Silver Coins

When you buy silver coins in the UK, not only can you diversify your existing investment portfolio, but you can also benefit from the tax advantages offered by investment silver. VAT free and tax free silver coins allow you to maximise the value of your silver holding and, also coins offer good divisibility. Many investors choose to buy silver British coins to give breadth to their precious metal assets and offer additional security on the commodities market to supplement a traditional paper investment portfolio. With the price of silver far lower than gold (up to 80 times cheaper), coins are a popular way to start a precious metal holding on a budget. And with the price of silver offering the potential for long term growth, it’s growing in popularity for all kinds of investors. Silver is a precious metal, less rare than gold but with a similar finite supply and is used in many commercial applications making the supply and demand situation a foregone conclusion. High and rising demand coupled with a limited supply can only prove long term silver investment to be a profitable one.
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Silver UK coins offer good starter coins with greater divisibility than bars.

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When compared to silver bars, tax free coins provide greater flexibility when it comes to selling your silver. Due to coins having a higher cost of production, bars offer better value for your money when you are purchasing a greater volume of silver but do not allow divisibility of your assets in the same way as coins. Also, coins (other than silver bullion) offer a chance of achieving greater returns when you factor in collector’s premiums. Old British coins, for instance, can have a scarcity value that may appreciate more than the price of silver alone. There are several options to choose from when buying through Physical Gold and other silver coin dealers:

You can easily buy silver coins UK and international releases with Physical Gold orders are delivered directly to your door using our fully insured courier service.
The Silver Britannia is one of the most popular investment coins.
The Silver Britannia is one of the most popular investment coins.
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We carefully source silver coins UK and internationally which offer a VAT-free solution for investors as well as offering the Silver Britannia which is also exempt from Capital Gains Tax. You can select from our silver bullion coins; investment grade, un-circulated British coins for sale at a discount rate. We also supply old British coins that have historical or collectable value. Usually attracting a greater premium than bullion, collectable coins appeal to numismatists as well as investors.
You can buy silver coins for sale in the UK sourced internationally that are also offered with VAT exemption. We supply a range of foreign VAT free silver coins including the Austrian Philharmonic 1 oz, Silver Maple Leaf and 1 kilo Australian series. We can offer economies of scale when you purchase greater volumes of these coins. The 1 kilo Australian series is a popular choice of silver coin for sale in the UK as its large size offers value for money. A weighty piece that whilst not offering good divisibility retains a collectable premium. This size of coin negates the premiums of manufacturing costs for the equivalent value of coins in smaller denominations. Offering similar economies of scale to silver bars, the 1 kilo coin comes in a variety of designs to celebrate native Australian wildlife and includes the silver Kookaburra and Koala.
If you are investing specifically to avoid Capital Gains Tax (CGT) then the Silver Britannia is the best option. An iconic bullion coin, the Silver Britannia is issued annually with 2017 marking its 20th Anniversary and is also available in a variety of sizes to appeal to the collector’s markets. The 1 oz coin offers the best value for investment purposes, but collectors may be drawn to this coin for numismatic reasons; particularly as the design of the Britannia changes regularly. Exempt from CGT, the Silver Britannia is a great way to future proof the profits from your silver investment.
As silver coins dealers, we can also supply limited edition, proof and collectable UK silver coins including old British coins. Collectable series of silver British coins such as the Queen’s Beast, Lunar and Landmarks range, issued by the Royal Mint, are limited in number and have attracted a good deal of interest from both the domestic market as well as foreign markets. One of our best silver coins for sale is the 2oz Dragon silver bullion coin, the third in the Queen’s Beast series, it is a popular choice with both investors and collectors. The low price point entry for this coin makes it a good choice for both investors and collectors.
