Since the beginning of the 21st Century, silver prices have increased overall, catching the attention of many investors. Many people look to precious metals, such as silver, to help protect themselves against the ongoing devaluation of the U.S. dollar (or other fiat currencies) and volatility in the stock market. Other investors, sometimes referred to as “preppers,” believe silver will play a key role in bartering and trade in the event of an economic collapse.
Silver is available for investment in many different forms, including paper silver and silver bullion. Physical silver bullion is most commonly found in coin, round and bar form with several size options for each. Some investors enjoy owning government-minted coins while others prefer paying lower premiums for bullion bars and rounds. In any case, there are a vast amount of options available in terms of this investment vehicle.
Aside from bullion, “paper silver” is also available in the form of ETFs and certificates. These options are different from physical silver bullion in the sense that the owner never actually gets to hold the silver in their hands. A silver ETF or certificate is basically a piece of paper that says a bank or financial institution is holding a specified amount of silver for you without you ever seeing that silver.