How to Purchase US Silver Bullion at a Reasonable Rate

In today's turbulent economic climate safeguarding your financial portfolio is even more important. The constant fluctuations in the market may make you hesitant to invest anywhere. When financial times get tough, people tend to become conservative and move cautiously looking for long-term financial security. Precious metals have always been a favorite asset of collectors and investors alike. In recent years silver prices have risen over 80% and remain at thirty-year highs.

For thousands of years, precious metals have been seen as a safe way to protect wealth with coins used as currency throughout man's history. Precious metals are proven to be a smart investment during times of crisis like the one we have only recently begun emerging from. The demand is high for precious metals and more investors are turning to silver as a less expensive choice that is still considered a very wise investment. Silver is seeing great returns and is readily available at a good price. There are many reasons silver is a solid investing choice.

Industry and investors drive silver demand alike. As colloidal silver used in many medications and used worldwide in computers, televisions, and smartphones, as industrial metal silver is indispensable. Historically in a poor economy silver has been a good hedge against inflation. Today as income levels continue to rise in the ever-increasing economies of India, China and other countries, silver for industrial use will rise as consumers demand for these products increase. The fairly recent move to invest in silver bullion means if you get in now you will likely see your worth increase quite a bit. As people continue to see the wisdom of investing in precious metals the effects of supply and demand will make them even hotter commodities.

Once you decide to invest in silver, your next step is to decide how you can take advantage of this opportunity for yourself.

Coins are always popular and highly sought after. The American Silver Eagle is one of the most popular silver coins in the States. Coins made by government mints around the world, silver coins weight and silver purity are assured. A great way for new investors who want a problem free way to begin investing in silver. People keep silver coins as protection against currency devaluations as well as inflation, and are recognized as true currency.

Silver rounds are another popular way to invest because they are .999 fine silver. Their main difference from silver coins is they are not legal tender and so have no face value. Weighing one ounce, a silver round can easily be used as money in worst case scenarios and is an acceptable substitute to silver coins.

Silver bars are minted in sizes from as small as 5 grams up to 1000 troy ounce size. Silver investors who want to physically hold silver for the long term favor the 100-ounce and larger sizes. As a general rule, the cost to buy silver goes down when larger amounts are purchased giving you a more reasonable rate. Minted ingots come in a variety of shapes and are manufactured by different private brands. Although minting, dealer margins, shipping and taxes will all increase the purchase price of silver, the spot price is what can have the biggest effect on the value of your investment with day to day fluctuations.

Contact your trusted precious metals dealer for the most reasonable rates to begin your silver investments. With above ground stockpiles of silver low and shrinking rapidly, there may never be a better time to invest in silver than right now.