Silver Coins
Silver Coins from APMEX
APMEX offers a wide selection of silver coins, from annual-release silver bullion to silver coins displaying your favorite movie characters. We sell the most popular coins from sovereign mints, and a wide selection of commemoratives. We also sell coins from private mints that are contracted to produce silver bullion coins. Silver coins have various finishes, from proof to Brilliant Uncirculated (BU), and a range of designs. The assorted designs may feature historical figures, animals, iconic sites, or movie themes. Whether it is investment-grade silver coins or unique display pieces, APMEX carries a wide variety of silver coins available for purchase.
The cost of silver coins is influenced by the current spot price of silver and additional factors such as condition, collectability, rarity, and demand.
Rounds vs Coins
The difference between rounds and coins is subtle. Coins have a face value or a denomination – in other words they are recognized as money. Coins can be any shape. They can be round, square, rectangular, or even shaped. There are some beautiful commemorative coins that formed into statues, domes, or even Pac-man.
Rounds are round shaped and made of silver but are not recognized as official currency, and do not have a face value. There are a number of rounds that are modeled after popular coins, for example, the Morgan Silver Dollar round. These allow people to own some of the most iconic designs without paying more for an authentic rare coin. Many private mints produce rounds with popular designs, the most famous of which being the popular silver buffalo. APMEX also offers its own 1 oz silver round, which combines low premiums with trusted brand recogntion. If you're undecided on a design and would like to compare your options, consider shopping our full silver round selection.
Annual-Release Silver Bullion Coins
Investors frequently choose silver coins from sovereign mints, as a central government backs them. For example, the American Silver Eagle coin is produced by the U.S. Mint. Silver coins released annually typically have the same weight and precious metal content as every new release. Silver coins backed by a central government also have a “face value,” or a denomination, that is less than their silver content. For example, a silver coin with a value of one dollar may sell for over $30 due to its silver content and collectability value. There are many examples of popular silver coins from sovereign mints, including:
American Silver Eagles
The American Silver Eagle is the official silver bullion coin of the United States Mint. The Silver Eagle is one of the few silver coins guaranteed for weight, content, and purity by the U.S. government. The American Silver Eagle has unparalleled recognition and liquidity. The Silver Eagle program goes back to 1986, and there are more certified and graded options from both NGC and PCGS for Silver Eagles than any other bullion coin in the world. A popular collection to build is a Silver Eagle from each year of production in certified condition.
The U.S. Mint has struggled with a supply shortage of silver blanks since the start of the pandemic in 2020, driving premiums up amidst record demand. Faithful investors continue to amass Silver Eagles despite shortages, reflecting the appeal of this coin among American silver buyers. In 2021, the Silver Eagle underwent a design change, with new artwork depicting an eagle in flight on the reverse, while Liberty remains on the obverse.
Australian Silver Kangaroos
The Perth Mint's Silver Kangaroo Series is highly coveted by collectors. Each Silver Kangaroo release features a classic Red Kangaroo mid-jump in front of a stylized starburst. The Silver Kangaroo is an exceptional coin consisting of .9999 fine silver and is considered legal tender with a face value of AUD 1. The coin is one of the most popular bullion coins in the world due to its mintages, artwork, price over spot, and the Perth Mint’s reputation for quality.
Australian Silver Koalas
First released in 2007, the Australian Silver Koala has quickly gained popularity in the world’s coin market. Admired for its .9999 fine silver content, captivating designs and superior quality finishes, the Koala appeals to collectors and investors globally. The Silver Koala is legal Australian tender, carrying a face value of one Australian dollar.
Australian Silver Kookaburras
The Australian Silver Kookaburra is one of the major silver bullion coins that changes its design yearly. The Silver Kookaburras are issued in four sizes: 1 oz, 2 oz, 10 oz and 1 kilo. Many variations exist with extra stamps or seals issued for special occasions or coin shows. The Kookaburra has a limited mintage like the Koala and is one of the most collected silver bullion coins in the world.
Austrian Silver Philharmonics
The Silver Austrian Philharmonic coin was first released in 2008 and contains 1 oz of .999 fine silver. The obverse on the Philharmonic features the great pipe organ in Vienna's Golden Hall, which houses the Philharmonic Orchestra. The reverse of the popular coin displays a variety of instruments from the well-known orchestra. Silver Austrian Philharmonics coins make a fantastic addition to any music lovers' collection. A unique feature of the Philharmonic are the smooth edges of the coin. While most coins still have reeds, the philharmonic does not, bucking the trends of days past.
British Silver Britannias
These famous British coins have a troy ounce of .999 fine silver. The Silver Britannia coins from the Royal Mint recently had a design change in 2023. Silver investors who buy a Britannia in 2023 can choose between Queen Elizabeth and King Charles on the obverse of the coin. Britannia coins are popular and often favored for their reasonable premiums compared to some other silver coins from other sovereign mints. Britannias are the only sovereign bullion coin that is also a proof coin by default.
Canadian Silver Maple Leafs
The Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coin is a widely recognized coin that features an iconic single maple leaf. The Silver Maple Leaf coin offers excellent liquidity and value. Featuring the Royal Canadian Mint’s MintShield™ milk spot reducing technology, the Silver Maple Leaf is known for quality and trustworthiness.
