Silver is often a great addition to any investment portfolio. If we check silver prices over the last ten years, it’s interesting to note that the precious metal has always tracked gold. So, when gold prices rise, so does silver. Having said that, silver is a great investment, simply because you can buy more of it. The price of gold, when compared to silver is around 80:1. So, it’s a lot cheaper than gold and requires lesser investment to build a decent portfolio. Investment pundits are bullish on bullion silver for 2018 and silver prices are expected to go strong on the back of higher demand. It’s interesting to note that the higher demand for silver actually comes from industrial applications and not from investors looking to build a portfolio to maximise their wealth.
www.physicalgold.com don’t just sell gold! We’re also experts in silver and we’ve made it just as easy to buy silver from us as it is to buy gold. If you have any questions around how to invest in silver UK or foreign products, the amount to buy, whether to buy silver coins or silver bars or how it fits in your portfolio, then just give us a call and we’ll be happy to talk through your options.
How to buy physical silver in five steps
Step 1. Register an account in seconds / log in
Sign up for your free www.physicalgold.com account. It takes just a few minutes and we’ll provide you with expert tips and updates, to keep you informed of market movements, special offers and relevant insights. Just click on the ‘register’ button or log in to the site if you’re a returning user.
Step 2. Select the ‘silver’ product category
We offer four different main types of product categories. You can select either Silver Coins or Silver Bars from the relevant tab.
On the dedicated Buy Silver page, you should find all the information you need, along with short videos about your silver investment.
Since the beginning of 2021, customers can now buy gold and silver products in the same basket.
Step 3. Add your silver to your basket
On the silver page, you’ll be able to indicate how much silver you require. Please be aware that VAT is added to all silver products when purchasing in the UK.
If you’d like your silver stored, please enter that request in the notes field of your order, subject to min of £2,500 value.
Step 4. Pay using bank transfer, or credit card
We accept bank transfer or several types of credit card. Simply input your payment and address details, as you would with any other online transaction. www.physicalgold.com uses the 3D secure payment method, giving you extra protection and peace of mind.
Step 5. Receive your silver to your door (or use our secure storage option)
You’re done! We’ll send your silver coins directly to your door, using fast, secure and discreet delivery. Or if you want insured storage, we can place them into our own secure storage vault. Learn more about our secure storage option here.
Growth industrial areas stimulating demand for silver
The renewable energy business is growing in leaps and bounds as communities across the world are looking for ways to move to sustainable energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Silver is a great conductor and is much in demand for photovoltaic applications, including solar panels. Demand for industrial silver grew to approximately 92 million ounces in 2017 and is predicted to keep rising. Another huge area of growth for silver is its application in electric cars.The electric car segment is expected to explode worldwide within the next ten years. Industrial demand for silver is expected to skyrocket on the back of these innovations. While demand is rising, supply has fallen. Experts believe that the global production of silver from mines has already peaked. Since 2011, the net production of mined silver has fallen by 72.1%. Yet, it remains a tangible asset and many investors turn to silver, looking to insulate themselves from the huge global risks of international stock markets, the falling US dollar, dwindling opportunities in the global money markets and the volatility of crypto-currencies. All of these factors make learning how to buy physical silver an important priority.
Buying silver online is really easy and very convenient
Yet another good reason to buy silver is that you can liquidate it in smaller quantities. This is a great advantage when selling silver for short term liquidity. Gold being way more expensive does not offer this opportunity. The researchers at www.physicalgold.com actively study these market trends. So, for those of you who are seriously looking to buy silver, this article explores how you can do just that from www.physicalgold.com.
How to invest in silver UK wide may seem like a daunting process for first-time buyers but adding some silver to your portfolio is as easy as doing your weekly shop online.At www.physicalgold.com, we secure silver at a fantastic rate, thanks to our size, market credibility and established history in the UK precious metals market. And our BNTA accreditation means you don’t need to worry about the quality of our metals (as you might at a high street merchant). We trade investment-grade silver only and even provide you with a certificate to prove it! And because we value our clients, you can always call us if you need that extra bit of guidance on any silver purchase. We are London-based, which is the heart of the UK financial services industry.
Get in touch to discuss how to buy silver online
We hope you have enjoyed our guide – “How to buy silver online”. So, as you can see, buying silver from www.physicalgold.com couldn’t be easier. If you need help at any step of the way – such as discussing types of silver or asking about buyback arrangements – all you need to do is call us on 020 7060 9992 or email us. We pride ourselves on our helpful and efficient service and we’ll get back to you straight away. Now you know how to buy physical silver, why don’t you browse our tax-free silver section.Shop SilverImage credit: Brian Shamblen
Globally, silver is sold as per its spot prices. So, can you buy it any cheaper? Well, the only way to do that is to buy junk silver coins. These coins are often sold below their spot price, and so can be considered as one of the cheapest silver buys on the market. Although the percentage of silver in these coins often vary, investors do buy these as a form of speculation. It’s just like buying junk bonds. In this case, speculators get more silver for their money.
