Best Place to Buy Silver: A Guide

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Investing in precious metals has never been easier, all thanks to the internet. Nowadays, everything is available at the push of a button, making many people eager to set up shop and offer gold, silver, and platinum trades all across the US.

In a sea of options, finding the best place to buy silver can be a difficult task. There are so many websites that trade in this precious metal that it’s overwhelming. We’ll guide you through the best-known places for purchasing and selling silver, as well as teach you the ropes of precious-metal trading.

Why Invest in Silver

It’s not uncommon to see silver getting overlooked in favor of gold, at least when it comes to investing in precious metals. However, silver has proven to be a very wise investment choice. Here are just a few reasons you should consider investing in silver, as opposed to other investment opportunities.

Silver is more affordable than gold, which makes it a more accessible investment. A lower starting price means more people can get in on it, and you’ll be able to purchase higher quantities of silver than gold. However, it also works great if you just want small quantities, say, as a gift for your significant other.

Additionally, silver is more versatile than gold—it has a wider range of industrial applications. For example, silver is often used in jewelry and coins, but it’s also a good conductor of heat and electricity, making it an important material for electrical components and solar panels.

As a result, investing in silver online can be a wise choice for those who are looking to diversify their portfolio or protect their assets against inflation. While the price of silver can be volatile, over the long term, it has tended to outperform other asset classes such as stocks and bonds.

Finally, silver is also relatively easy to store and transport, which makes it logistically simpler to invest in than other precious metals. Don't overlook this valuable metal—it may just be the key to achieving your financial goals.

What to Look for When Buying Silver Online

When you're looking to buy some silver, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind to get the best deal possible. In this section, we'll go over some important steps to take to become a successful buyer. There are plenty of scams out there, after all, so arming yourself with knowledge will give you the upper hand.

Types of Silver

Silver is a versatile metal that has a wide range of applications, which is why a lot of people want to invest in silver online. It is distinguished from other metals by its grayish-white color, which comes from its high reflectivity.

Silver is also relatively soft and malleable, making it easy to work with. In addition, silver has high thermal and electrical conductivity. These properties make it ideal for use in electrical engineering and electronics.

However, this metal is also prized for its aesthetic value: Silver jewelry and cutlery are valued for their beauty and luster.

Like with any precious metal, there are several types of silver, each with its own unique set of properties. These are called alloys, and they each contain different amounts of silver. Pure silver doesn't exist in nature, so the quality and type of silver are represented by a numerical value called millesimal fineness.

The most common type of silver is sterling silver, which contains 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper. This alloy is used in the production of various items, from jewelry to flatware.

The United Kingdom started using it in the 12th century, followed by its numerous colonies. The alloy is the most prone to tarnishing due to the high amount of copper. Sterling silver has a fineness of 925.

Another type of silver is Britannia silver—a 95.8% pure silver and 4.2% copper mix. You'll most likely find this alloy in high-quality coins and medals. The oldest pieces of this silver date to the 17th century and this alloy's fineness is graded at 958.

Companies that sell silver, on the other hand, mostly focus on fine silver. This is an alloy with 99.9% or higher silver content, with a fineness of 999. It can be minted into coins and bars, as well as bullets. This is what most people are trading in and collecting nowadays, alongside vintage coins and other rarities.

Lastly, there is so-called “junk” silver or coin silver. It’s not really “junk”—the name merely refers to old, worn-out coins made of 90% silver alloy. Most online bullion dealers stock them for their collector value and as a lower-priced entry into the silver collecting hobby.

Aside from the quality of silver, some collectibles affect the value of this metal. Many collectors focus on rarities and limited series mints. For silver, this is called a "round"—a privately minted collection of coins with an intricate design.

These coins have a fineness of 999 and are traded just like any other commodity. If a collection becomes particularly popular, its price may rise more than the value of the silver it’s made of.

Seller Reputation

Websites for buying silver may not be what they claim to be, so keep your eyes peeled for fraudsters in this market. When you encounter a new silver dealership, checking how long the website has been around should be your first course of action.

Building a reputation is a long process, so the sellers that have been around for several years or decades are not likely to be in the business of scamming their customers.

