1 Oz Silver Coins - Focus On One Country Or Diversify?

Varieties is what works for me! That is why I collect by type not by series.

There was at least one thread about the collection of world silver rounds.

Do whatever makes you happy.

I like .999 I like .925 I like .800 it's all good

but when it's bullion... I like it to be as close to spot as possible and recognized...

I like the 2014 + SML's b/c of the laser etching it's hard to counterfeit right now. So that's a pretty good security feature...

With respect to buying coins from all around the world.. sometimes I think it would be nice to do that... but when you take it to your LCS or sell privately.. they're going to pay pretty darn close to spot... so that premium is generally lost.

I worry when people start calling stuff "semi-numi" as if to justify the premium.. I assure you if you hang on to it for a long enough period of time... nobody will really care what picture was stamped on it..

If you can find Mexican Onzas, add them to your mix, they are very nicely designed and well struck.

Mexican bullion is well-respected, the markup is due to lower mintages.

I like to diversify. I was at one point collecting the coins you mention but since really changed and narrowed my focus which still has allowed me to get 1 oz coins from other countries.

Mostly I have been buying Somalian elephants, Benin elephant coins and other african wild life series coins that are 1 oz silver. Those coins are unique and have great designs.

In fact there is one nice series that is done in antique finish and features various animals and various countries, such as Gabon.

So the sky is the limit really.

Dont forget there are some great coins from world countries that are not .999 silver as well.

There are many different ways to approach this topic.

If you are primarily interested in investing for the future your goal is to buy a high quality alloy (800 to 999 fine) silver bullion at or very near spot. To avoid premiums check with dealers for melt coins. Most dealers accumulate cull coins and periodically send them to be melted. These are usually available at spot based on weight - the dealer makes more that way because they avoid melting fees. These coins are not collector coins but the metal is there.

If you are interested in collecting silver coins then expect to pay a healthy premium for anything that looks good. This is especially true if you want PF 70 proof or MS levels above 63. If you get into that part of the market make certain that you follow premium levels closely - these premiums for MS 69 and 70 are very volatile and in my opinion are driven by speculative investors who can jump in and out - value is NOT solid.

Personally I buy silver foreign coins that interest me but I pick lower grades with no premium values attached. They look good, can be historic and are interesting but you could if necessary have them melted at bullion costs and lose VERY little.