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Genuine silver coins are not magnetic. With purity of popular silver investment coins such as Britannias close to 100%, only replica (fake!) coins will be magnetic. Coins made with far lower purities of silver, mainly mixing in steel or iron will show signs of magnetism, so should be avoided. Non-magnetism doesn’t guarantee that the coin is silver though. Metals filled with a core of non-silver will likely not be magnetic either.
Yes, their value is a combination of the underlying silver price, their weight, and the coin’s rarity and desirability. Generally, a silver coin will sell for around 96-98% of the current silver value for its weight. So, a 1oz coin may fetch around £11 or so. If the coin is part of a limited issue and demand is higher, the value is likely to be 5-10% higher.
It’s advised to hold coins for the long term and always hold a portion of your wealth in silver as a balance and hedge against market downturns. Having said that, the amount you hold can vary according to market conditions and the silver price. Timing will depend on the price and time you bought them (was the market high or low), your need to liquidate and the current silver price. Buying low and selling high is the ideal scenario!
Yes, they are legal tender in their country of issue if they possess a face value. In the UK, Silver Britannias and other Royal Mint issued coins have face values and can, in theory, be used in shops. But this would be an uneconomical choice. With a face value of 2 Pounds, the silver content alone is worth at least five times that. Instead, the legal tender status helps silver investors as any capital gains made upon selling the coins are free from tax.
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Choosing silver coins vs silver rounds will depend (ultimately) upon your objectives. Silver rounds can generally be bought at lower prices for their weight as they’re produced by private companies rather than national mints. With less liquidity, rounds are likely to be sold as scrap in the future. Coins though have a face value and its possible to save 20% in VAT because of this. Certain legal tender coins are also CGT free, so any profits are tax exempt.
The best way is first to keep them in the plastic capsules or tunes they arrived in. If they came loose, then purchase some coin tubes. Large orders of 250 coins or more can come in monster boxes of 20 tubes or more and can help with neat stacking. Try to handle your coins as little as possible. Placing carbon pieces from a pet shop in the box can help prevent the hydrogen sulphide tarnishing the coins.
Silver acts as a preserver for many substances. As a colloidal metal, it can help prevent diseases and be anti-bacterial. Certainly, adding a clean silver coin to some water will help with its purity. However, simply dropping a silver coin into a glass of dirty water will not rid it of all its nasty elements.
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The best place to buy all precious metals is from a reputable dealer. They will likely have a wide choice and stock which can be delivered to you with insured delivery, saving you the time and security of having to pick them up in person. A good dealer will be able to offer guidance and a buyback guarantee. Some silver brokers can sell coins without charging VAT.
Currently, they are incredibly cheap relative to their historical ratio to gold. This would suggest that their value is set to rise in the future. Coins offer superb divisibility rather than buying silver bars but still offer quantity discounts. UK coins can be VAT and CGT free, which foreign silver bars and coins cannot. With industrial demand for silver in computers on the rise, the future looks bright for silver.
Rare coins with history are always worth more than coins based on weight alone. Collectors are willing to pay huge premiums for scarcity. Some Morgan Silver Dollar coins worth 1$ Face value and £8 melt value, are actually worth over £300k due to their scarcity. Based on weight alone, the popular 1kilo coins such as the Perth Mint Koalas and Kookaburra coins are worth around £500 each.
Investment coins are as near to pure as possible. Popular bullion coins such as the Britannia are struck to 99.99% purity. None are 100% pure silver. Silver currency coins such as the 50 pence piece are not made from silver at all despite their colour. Their alloy is 75% copper and 25% nickel, a mix known as cupronickel.
The number of banks offering a retail service selling silver coins is dwindling. It’s now only possible to buy from certain banks such as Scotiabank in some countries, but not in the UK. This is because the banks don’t want to commit the necessary resource for dealing in precious metals. For this reason, any who can source your silver coins, will not buyback. The price they sell at will be relatively high, reflecting their lack of appetite for the business.
