● Guide

Silver bullion coins: which ones to choose

Published on 26/07/2026 · By Sébastien Joumel
In brief

Silver bullion coins usually weigh one ounce (31.1035 g) at 999 or 9999 fineness. They trade close to the metal; the choice mainly comes down to liquidity and premium, not to silver content.

What a bullion coin is

A silver bullion coin is struck for its metal content, not its rarity. The main ones weigh one troy ounce (31.1035 g) at a very high fineness: Maple Leaf (9999), American Eagle (999), Vienna Philharmonic (999), Britannia (999 since 2013) and Silver Krugerrand (999 since 2017).

They all contain almost the same amount of fine silver. Unlike collector coins, whose numismatic premium can be significant, bullion coins trade as close as possible to metal value, which makes them transparent to buy and to sell back.

Which criteria to choose on

Since content is comparable, the choice comes down to three criteria: liquidity (ease of reselling), the premium at purchase and the coin's international recognition. The most widely distributed ounces resell easily everywhere; a less-known coin may be slightly discounted at buyback.

The metal value itself does not depend on the coin: fine weight × the day's spot. To compare buyback offers near you, use our silver buyback page. If you start from a specific coin, our guide on the silver ounce value details the calculation method.

Storage, premium and resale

To preserve value, keep coins in their original capsule or tube: a scratched or oxidised coin may be discounted at buyback. Avoid cleaning them, which can alter the surface without adding to the fine weight.

When reselling, the premium depends on the market and current demand; the most common coins offer the best liquidity. The professional authenticates each coin (weight, dimensions), identifies the year, then applies its schedule. Payment is made by bank transfer or cheque above cash limits, with ID and register entry.

Frequently asked questions

Which silver bullion coin should I choose?

All investment ounces contain comparable silver content. Favour liquidity and a reasonable purchase premium: Maple Leaf, American Eagle, Philharmonic, Britannia or Silver Krugerrand.

Do bullion coins carry a numismatic premium?

They are bought back close to metal value, with a moderate market premium. A strong numismatic premium mainly concerns rare collector coins or those in exceptional condition.

Read also

Sell at the best price near you

Compare the silver buyers in your city.

See the rankings