Silver

1. Double Play on the Bullion Content and Scarcity: U.S. silver dollars are semi-numismatic coins - that means that they are very limited in supply! Investors stand to benefit in two ways: their value will increase as the price of silver rises. More importantly, as a semi-numismatic coin, their value is determined by the U.S. coin market. Since 1960, their value has appreciated over 1400%.

2. High Liquidity : Thousands of United States coin dealers offer investors the advantage of a very liquid market. Estimates of the size of the global collector base for uncirculated U.S. silver dollars number in the millions - larger than any other tangible/collector asset.

3. Greater Privacy: The government views U.S. silver dollars as "collectibles" - which is very good news for privacy-minded investors. Because these coins are not dealer reportable, they offer the investor far greater privacy. Of paramount importance, because these coins are collectible, they are more likely to remain legally tradable in the event of another 1933-type gold/silver confiscation.

4. Potential Price Performance: Take a hard look at the market indicators. Available supplies of silver have been steadily shrinking over the last decade as primary silver mines close due to depressed prices. Demand has surged, as low prices make silver increasingly more attractive to manufacturers and investors. Now factor in the buying potential of wealthy investors diversifying into silver such as Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, and the upside possibilities are staggering!

SILVER BULLION, COINS, AND BARS
Silver has historically been one of the most affordable precious metals. The silver market offers investors a variety of products. Although there are several categories of silver bullion to choose from, we recommend you consider these popularly traded silver coins and bars.

1 Oz. American Silver Eagles: Silver Eagles are dated from their early inception in 1986 through currently minted 2000. They are minted at West Point, New York and are .999 fine silver. Silver Eagles normally sell for modest premiums above their melt value. However in late 1999, early 2000, the coins were hyped as \"collectibles\" and \"the last silver dollars of the 20th century\" which is true. Many of these coins were even painted red, white and blue to justify prices as high as $39.95 ea. The promotions were and have been successful, consequently causing the premiums on Silver Eagles to climb above their normal level of premium. Although the Silver Eagles are a popular \"bullion\" coin, experience tells us that the current high premiums on such coins will not last forever. When the promotion is over...it\'s over and the premiums will collapse back to normal levels. In fact, investors who have purchased Silver Eagles should call us to consider selling their coins at a profit or swapping to another form of silver thereby increasing their total number of ounces.

1 Oz. Canadian Silver Maple Leaf: Silver Maple Leaf coins, sold in a 1 oz. size, are made of fine 99.99% pure silver. The Silver Maple is one of the most widely traded silver bullion coins in the market today. If you are considering purchasing a bullion coin minted currently by a government, this would be an excellent choice.

Silver Bars
Although the popularity of silver bars has fallen considerably and wholesale markets consider them to be unfavorable, there continues to be those that ask about silver bars. Johnson-Matthey and Engelhard are two of the world\'s largest precious metals firms with operations around the world. When considering silver bars, investors should ask for either of these two hallmarks.

SILVER BULLION ROUNDS

ENGELHARD ONE-OUNCE SILVER ROUNDS
By far, the preferred one-ounce silver rounds are the Engelhard Silver Prospectors. Because Engelhard has not made Silver Prospectors since 1988, they are available only when they show up in the secondary market.

OTHER POPULAR ONE-OUNCE SILVER ROUNDS
Wall Street Mint and Sunshine Minting produce popular one-ounce silver rounds. The WSM silver rounds are designed after the classic Buffalo/Indian Head nickel. The Sunshine Minting silver rounds depict an eagle flying through the sun and are called Silver Eagles. Sunshine Silver Eagles are not to be confused with American Silver Eagles, which are legal tender $1 silver coins minted by the U.S. Mint.

GENERIC SILVER ROUNDS
Included in the category of generic silver rounds are all the silver rounds produced over the last thirty years by firms that are no longer in business. Also included are one-ounce silver rounds marketed by small firms that are still in business but are not well known.

Generic silver rounds usually do not display the manufacturing mint's hallmark or name, and they come in a myriad of designs. Sometimes generic rounds are loose in a bag, like pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver coins. Sometimes generic silver rounds are packaged in tubes.

Generic silver rounds sell at smaller markups than Engelhard Silver Prospectors or Wall Street Mint and Sunshine Minting silver rounds.