Jeff Clark, Senior Precious Metals Analyst, GoldSilver.com.
We get the same question every time we release a new proprietary
GoldSilver product: why should I buy your silver round instead of a standard
bullion product like an Eagle?
There are several answers to that question—they can be a great way to
diversify, they’re unique in the marketplace, and they might reflect values
that you share.
But the biggest answer of all is this: because you might make a bigger
profit.
That’s a bold statement, because like most things in life, there are no
guarantees. But once you’ve got a meaningful stash of silver Eagles or Maples
Leafs, a nagging question will start to tickle the back of your brain: do I
just keep buying the same thing?
At that point you realize that maybe you do want to diversify your
physical holdings, or maybe you do find our rounds attractive, or maybe you
would like a silver product with a message that is more meaningful than just
an image of a dead leader or a bird.
And yes, maybe you’d also like a shot at juicing your returns when you
someday sell.
If you’d like to consider adding some “collectible” silver to your stash,
this article will show you the three criteria to look for. All 3 should be
present before you make a purchase. And we’ll show you some real life
examples of how our collectible silver rounds are already fetching higher
premiums…
#1 Limited Mintage
The first criteria to look for is a coin or round that has a limited
mintage. In other words, a product where its production was capped, either in
number or by time.
Limited mintage rounds can often take on additional premiums over time. So
not only do premiums appreciate with the price of the metal, they sometimes
increase much more due to their limited availability. Your investment can
thus potentially grow faster than a mass produced sovereign coin or private
minted round.
This answers the question of why we frequently limit the mintage of some
of our products: we do it for you!
Sovereign coins will almost always sell near the spot price. That’s one
reason they should be a cornerstone investment for everyone’s portfolio: you
have a good idea of what you’ll be paid when you sell. You take on very
little risk—some would say no risk—when buying sovereign coins, other than
what the spot price does. That’s what you want in a core investment of
physical metal.
So to add a little extra return to your portfolio, the first step is to look
for silver rounds that have a limited mintage.
But don’t stop there…
#2: Bullion Pricing
It’s pretty straightforward: the more you pay upfront for an investment,
the higher it must climb to reap a profit. The same concept holds true with
collectible silver; if you overpay when you buy, the round must appreciate
all that much more for you to lock in a gain when you sell.
So how do you know if you’re overpaying? With silver, it’s simple: only
buy rounds where the premium is similar or close to what you’d pay for a
standard bullion product.
Silver Eagles are a good barometer to use. If an Eagle goes for, say,20%
over spot, look for rounds with a similar premium. Below that premium would
be even better (again, as long as the other 2 criteria are met). The bottom
line is that the more you pay over a silver Eagle premium, the lower your
odds of someday selling for a bigger profit.
Here’s a good example of why we should pay bullion premiums for
collectible silver…
I
love this surfer coin from Australia. Ain’t she pretty?. I think it’s a cool
coin, and when I first saw it I was tempted to buy one to prop up on my
desk and daydream about catching a big wave. The only problem is, that
coin currently sells for 325% over spot! In fact, the asking price is
above silver’s highest recorded price in history! The silver price
would have to more than quadruple for me just to break even. That’s why I
didn’t buy it.
This is one reason we generally don't buy proof coins. At
the time of this article, proof silver Eagles from the US Mint were selling
at about 200% over spot. There could be exceptions, though… maybe you’re
consciously seeking collectible value, or want to resell them on eBay in a
few years, or give them as a gift more for their beauty than resale value.
Generally, though, these types of coins are for true collectors—if you want
to explore that field, read
this article first.
For investment purposes, look for silver items that sell at bullion pricing.
#3: Desirability
Desirability is subjective, because as we all know, art to one person can
be trash to another.Further, trends can change, so what’s desirable today may
not be appealing tomorrow.
That said, there is a trick you can apply to determine if a silver round
is desirable or not…
First, we don’t mean a round that is “pretty.” Most rounds have a degree
of attractiveness (though we admit some look like the artist had a few beers
first).