What are junk silver coins?
Junk silver coins are world coins with absolutely no numismatic value. Therefore, the only value it could possibly have is the value of the amount of silver it contains. The most popular coins within this category are American silver coins that were minted prior to 1965. The US government minted several coins during this period using alloys that contained silver. However, the purity of silver in these coins varied from 35 to 90 percent. So, these coins command a market value based on what is known as their ‘melt value’. Many of these coins are very attractive to investors as they present a way for them to buy silver at low prices.
“Gold & silver investment jargon explained” – Just one of our YouTube videos.
Bullion coins such as the American Silver Eagle command a ten to fifteen percent premium over the spot price. However, junk silver coins can be bought at only 1-3 percent over the spot. So, this means it’s important to identify specific junk silver coins that have no value to numismatists and also trade at low prices – just over the spot or sometimes even below.
Bags of junk silver coins need sorting to pull out 80% silver coins
Identifying the right coins
If you’re going to spend your money buying junk silver coins, you’d better get a decent amount of silver from it. What you don’t want to do is spend your money buying large amounts of base metals, which are worthless. So, the rule of thumb is to avoid coins that have 35 or 40 percent silver only. Many of these are around, so it’s important to do your research well. There are US half dollars with the head of JFK and there are wartime nickels that are simply called Jefferson war nickels. These have no value.
Unlike the US Morgan Dollar above, junk silver coins have no numismatic value
The cheapest way to buy silver
Circulated US junk silver coins are sold in assorted bags with little or no premium over the spot price. Typically these contain silver coins with varying levels of purity and can be found at different prices ranging from 100 to 1000 dollars. This is literally the cheapest way to buy silver. You can find 90% silver coins in these bags as well. However, investing in these bags requires a large amount of investment, as one cannot strike lucky by buying just one bag. Only after buying several bags can one extricate enough silver to justify the investment. Additionally, as a speculator, you would need to go through the bags and segregate the coins to identify the ones with the highest amount of silver. So, it may not be the smartest and the best way to buy silver, in spite of the prices.
Call our precious metals team to discuss your silver investments
Investing in silver coins may be attractive, but there are certain important points we need to consider first. In this article we explore “Are silver coins a good investment?”
Size and investment options
Silver coins are available in a variety of sizes. Apart from the normal sizes up to an ounce, they are now available in larger versions of 10 ounces and 1 kg. There has been speculation in the market for a while that the prices of silver are likely to go up significantly. With the spot price currently hovering around £11 per ounce, there are great profits to be made if it rises threefold. The other reason that silver is attractive to investors is that it is 85 times cheaper than gold. Gold can be prohibitively expensive for retail investors. Silver offers access to the precious metals market at an unbelievable price point.
The industrial demand for silver
Silver has a huge industrial demand. It is widely used for the manufacture of electronics, computers, solar panels, and has a range of other industrial applications. Reducing supplies of the white metal has prompted investment experts to speculate about a possible hike in prices. If you are thinking of silver coins investment and taking a calculated risk on its price, you may have to wait for at least 3 to 5 years before you can get a reasonable return.
They can be a great investment if bought in the right way at the right time. Silver is significantly undervalued compared to historical levels, so a medium to long term holding is advised to maximise returns.
Silver coins can be a great investment if the right coins are chosen
Need for liquidity and buying coins which can be resold
Your investment is only as good as its liquidity. If you cannot take advantage of the right price point in the market by selling easily and quickly, the investment is useless. Therefore, always buy silver coins with a mass appeal and avoid purchasing obscure and rare coins. Well-known coins enjoy a vibrant secondary market, which makes it much easier to sell when the time is right. 1-ounce silver coins like the silver Krugerrand is an ideal choice.
How about collectable coins?
You may be able to extract better value from your investment if you choose a collectable coin. The premiums on these coins usually rise very quickly and investing in them can be an excellent strategy to get quick returns. Likewise, a popular coin like the 1-ounce silver Britannia makes an excellent addition to your investment portfolio. It ticks all the boxes for divisibility, liquidity and collectability. So, it’s evident that investing in silver coins can be a great idea as long as you plan properly and buy the right coins which are likely to meet your investment goals.
Understand purity levels
When choosing coins, purity is an important factor. Many silver coins are available with 95.8% purity. But, if you do your research well and choose a coin like the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, you have a coin with 99.9% purity. There can be different strategies for choosing the right silver coins for your investment. Purity, divisibility, variety and value are important considerations.
