the time of your purchase. However, the underlying silver content is valued at the spot price.

Following the silver spot price trend over time gives you an idea of historical price movements and where today’s prices stand.

Buying when spot prices are lower can maximize what your investment dollars purchase in silver bar terms. However, it isn’t easy to time the silver market perfectly. Consider dollar cost averaging over time to smooth out pricing.

Work With a Trusted Dealer

The final key consideration for buying silver bars is finding a reputable and reliable precious metals dealer. The right dealer will offer:

• Competitive pricing on brands you want
• Secure order platform and shipping
• Responsive customer service
• Access to storage options
• Buyback program to sell coins and bars

Trusted dealers like Money Metals Exchange, SD Bullion, and JM Bullion have served precious metals investors for many years. They offer deep inventories, secured transactions, and storage options across many product types.

Be wary of dealers posting prices way below market rates. This may signal poor quality or counterfeit products. Thoroughly vet any dealer before purchasing to ensure they are legitimate. A trustworthy dealer is critical to buying and selling silver profitably and safely.

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In conclusion

Silver bars offer a smart way to expose physical precious metals to your investment portfolio. But before buying silver bars, you’ll want to consider some critical factors.

Clearly define your investment goals, purchase only reputable silver products, store them securely, follow the silver spot price, and find a trusted dealer. These tips will help you successfully navigate the silver bar buying process.

Owning investment-grade silver bars provides tangible value outside traditional assets like stocks and bonds.

With sound research and education, adding silver bars can be a great way to diversify. Use this advice to weigh your options carefully when buying silver bars.

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