Precious Metals Education Center

Precious Metals Specialists at Money Metals Exchange field lots of great questions from customers who are new to buying physical bullion online. One of the biggest is "What should I buy?"

Just about all bullion investors worry about counterfeits. Those concerns are magnified when someone is buying for the first time.

Casual investors looking for a recommendation on what type of silver to buy will often hear the same answer from a typical coin dealer, that being, "well Morgan Dollars, of course." But sadly, accumulating these historic U.S. silver bullion coins often ends up being a big mistake.

We regularly take calls from Money Metals customers who have been bamboozled and taken for a ride by one of the many rare coin (or numismatic) dealers and their extortionately high prices. Generally it's the same sad tale.

Gold is one of the most sought-after precious metals in the world. For centuries, gold miners have risked their lives searching for even the smallest pebble-sized nuggets. Its unique properties, including malleability and conductivity, have made it a desirable metal to have in many industries despite its rarity. It's also popular with metals investors.

Arguably the most beautiful half dollar coin ever made, the Walking Liberty Half Dollar is a staple of the US numismatic scene. The coin has had a rich and turbulent history and was hugely popular while in circulation. It became a highly sought-after coin after it was replaced, despite its huge production quantities.

When looking for investment options, gold should rate the top of your list. It is, arguably, the best option for collectors and investors alike. Gold provides physical, easily liquidated assets and is indispensable in engineering and electronics, as well as the health, environmental, and jewelry industries. In coins, rounds, and bars, gold promises to be in constant demand.

The decision to invest in precious metals is a wise one, and silver bars are a good way to diversify your investments. They represent a tangible asset and can be an important way of protecting — and increasing — your wealth.

To determine a silver coin’s value, you need to know a few things about your coin: the actual silver weight (ASW), the fineness of the coin, and the weight in grams.

Despite its use to denote second place in sporting competitions, silver is an excellent first choice when it comes to investing in precious metals. Silver has been used as currency since about 600 BCE. In fact, the oldest coin ever discovered was crafted between 610 and 600 BCE and was made of electrum - an alloy of gold and silver.