Tax advantages and efficiencies
From a tax perspective, silver coins which are legal tender in the UK will automatically be CGT free.
Prior to the UK leaving the EU, Physical Gold were the only silver dealer in the UK who could provide VAT free silver. Post-Brexit this is no longer possible. Due to the following reasons though, we are able to sell silver coins and bars at similar “all in” prices to previous:
Free delivery – we can now provide free delivery, previously this was chargeable
Reduced product range – we now provide a reduced range of silver products. This means we have negotiated better prices for the products we supply, we pass this discount on to our customers!
The overall net result is that the price difference when you buy silver coins and bars the price difference even with paying VAT is negligible and certainly competitive with other UK dealers.
We also can now accept orders for mixed gold and silver purchases, whereas previously we could only process “silver only” orders to obtain VAT free silver.
Contacting Physical Gold for Advice
Please visit the Physical Gold website for more information on how to profit from your investment in silver coins. Speak to us today on 020 7060 9992, leave an instant message or complete our contact form. We look forward to being of service and support.
When investing in any form of silver, it is recommended that you always go to a reputable broker. Lots of companies offer similar deals or services and it’s easy to be swayed by promises of deals that are more often than not too good to be true. A reputable broker will have extensive knowledge of the market and will able to properly advise you on the right investments for your requirements. Here is an idea of what to expect from a reputable broker.
Transparent pricing
A reputable broker should always be transparent about their prices. Before working with any broker, you should make sure there are no hidden costs involved as some brokers will charge extra for insurance and shipping costs. You may also want to find out what rates they charge to cover their admin costs, as well as these, can vary a great deal from broker to broker.
They know the market
If you’re planning to invest your hard-earned money on something, then you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. A reputable broker will know the silver coin market inside out and will be able to tell you valuable information such as how you can make the best possible return from your investment and the most tax efficient ways to invest in silver.
They’ll act in your interest to ensure the safety of your investment
A reputable broker will ensure safe delivery of your goods by providing insured shipping and real-time tracking. They may also offer you secured storage of the goods in their own vaults or secure delivery to a vault of your choice. Some brokers may even have a physical office or premises where you can personally take delivery of the goods by arrangement. Before purchasing silver coins through a broker, you should first make sure of their policies with regards to access to your goods. For example, can you access the goods at any time? Are you able to withdraw the goods whenever you wish? These are all questions you should be asking your broker before investing with them.
1887 Queen Victoria double florin
Access to a wide range of suppliers
A reputable broker will have access to the best suppliers. As an investor, this means you will benefit from the best selection of goods at the best possible prices. At Physical Gold, for example, we offer a huge selection of silver in a variety of forms including bullion coins, semi-numismatic coins, and silver bars.
2oz silver Queen’s Beasts coin
High standard of customer support
When dealing with any broker, good customer support is essential. A reputable broker should be easy to contact whilst also being able to offer you the investment advice you need. You also may want to check that they offer some form of telephone support, particularly if you don’t have much previous experience of investing in silver.
How to check whether a broker is reputable
Before buying through any broker, you should first do a bit of background research to check that they are who they say they are and that their services are legitimate. There is a lot of bait and switch companies out there, particularly online, so you need to make sure of their authenticity. A good place to start is by checking review sites and reading what other people have said about them. If they are an established broker and have been about for some time, then they should have accrued a fair amount of reviews allowing you to make an informed decision over whether or not to go with them. The top dealers will be members of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) as well as other smaller society’s such as The Royal Numismatic Society.
Purchase silver coins through Physical Gold
Physical Gold is one of the UK’s leading dealers in gold and silver. We offer a range of tax-efficient ways to buy precious metals at market leading rates. Should you require our assistance, Physical Gold’s brokers can offer you their valuable expertise, helping you put together a portfolio of hand-picked, high-performance silver coins. To speak to one of our experienced advisers today, please give us a call on 020 7060 9992.
Live Gold Spot Price in Sterling.
Gold is one of the densest of all metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is also soft and the most malleable and ductile of the elements; an ounce (31.1 grams; gold is weighed in troy ounces) can be beaten out to 187 square feet (about 17 square metres) in extremely thin sheets called gold leaf.
Silver Information
Live Silver Spot Price in Sterling.
Silver (Ag), chemical element, a white lustrous metal valued for its decorative beauty and electrical conductivity. Silver is located in Group 11 (Ib) and Period 5 of the periodic table, between copper (Period 4) and gold (Period 6), and its physical and chemical properties are intermediate between those two metals.
Image credit: Brian Shamblen
