Investment Silver

Silver coins or silver bars?

Both forms of investment silver share the same fineness of 999/1000 Ag and the same tax treatment – they differ in the manufacturing premium and in how easily their authenticity can be checked. Silver also follows a rule that often surprises gold investors: a one ounce silver coin usually costs less per gram than a silver bar. Bullion coins are struck in runs of millions, whereas the cost of making a bar is spread over a comparatively low metal value – with gold it works the other way round.

Choose a bar when you want a particular weight or a particular refinery: the 20g Nadir Metal is the smallest step in our range, the 1 Oz Nadir Metal is a full ounce in its plainest form, and the 1 Oz PAMP Fortuna is a premium bar with the Lady Fortuna design, where you also pay for the artwork and security features.

The best known silver bullion coins in the world are the Wiener Philharmoniker, American Eagle, Maple Leaf, Britannia, Australian Kangaroo and Krugerrand – we stock all of them in the 2026 vintage, UNC quality. The American strike is covered in American Eagle: the silver investment coin.

Silver and VAT

Investment gold is exempt from VAT across the EU. Investment silver is not – for tax purposes it is ordinary goods. VAT is already included in the price shown, and the applicable rate depends on the country of delivery.

The practical consequence: VAT is an entry cost you do not have with gold. The price of silver has to cover the tax and the manufacturing premium before you break even, which makes silver suited to long term holding rather than short trades. If tax efficiency at entry is your main concern, start with investment gold.

How a later sale is taxed depends on the tax law of your country of residence. This information is for general guidance only and is not tax or investment advice; rules change and individual circumstances differ – consult a tax adviser before deciding. See also Risk disclosure.

Gold or silver?

The most watched indicator is the gold/silver ratio – how many ounces of silver one ounce of gold will buy. Over recent decades it has ranged roughly between 40 and 100, briefly passing 100 in 2020. A high ratio means silver is relatively cheap against gold, which is not a guarantee of profit. You can follow both metals on the gold and silver price in real time page.

Silver moves more than gold because its market is smaller and much of the demand comes from industry – electronics, photovoltaics, medical technology. It therefore reacts more sharply to the economic cycle, which means both higher potential and higher short term risk, while supply stays tight, as described in Silver breaks records: sixth straight deficit year. When silver makes sense and what to watch out for is summed up in Investment silver: when it pays off, and the two metals are compared in Gold or silver: what to invest in.

In practice most investors combine the two: gold bars and gold coins as the stable core of a reserve, silver as the more dynamic addition and the most affordable way to start. How much metal belongs in a portfolio is discussed in How much gold in a portfolio.

Storing silver and patina

Silver tarnishes in air – it reacts with sulphur compounds and forms a patina. This has no effect on the value of the metal, but it does change how a coin looks, so never clean or polish one: you will only scratch the surface. Keep coins in their original capsule or tube, bars in their original packaging, and store everything dry. How a sale works in practice is described in How to safely sell investment gold.

Why buy from GOLDU?

We offer exclusively new, uncirculated silver bars and coins from reputable refineries and state mints. Nothing from buy-backs, no circulated pieces of unclear origin.

• Stock availability: we offer products according to current availability in the shop and dispatch them usually on the next business day.
• Verified origin: we select products from major international suppliers and verify authenticity with Sigma Metalytics PMV PRO technology.
• Real time pricing: prices are recalculated from spot and the exchange rate, with no discounts or sales – see the gold and silver price.
• Secure delivery: shipments are packed discreetly and sent under constant camera surveillance.
• Silver is sale only: we buy back investment gold only; you can buy silver from us but not sell it back.

Frequently asked questions

Is investment silver exempt from VAT?

No. The exemption applies across the EU to investment gold only. With silver, VAT is included in the price you see on the product.

How is a later sale of silver taxed?

That depends on the tax law of your country of residence and on how long you hold the metal. Check your own situation with a tax adviser.

Which is better – a silver coin or a silver bar?

For most purchases, the coin: in one ounce products it costs less per gram and is recognised worldwide. Choose a bar for a different weight or a specific refinery. Always compare the price per gram on the products themselves rather than deciding by form.

What fineness does investment silver have?

The standard is 999/1000 Ag, that is 99.9 % silver; some strikes are 999.9/1000. Every bar and coin in our range is at least 999/1000 Ag.

Why is silver more volatile than gold?

The silver market is much smaller and most demand comes from industry. The price therefore reacts more sensitively to the economic cycle, with sharper moves in both directions than gold.

How much silver should a portfolio hold?

There is no general figure. Silver is usually the addition to a gold core, and its share depends on your investment horizon and tolerance for risk.

Which silver coin sells best?

Over the long run the Wiener Philharmoniker, American Eagle and Maple Leaf. We stock all three in the one ounce 2026 vintage, along with the Britannia, Australian Kangaroo and Krugerrand.

Why does a silver coin lose its shine?

Silver reacts with sulphur compounds in the air and forms a patina. The value of the metal is unchanged. Do not clean the coin – a scratched surface hurts saleability more than the patina itself.

Does GOLDU buy silver back?

No, we buy back investment gold only. You can buy silver from us, but we do not offer a buy-back for it.

Does a silver coin make a good gift?

Yes. A one ounce coin has a low entry price, carries the value of the metal itself and bears a design tied to its year of issue – which is why it is a popular gift for a birth, a christening, a graduation or an anniversary.

Can silver be bought regularly in small amounts?

Yes. One ounce costs a modest sum, so silver is among the most affordable ways to build a reserve step by step. Do allow for VAT and the premium in the price, and for a longer horizon.