Additionally, you can look up the company on various user review platforms like TrustPilot, BBB, and ShopperApproved. Even a simple Google search can net you informative results and expose any possible issues with the place you were looking to purchase silver from.

People who have had a bad experience with a seller won’t buy silver coins at the same place again and will likely alert others.

The last part of the verification process is checking whether there’s a physical address associated with a dealer.

This information is usually available in the website’s footer or contact page, where you should also be able to locate a customer support phone number. That’s another way to verify the dealer by yourself: Just call them or, if you can, visit the office to ensure they are 100% legitimate.

Products and Services

This is a highly competitive market, so every company is fighting to become the best place to buy silver and, therefore may offer something others don’t. It could be anything-from limited collections and unusual items to shares in silver mining companies and individual retirement accounts (IRA).

Of course, it’s up to you whether you’d rather just purchase physical coins and bars or seek investment opportunities.

Many stores also offer various additional products alongside pure silver. Those can be accessories for displaying your items, like capsules and boxes, or simple bullion bags. The same places that sell bullion also offer storage services to safeguard your investment.

Of course, if you decide to have your silver shipped out to you, check whether the store offers any free shipping plans for larger purchases - oftentimes you’ll get your order delivered for free if you spend $199 or more.

The Best Place to Buy Silver: Our Selection

These are some of the trusted online platforms for buying silver in 2024:

BGASC

BGASC, an acronym for Buy Gold and Silver Coins, is a website with a self-explanatory name. Its main commodities are silver coins of all kinds, including US-minted American Silver Eagles and various international coins and silver rounds.

Aside from coins, you can also purchase silver bars and jewelry, as well as custom-made poured silver items. Need a sheriff star, miniature skull, or LEGO brick made out of silver? Chances are you’ll be able to find them at BGASC.

Every item on BGASC is cataloged to the finest detail, including exact dimensions, minting year, and whether it’s IRA approved. The website doesn’t have a pre-set minimum number of coins you can order, making it one of the top sites for purchasing silver in small quantities.

The price per coin goes down the more you purchase in a single order, even more so if you pay by check or wire transfer, though the minimum order is set at $500 for check payments and $3,000 for wire transfers. Shipping is charged at a flat rate of $9.95 per order or is free if your order is worth at least $5,000.

In our experience, it’s best to make purchases using your credit card at BGASC. The site accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover cards. If you decide to use your card, you’ll also be required to link your PayPal account, as the dealer uses your PayPal address for both verification and shipping.

APMEX

APMEX is widely considered the best place to buy silver bullion. Founded in 2000, it’s now one of the largest online investment stores in the United States, not just within the specialized silver trading space. The store’s tagline is “investments you can hold,” and it does stay true to this premise.

The selection at APMEX currently counts 20,000 items. The website trades in silver, gold, platinum, and palladium, as well as jewelry, stocks, and bonds. You can shop by mint, browse various popular series, or pick and choose among licensed products, hand-poured silver, and junk silver collections.

When the user hovers over an item, the price-per-unit and any discounts will be shown, alongside the option to quickly add the item to the cart. The site features very detailed information about the items it sells, which is useful when you want to learn more about special collections.

However, APMEX isn’t just a place for buying silver. It’s also a place to learn all about silver and investment opportunities. You’ll find various guides on the site, including how-to articles and market reports, so you can make an informed purchase.

Speaking of purchasing, APMEX accepts credit cards, PayPal, checks, wire transfers, and even BTC payments. On top of that, you’ll score free shipping whenever you order for at least $199, and there’s a loyalty club with even bigger discounts.

JM Bullion

For over a decade, JM Bullion has been the online bullion dealer of choice for many people looking to buy some silver. Beginner silver investors particularly like this website due to its investing guides and comprehensive blog section with useful tutorials. Of course, seasoned buyers will find a lot to like about this website, too.

JM Bullion offers silver in all shapes and sizes. From coins and bars to statues and bullets, you’ll find it all in one place. An exciting part of the shop is the themed/gift section, with various pop-culture icons (e.g. the James Bond, Star Wars, and Star Trek series) and even cryptocurrencies minted as silver coins.