Chinese Silver Pandas
Another respectable investment option is the Chinese Silver Panda coin. Each year, the series features a new image of the giant panda, a revered animal in China. The Silver Panda is .999 fine silver, is considered legal Chinese tender and has more limited mintages than many other bullion coins. The unique sizes and low mintages make Chinese Pandas a unique addition to any bullion portfolio for silver investors. In 2016, the Chinese government changed their unit of measurement from troy ounces to grams. Newer Pandas are 30 grams, while older ones are one troy ounce.
Mexican Silver Libertads
First introduced in 1982, the one ounce Mexican Silver Libertad is minted by the La Casa de Moneda de México, also known as the Mexican Mint. They do not have a face value on the coin, but they are guaranteed by Banco de Mexico based on the market value and can be accepted as currency. Technically, this means the “face value” of a silver Libertad is the highest of any sovereign coin. They contain one ounce of .999 fine silver. The Mexican Mint is somewhat infamous for irregular mintages and schedules, which affects the scarcity and rarity of the Libertad.
Silver Coin Quality and Weights
Our most popular silver coins weigh 1 troy ounce and come in larger sizes, including 2 oz and 5 oz. The silver purity ranges from .999 to .9999 fineness. Three nines fine silver is considered investment-grade silver, though many older silver coins were produced with only 90% silver, and sometimes even as little as 35% silver. Modern investors looking for newer bullion should expect to see a minimum of .999 fine silver on most coins, and this would also reflect the standards required to add a coin to a Gold IRA portfolio.
Silver Proof Coins
Proof versions are ideal for collectors and typically feature the same design as their bullion counterparts but come in a stunning, mirror-like finish. The mintages of these silver proof coin programs also vary, as some come with a much smaller mintage than others. Proof coins are struck at least twice, and the main difference is in the finish of the foreground and background of the coin.
Silver Coin Mints
APMEX works with prestigious mints from all over the world to bring top-quality products to customers. We also mint silver rounds and bars at our own 9Fine Mint in Oklahoma City.
These mints produce stunning silver coins in a range of quantities. APMEX carries coins for sale from many of these mints and more:
- U.S. Mint
- Austrian Mint
- Chinese Mint
- Mexican Mint
- New Zealand Mint
- Royal Canadian Mint
- South African Mint
- The Perth Mint
- The Royal Mint
Collectible Themed Silver Coins
APMEX carries a wide selection of silver coins with officially licensed designs from movie favorites, sports themes, and cars. These collectible coins make fantastic gifts for movie lovers, sports fans, and pop culture enthusiasts. Our selection of favorites includes the following examples and more:
- Disney Coins: Disney characters featured include Disney princesses and classics such as Micky Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lady and the Tramp, Aladdin, and Donald Duck. More modern movies featured include The Lion Kind, The Little Mermaid, and Monsters.
- DC Comics: The DC comic coins feature iconic super heroes such as Superman, Aquaman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, the Green Lantern, and more.
- General Motors: This collection features classic cars such as Corvettes, Camaros, Cadillacs, and Coupe DeVilles, and is still growing.
- Star Wars: We offer Star Wars silver products featuring classic Star Wars icons such as Darth Vader, the Millenium Falcon, Rebal Alliance symbols, and Jabba the Hut. We also sell rounds featuring newer characters such as Baby Yoda and more!
- John Wick: We offer John Wick rounds, coins, and bars. Our most popular one-ounce version is .999 fine silver features a lion and the phrase Ens Causa Sui (existing because of oneself) and the other side features a blindfolded woman on the other with a sword, shield, flowers, and the words Ex Unitae Vires (from unity, strength).
Special Issue Silver Coins
APMEX carries a wide selection of special issue silver coins ranging from the Queen’s Beasts to Native American Silver Dollars. These coins typically feature unique finishes, stunning designs, and low mintages. Here are descriptions of a few of our most popular special issue coins:
America the Beautiful: The America the Beautiful Series was introduced in 2010 and quickly became the most significant silver bullion produced by the U.S. Mint. Each coin features a classic portrait of George Washington on the obverse, used on the quarter since 1932. The coin's reverse displays an iconic national treasure to highlight popular U.S. attractions. The attractions featured on these popular coins include Yosemite National Park, Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Everglades and more. This 5 oz. silver ATB coin features smooth edges inscribed with its weight and .999 fine silver purity.
Native American Mint: Native American tribes have a remarkable history in the United States. Coins from the Native American collection provide beautiful imagery perfect for any collector. One of the popular collections among silver buyers is to get one of each of the Native America the Beautiful coins produced by the Native American Mint which feature our National Parks or tribes from each State.
Colorized silver coins: Advancements in technology have enabled new designs. One of the new design features has been to add color to silver coins and rounds. The color does not add any weight to the coin, nor does it alter the silver content. Colorized options allow the designs to come to life on the coin and have become popular with collectors.
Junk Silver Coins
Junk silver coins, like Mercury Dimes, have beautiful designs, 90% silver content and an interesting story. Coins considered junk silver today can be a great way to increase your holdings. Although commonly called “junk” silver, another common name is constitutional silver. These are coins from America’s history that had silver content in them, with varying degrees of fineness ranging from 35% to 90% silver. A perfect example of the constitutional silver APMEX offers are the 90% silver Washington Quarters circulated from 1932 to 1964.
Learn More About Precious Metals
Buying Precious Metals doesn’t have to be intimidating. Whether you are making a long-term investment or simply admire the beauty of Precious Metals, APMEX provides the tools to help you make the best choice for your portfolio.
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