Profiles of the Top 5 Silver Coins

Investing in precious metals doesn’t have to break the bank thanks to silver bullion

Though sometimes considered a second rate metal to gold, silver possesses much of the same historical significance as its more popular yellow precious metal counterpart.

In fact, it can be said that silver is actually even rarer than gold. According to some analysts, there is seven times more gold above ground than silver! Although this may seem like a crazy statement, it makes a little more sense when you think about all of the industrial applications silver is used for—some of which include: electronics, photography, jewelry, solar panels, chemical production, aeronautics, medicine, mirrors, automotive engines, and more.

Yet another great use for silver is as an investment. Silver coins offer investors an affordable way to diversify their portfolio with precious metals.

If you are interested in purchasing silver, consider ordering one of these five popular silver bullion coins to start your collection.

5. “Junk” Silver Coins

When it comes to the easiest and most affordable way to invest in silver, “junk” silver is the answer. Named for their metal property (90 percent silver and 10 percent copper), junk silver coins can be bought at low mark-up levels and come in several denominations: dimes, quarters, and half dollars. The relatively low cost and high historic value of these coins is why they continue to be one of the most popular choices by both silver investors and coin collectors.

4. Silver Chinese Pandas

Everyone loves pandas. Each time a new panda cub is born in an American zoo, there’s a total media circus surrounding the adorable youngster. And in the coin collecting world, a similar frenzy ensues every time a new Panda coin is released. Like the endangered animal always depicted on the coin’s reverse, there are only a limited number of Silver Pandas released by the China Gold Coin Corporation and the People’s Republic of China each year, making them highly valuable to investors.

3. Austrian Philharmonic Silver Coins

Though eclipsed by other popular silver coins here in the US, the Austrian Philharmonic Silver Coin is extremely well-loved by European investors. Minted by the Austrian Mint in Vienna, the Philharmonic coin series celebrates the country’s proud and distinguished musical heritage by celebrating composers like Joseph Haydn and Mozart. These silver bullion coins are ideal for any silver investor who also has a love and appreciation of classical music.

2. Silver Canadian Maple Leafs

Second to just one other silver coin in terms of popularity, Silver Maples have been a staple of the coin collecting world for over 25 years. Each year, the Royal Canadian Mint releases a new version of its classic design – a maple leaf on the reverse (the national symbol of Canada) and a profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse. As Canada’s official silver bullion coin, demand for the Maple Leaf has risen dramatically over the years due to economic uncertainty and the coin’s world renowned purity.

1. American Silver Eagles

As the world’s most popular silver coin, sales for the immensely popular Silver Eagle coins have soared to record highs in the last few years, beating out all other silver coins and rounds. Despite a slow start to 2014, Silver Eagles have been flying off the shelves ever since, surpassing 2013 annual sales by close to 1 million coins by the end of the year. In addition to the other dynamics of the silver market, Silver Eagles boast one major advantage over other similar coins: they are backed by the US government. This factor alone makes the Silver Eagle coin a must-have for any silver collection.

To learn more about these and other top precious metal coins – such as their history, specifications, and denominations – visit our bullion & coin buying guide. Also, be sure to check out our blog for announcements about our latest coin releases.