What is silver bullion? It’s physical silver valued by its weight and purity, sold in coins, bars, or rounds. The price tracks how much silver is in the piece, not the design or who made it.
Here, we cover the forms of silver bullion, the types you can buy, and how to get started.
Silver bullion means silver in a form used for investing or storage of value. This includes bars, rounds, or certain coins, that have high purity.
What is silver bullion?
Silver bullion is investment-grade silver priced on its metal content. A one-ounce .999 fine bar or coin is worth its silver whether you buy it from a mint or sell it anywhere in the world. Bullion comes in bars, rounds, and coins. Each has a high purity and a price that tracks the silver market.
Silver coins vs. silver bars
Silver coins come from government mints and carry legal tender status. Silver bars come from mints or private refineries like PAMP Suisse or Valcambi.
Coins like the American Silver Eagle have higher premiums because you’re paying for the government guarantee and the recognition, which makes them easy to resell. Bars can have lower premiums since they don’t have specialized designs and are more like buying in bulk.
In 2025, 97.6% of Swiss America’s customers chose coins over bars, but the choice between the two really comes down to your personal preference.
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What are the best silver bars to buy?
The best silver bars come from established refiners like PAMP Suisse and the Royal Canadian Mint. A quality bar shows four things:
- Weight
- Purity
- Refinery hallmark
- Serial number
You can buy bars in sizes from one ounce up to 100 ounces. Larger bars usually have lower premiums per ounce, so they give you more silver for your money when you buy in volume. Check out our weight guide for more details on the various sizing options.
What are the best silver coins to buy?
The most popular silver coins for investing are the American Silver Eagle and the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf. Both contain one troy ounce of fine silver and are backed by their government mints.
Government coins are recognized worldwide, which makes them easy to sell when needed. In our experience, coins are more popular, and 97.6% of Swiss America customers chose coins over bars in 2025. We have deeper guides on the top coins and whether silver coins are a good investment.
Silver rounds vs. coins
Silver rounds look like coins but come from private mints, so they don’t have legal tender status or government backing. They carry lower premiums than official coins. You can tell the difference by looking at:
- Government mint: Coins list the issuing government; rounds do not.
- Face value: Coins list their face value; rounds do not.
Silver for survival and emergencies
If there’s an emergency world crisis scenario and you need to use silver bullion for trading, the most useful silver is junk silver coins and one-ounce silver coins. Junk silver is pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars made with 90% silver. Examples include Mercury or Roosevelt dimes.
How to buy silver bullion
You can buy silver from online dealers, local coin shops, government mints, and established precious metals dealers. Look for a reputable dealer who has been in business for decades, shares the pros and cons of silver investing, and has a buy-back option if you ever need to sell.
Here, we share more of what to look for in a gold and silver bullion dealer:
To learn more about adding silver to your portfolio, connect with the Swiss America team today!
What is silver bullion? FAQs
Is silver bullion a good investment?
Silver bullion can fit a portfolio as a physical asset you own outright and can sell worldwide. We’ve also been in a silver deficit for the last six years, and the limited supply creates rising prices. The benefits of silver include:
- Industrial demand: Silver has demand beyond investors and is used heavily in solar panels and electronics.
- Lower entry point: It costs far less per ounce than gold, so you can start with a smaller amount.
- Portfolio fit: Most advisors recommend keeping 5-15% of a retirement portfolio in precious metals.
How much do I need to start buying silver?
You can buy a single silver coin or a small bar for a premium over the current spot price of ... per ounce. If you decide to buy silver with retirement funds, a precious metals IRA has a higher initial amount to get started.
Can I hold silver bullion in an IRA?
Yes, you can hold silver bullion in your IRA if it meets the IRS purity standard of 99.9%. Work with your precious metals dealer to buy approved products like American Silver Eagle coins or Valcambi bars.
Your IRA custodian will take care of storing your silver in an IRS-approved depository until you’re ready to take withdrawals in retirement.
How do I store silver bullion?
You can store your silver in a home safe, a bank safe deposit box, or a paid depository. There are pros and cons to each option.
- Home safe: Easy to access your silver, but you’ll need to check with your insurance company to make sure you have the right coverage in case of theft, fire or other loss.
- Safety deposit box: Provides an extra level of security but doesn’t allow you to access it whenever you want. You’ll also need insurance since the FDIC doesn’t insure the contents of safety deposit boxes.
- Depository: These facilities have the highest level of security and include insurance, but the trade-off is restricted access to your metals.
What’s the difference between silver bullion and sterling silver?
Silver bullion is 99.9% pure, priced on its metal content and used for investment purposes. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure, made for jewelry or silverware, and priced on craftsmanship.
The information in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Please consult with your own tax professionals before making any decisions or taking action based on this information.
