Investing in Silver

Monex offers a range of physical silver products, including silver bars and silver coins. Explore the full selection on our website, or to confirm current availability or discuss which products may be right for you, contact a Monex account representative directly.

Monex guarantees the authenticity and fineness of all of its bullion bars and coins. All silver bullion bars are imprinted with the refiner’s name, exact weight and fineness. Monex only sells silver bars produced by refineries approved by the COMEX. All silver coins are produced by government mints. The Royal Canadian Mint has authorized Monex as one of its Bullion DNA dealers to verify the authenticity of gold and silver Maple Leaf coins in just seconds using a laser-marking and precision radial line technology verification system.

Once you have decided on the type and quantity of silver to purchase, your Monex account representative will assist you in executing your order over the phone. Upon your acknowledgment, your selected purchase and silver price will be confirmed on a voice-recorded line and a written confirmation will be sent to you with the details of your order.

Payment may be made after you order, but must be initiated on the day of purchase, which means you must mail or wire funds on the very same day of your transaction. You can have your metal shipped to your home, made available for pick-up at over 30 facilities across the U.S. and Canada, or have your metal delivered to a bank/depository for storage.

Yes. Monex offers a two-way market for silver bullion products. To sell, call a Monex account representative. Once the coins are received and verified, the sale price is agreed upon and payment is issued.

For silver bullion bars, the minimum purchase is one 100-ounce .999 fine silver bullion ingot produced by one of the world’s leading refiners. For pure one-ounce legal tender silver bullion coins, such as the Silver American Eagle, Silver Canadian Maple Leaf or Silver Austrian Vienna Philharmonic, the minimum purchase is one unit, containing 100 coins. For the .9999 fine 1-1/2-ounce Silver Canadian Maple Leaf, now widely known as the SuperLeafTM, the minimum purchase is 60 coins, or a total of 90 ounces of pure silver. For both the 90% U.S. silver coin bags and 40% U.S. silver coin bags, the minimum purchase is one $1,000 face value bag of coins. The 90% bags of pre-1965 dimes or quarters contain approximately 715 ounces of pure silver, while the 40% bags of 1965-70 Kennedy half-dollars contain approximately 295 ounces of pure silver.

No. Silver bullion purchases are not reported to the IRS. Reporting requirements may apply when metals are sold back to a dealer under certain conditions.

Investors should consult a tax professional for guidance, as reporting thresholds and requirements can vary.

Modern portfolio theory suggests allocating 20% to 25% of an investment portfolio to precious metals. Silver can play a distinct role within that allocation alongside gold, platinum, and palladium. Because silver responds to both investment and industrial demand, it behaves differently from gold under certain economic conditions, adding diversification within a precious metals allocation.

A recession or depression would almost certainly cut silver's industrial consumption. However, it would also cut silver production because of the base metal mining industry, from which the major share of new silver comes as a byproduct mineral, so the combined effect is likely a reduction in mining production deficits.

Silver has historically moved through two stages. Initially, deep recessions have spurred investment asset liquidation, with stocks tumbling along with gold and silver for a short period as investors raised cash. Subsequently, political reaction to a weak economy has been met consistently with monetary stimulus, which favors high demand for metals and significantly higher prices for silver.

During periods of inflation and economic uncertainty, investors have turned to silver and gold rather than paper money as confidence in governments' ability to check inflation erodes. Stocks are affected unevenly by inflation, since it helps some companies prosper and others fail, while bonds, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit yield interest that, after taxes, often does not keep pace with inflation, resulting in a net loss of wealth. Fiscal mismanagement and geopolitical uncertainty have added to demand for silver bullion globally.

An ETF is an exchange-traded security and must be held through a securities brokerage company. Unlike physical silver, an ETF cannot be held anonymously in your personal possession, sold to anyone, or privately gifted. Both ETF securities and physical silver in storage with Monex are highly liquid to buy and sell. However, physical silver offers more flexibility, including a wide variety of product formats and the ability to take personal possession in coin or bar form.

Silver prices tend to be more volatile than gold because the silver market is smaller and more sensitive to changes in supply and demand.
In addition to its role as an investment metal, silver is widely used in industrial applications such as electronics, solar panels, and AI chips. Changes in industrial demand can influence silver prices more dramatically than gold prices.

The silver market is approximately 10 to 15 times smaller than the gold market (Bullion Vault), When investor demand increases in a smaller market, it can cause much larger price movements than the same level of demand would in a larger market like gold.

Silver and gold serve similar roles as stores of value against inflation and currency uncertainty. Silver's lower price per ounce makes it more accessible for investors building a physical metals position. Silver also offers additional upside potential tied to industrial demand, particularly in sectors such as electronics, solar energy, and manufacturing. Investors who want broader exposure to precious metals often hold both.

Common mistakes include purchasing from unfamiliar or unverified sellers, misunderstanding pricing and premiums, and concentrating too heavily on a single asset. Investors should understand how silver is priced, review bid-ask spreads, and consider how silver fits within their broader portfolio objectives before making a purchase.

To be eligible for a self-directed IRA, precious metals bullion coins and bars must meet certain requirements. Currently, gold products must be a minimum of .995 pure, silver must be .999 pure, and platinum and palladium must be .9995 pure. Silver, gold, palladium, and platinum products must also be produced by a government mint or accredited manufacturer.

To add IRA-eligible silver bullion products to an IRA, you will work directly with an IRS-approved custodian to establish and fund your IRA account. Your Account Representative will connect you with a custodian upon request.

Once your IRA is funded, Monex executes the purchase at your direction and arranges insured delivery to an approved depository in the custodian’s name, as required for IRA holdings.

Premiums on silver products are generally higher on a percentage basis than gold premiums. Silver's lower price per ounce means fabrication, minting, and distribution costs represent a larger share of the total product price. A coin or bar that costs the same to produce as a gold product will carry a proportionally higher premium when the underlying metal value is lower.

The value of silver bullion is primarily influenced by the current market price of silver, the silver product’s content, and market demand.

Premiums may also vary based on availability, production levels, and investor demand at the time of purchase.

No, the spot price reflects only the raw market value of the metal itself. When purchasing physical bullion, additional costs are included in the final price.

These costs may include minting and refining expenses, dealer premiums, distribution costs, and delivery or insurance fees. Bullion bars are typically priced closer to spot with modest premiums, while coins carry higher premiums and higher spreads due to the minting process and market demand.

The total purchase price is higher than spot due to the costs involved in producing and delivering the physical product.

Both options are available. If you choose storage through Monex, you can take physical possession of bars or coins at any time in the future by notifying your Account Representative, who will provide information on any storage charge balance due, as well as pickup or shipping options and costs.

Typically, bars or coins are ready for pickup or shipping within five banking days of receipt of full payment. Precious metals may be picked up at several depositories across the United States.

If you choose to store silver at home, use a high-quality, fire-rated safe that is anchored securely to a permanent structure and concealed from view. For larger holdings, professional vault storage through Monex or another qualified depository may be considered.

Silver shipments are typically insured by the carrier in transit until delivery is confirmed. Metals stored through approved depository arrangements are subject to the terms and protections of the storage program.