The JM Bullion mobile app is a handy way to purchase silver online while traveling or from the comfort of your favorite sofa. Order silver for over $199, and shipping is free, although this company does not offer international shipping. Even if you order lower quantities of silver, you won’t have to pay much to get it shipped—just $7.99 per order.

Kitco

Kitco, one of the oldest companies in the silver trade business, is a site for veteran traders. Its operations cover silver, gold, and platinum, as well as cryptocurrencies and futures. The home page has several live trackers for precious metals, allowing visitors to quickly decide on their next investment.

As an online silver dealer, Kitco doesn’t lack variety, although it’s a bit more difficult to browse due to its outdated design. On the plus side, the site does have certain exclusive and unusual items, making it a great place to purchase gifts. It even includes some gift ideas for baby showers, weddings, and anniversaries.

At Kitco, you can also rent allocated storage for your precious metals with a global selection of storage locations, including Canada, the Cayman Islands, and Hong Kong.

Silver.com

A standout among stores specializing in selling silver, the Silver.com website offers an impressive collection of coins. Designed for easy navigation, this site is probably the most streamlined of all the online silver dealers reviewed here. Decide if you want silver or gold products, and you’ll get a full list of available goods.

Although its selection can’t match sites like APMEX, Silver.com still offers around 1,000 silver items. These include certified coins from around the world, silver bars, statues, and colorized collectible coins. One interesting item is shipwreck silver—bars made of silver from an excavated World War II vessel.

To pay for your order, you can use all sorts of payment methods, including several cryptocurrencies. Like several other sites we looked at today, Silver.com offers free shipping on orders over $199 and discounts for certain payment methods.

SD Bullion

When talking about the best place to buy silver online, we can’t exclude SD Bullion. Founded in 2012 by the owners of the SilverDoctors.com website, this company runs under the premise of offering the lowest possible prices to its buyers.

Item variety is SD Bullion’s biggest selling point. You’ll find all the highly traded silver coins, various limited series, and some oddities here and there.

There is a particularly neat selection of antique coins, as well as randomly selected bags of coins. Also, if you’re hunting a werewolf, SD Bullion mints silver bullets of various quality, going up to .50 cal.

This store is mostly known for its flash sales, located in the Doc’s Deals section. However, if you’re an investor, there are some better places to invest in silver than this site. Its main strength really is selling and buying.

Luckily, SD Bullion operates globally, and you can use a variety of payment methods to order silver here. Customers from the US also get the benefit of free shipping if their orders are worth over $199.

Money Metals Exchange

Money Metals Exchange was founded in 2010 and has become well known in the world of silver trade for its aggressive pricing. The company now offers various goods and services, including a monthly investment plan for those who want to keep their savings in precious metals.

This is also a great starting point if you’ve yet to buy your first piece of silver. Choosing between so many coins can be overwhelming, and Money Metals Exchange has several starter kits to help beginners.

The silver kit comes with nine popular coins that all top sites for buying silver recommend buying. If investments are what interests you more than coins, a whole section of the site is dedicated to IRAs, including a scholarship program.

Silver Gold Bull

Silver Gold Bull has been in the silver business since 2009, receiving hundreds of thousands of five-star reviews from customers. It’s a great site for all your precious metal needs, including storage options, investment opportunities, and regular trading.

The site has an impressive silver portfolio, consisting of coins, bars, bullets, and various collectibles. It’s the best place to purchase silver if you’re looking for something more than coins.

There are sections dedicated to silver rounds, rarities, and antique coins. Even better, the navigation is straightforward, and you won’t need to waste your clicks checking the bulk pricing either.

Silver Gold Bull, like several other dealers we have mentioned, also offers IRAs and wholesale buying for customers that want to keep their investments in silver instead of pure cash. Shipping is free for orders over $199, and you can pay with credit cards, checks, PayPal, wire transfers, or BTC.

Bottom Line

As you can see, there are many great places for buying silver today. With the global market moving towards assets and commodities as a way for long-term investment, silver proved to be a great alternative to opening savings accounts in banks. It doesn’t matter if you buy it in coins, bars, or even bullets: It is an investment worthy of its price.