Guide
How to buy physical silver.
Buying silver you can hold means paying the spot price plus a premium. Whether you overpay comes down to three things: the product, the seller, and the premium. Silver sells at $49.71 an ounce right now (the Kitco ask).
Updated October 28, 2026 · Prices as of November 3, 2026, 4:45 p.m. Pacific
What to buy
- Sovereign coins: Silver Eagles, Maple Leafs, Britannias, and Philharmonics: recognized everywhere, and they sell for more later.
- Generic rounds and bars: the least over spot per ounce, especially 10 ozt and 100 ozt bars, and they sell closer to spot.
- 90% U.S. silver coins: pre-1965 dimes, quarters, and halves, sold by face value and easy to trade in small amounts.
The premium over spot
Every coin and bar sells for more than the metal in it: the premium covers minting, distribution, and the dealer's margin. Small pieces cost more per ounce than large ones, and sovereign coins more than generic bars. The metal in common sizes is worth, at today's Kitco ask:
| Product | Metal value today |
|---|---|
| 1 ozt silver coin or round | $49.71 |
| 10 ozt silver bar | $497.08 |
| 100 ozt silver bar | $4,970.80 |
Compare a dealer's price with these figures to see the premium you're paying.
Avoid overpaying
- Know the spot price before you call, and ask for the price per ounce.
- Be wary of "rare" or "special edition" pitches: collectible and proof coins cost far more than their metal and often sell back for much less.
- Watch the spread: ask what the dealer pays to buy the same item back. The gap is your real cost of owning it.
- Buy from established dealers, and be cautious with unusually cheap offers online: counterfeit coins and bars exist.
What we charge
Our typical prices, based on the live Kitco ask, the market's selling price. Specific products, such as a particular coin, year, or bar, are priced at a small premium to wholesale, depending on the size of the order. All orders are subject to availability, and your written estimate confirms the price.
| Product | Typical price | Today |
|---|---|---|
| Generic silver bars and rounds | Kitco ask + $1 to $3 an ounce | $49.71 + $1 to $3 an ounce |
| 90% U.S. silver coins | 98% of the Kitco ask | $34.83 per $1 face value |
| Silver Eagles and other sovereign coins | Kitco ask + $3 to $5 an ounce, subject to market conditions | $49.71 + $3 to $5 an ounce |
How buying from us works
Send an order request with what you'd like and how much, and we'll reply with a written estimate based on current spot prices. Your order is confirmed once you accept it and payment clears, by wire, ACH, or Zelle, and it ships fully insured. California orders have a $2,000 minimum, so qualifying coin and bullion orders are exempt from California sales tax. When you sell back, our published bids apply.
Buying guides: How to buy gold · How to buy platinum · How to buy palladium · Sovereign vs generic · Proof vs bullion · How to store it · Physical silver vs ETFs · All guides
We pay more for silver than pawn shops and jewelers, at a published percentage of the Kitco bid. The best place to sell silver
Buying
Tell us what you'd like.
Send an order request and we'll reply with a written estimate based on current spot prices. Nothing is charged until you accept it.