And we don’t mean what you personally find alluring. That surfer coin is
appealing to me, but my wife just rolls her eyes.
The trick is this: is the round desirable to the masses? Does it
hold universal appeal?
The answer is still a tad subjective, but you can still use it to screen
out things that might have passed the first two criteria yet still won’t lead
to a big profit.For example, do most silver investors like surfer coins?
Probably not. My big wave coin fails not just because it has a very high
premium, but also on lack of universal appeal.
The reason you want broad appeal is simple: you’ll have more potential
customers. And the greater number of potential buyersforyour coin, the easier
it will be to sell and the higher the premium might rise. If you have an
obscure coin, you’ll likely have fewer buyers, and in some cases may have no
buyers.
Apply Our Test to Any Silver Round
You can apply these three criteria to any silver round you come across…
You see a beautiful round that has an image of Machu Picchu engraved on
it. You like it and so inquire to see if it passes the 3 criteria. You’re
first told it has a limited mintage—check. You then see the price is near
bullion premiums—check. You then examine the round a little closer and see
that it is a commemorative piece put out by the 3rd Fraternal
Order of Peruvian Expat Brothers of North America. Does this round have mass
appeal? Probably not… the most interested buyers are likely only those in the
3rd Fraternal Order of Peruvian Expat Brothers of North America.It
thus does not pass the test as a collectible silver round with a chance of
greater premium appreciation.
But What If We Get a Mania In Silver? Won’t
all silver products rise in value? Any pure (.999% or finer) silver product
should sell at or near the spot price (assuming you haven’t purchased
something obscure). But this doesn’t negate the criteria above. If the
product you resell has a limited mintage and is highly desirable, and you
paid near spot for it, you stand to make more than what a standard bullion
product would pay. This is the entire basis of buying collectible silver.
There’s no guarantee, but regardless how high silver prices may go,
collectible silver rounds may fetch even higher premiums, if these 3 criteria
are met.
Disney coins… Star Trek rounds… even ones that mimic sovereign
coins—they’re all subject to these criteria when it comes to determining
future premium value. Buy one if you really want one, but understand that if
it fails to pass any of these criteria it may not be an investment in
collectible silver and wouldn’t earn an extra premium.
On the other hand, look how some of GoldSilver’s collectible silver rounds
have already grown in value, since they meet all 3 criteria. This data from
eBay shows how much additional premium the prior years of our “Modern
Ancients” series are fetching.
Premiums of Modern Ancients
Recently Sold on eBay
All three of these GoldSilverrounds had 1) limited mintage, 2) bullion
pricing, and 3) strong desirability. In a relatively short period of time,
their resale value has surpassed that of Eagles and Maples Leafs.
In addition to being very attractive, many investors like
the messaging that is part of the Modern Ancients series. The shield on the
GoldSilver products contains a powerful motto, one that highlights Mike Maloney’s
belief system. Check out the GoldSilver mission statement and see if it holds
appeal to you, too.
There are no guarantee you’ll achieve similar premiums when you sell, but
you can see that even during a flat market, Modern Ancients are already
fetching higher returns.
Collectible Silver Starter Round
One thing I love about GoldSilver is that we’re big enough to create our
own line of products. If you’re ready to diversify your holdings, or want own
a unique silver round found nowhere else in the market, or want a shot at
some extra dinero someday, here’s a great place to start:
One-ounce Athenian Owl Silver Round: This is the 4th
release in GoldSilver’s popular Modern Ancients series, inspired by one of
the most famous coins of antiquity. The first Athenian Owl coins were minted
over 2,400 years ago in Athens, Greece, the birthplace of democracy and
Western civilization.
And it’s beautiful.
We have limited the mintage to only 90 days production. The
Athenian Owl will be available only until August 30, 2017—after that, it will
never be produced again.
It also comes with bullion-level pricing—in fact, it’s currently priced
less than a silver Eagle. And as our other Modern Ancients have showed, it’s
desirable, partly due to its beauty and partly to its strong messaging.
Get
the details here, along with a cool video about its production. If you’re
interested, buy before they’re gone!