A natural by-product of silver is its reaction to chemicals and humidity in the air. Tarnishing occurs when the silver atoms encounter oxygen, forming a silver oxide. Unlike rust, this protective layer doesn’t infiltrate into the silver. Tarnishing, also known as toning, can be removed by using a coin cleaning solution and minimised by keeping coins in airtight containers.
They are worth significantly more than their face value. A £2 silver Britannia has a melt value more than 5 times its face value. Also, they can possess a degree of numismatic value, which reflects their rarity, age and desirability. Limited issue coins may be worth more again. The face value benefits the buyer by qualifying the coin as capital gains tax-free.
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Placing a silver coin into milk will delay the time it takes to go off. The coin has to be 99.9% pure rather than a lower mix alloy to work. The natural anti-bacterial qualities of colloidal silver will not prevent the milk spoiling entirely but can prolong its life for 5-10 days. Infact, before refrigeration, silver was used regularly to achieve longer life milk and keep water pure.
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One or two silver dealers have developed intricate systems to allow the purchase of coins without charging VAT. Physical Gold Limited achieve this by selling coins with a face value which have a supply chain which touches a point within the EU first. This triggers an EU double taxation treaty, allowing VAT free silver coins.
Silver is far cheaper than gold, making it more accessible to the modest investor. The current price ratio between the two metals is at its widest point in history, suggesting silver has far more potential upside. Gold acts more like a classic safe haven to protect investors in economic downturns. While silver also acts in a similar way it also benefits from industrial demand due to its conductive qualities. Silver can be more volatile and dealer spreads are slightly wider than the gold market.
Our 50p and 5p coins are known as silver. However, they no longer contain any silver at all. Instead, they consist of cupronickel, a mix of nickel and copper. This is far cheaper and more resilient than using silver. Silver investment coins like the Britannia consist of 99.99% pure silver. While they have a face value, they are not actively in circulation. In theory, you can legally spend this coin in the shops, but its £2 face value is less than a fifth of its silver value.
Vinegar can be used to clean non-valuable coins but is not recommended for pure silver coins. The use of vinegar could lower the value of the coin. The best bet to clean is with warm soapy water. Avoid using a brush as silver can be soft and scratch. Instead, use a cloth and fingers to rub any dirt away after soaking.
Silver investment coins are made from pure silver (99.99% purity usually). Silver currency coins such as the fifty pence piece or 5p are made from a mixture of nickel and copper. The alloy consists of 75% copper and 25% nickel, which when combined form a resilient metal known as cupronickel. UK coins were made from 92.5% sterling silver until 1920 and then this reduced to around 50% purity until 1947. Cupronickel was introduced in 1971.
Silver Eagles can provide a good medium to long term investment and balance to other assets. The 1oz coins afford high flexibility to sell small parts of the silver holding compared to owning huge silver bars. The mass-produced coins are relatively cheap compared to collectors' coins and their value can rise along with the underlying silver price and age of the coin. Many analysts feel the silver price is very undervalued, suggesting holding silver Eagles will benefit the investor in the long run.
They can be sold in various ways. Many silver dealers can be found online who will pay you according to the weight of silver, and potentially extra if the coins have a historical or scarcity premium. They will be able to explain the process, but generally, you will need to send the coins to them after agreeing on a price. These coins can also be sold at auctions (for highly valuable coins or large collections), at a local jeweller if convenience is a higher priority than price, or privately.
The best coins to invest in for UK investors are the Royal Mint produced coins. The silver Britannia should form the backbone of the investment as the standard coin is cheap but very liquid. Combining this with some more limited issue coins such as the Queen's Beasts and Lunar series will provide portfolio balance and create the chance to benefit from these coins rising in value quicker due to limited issue. All UK Silver coins have the advantage of being Capital Gains Tax-free.
Your average high street bank will not buy them from you. It’s possible they would exchange the coins for their face value but that would be a foolish strategy as these values fall well short of the actual value. It's far better to seek the help of a reputable silver dealer who specialises in precious metals and will pay well for them as they can sell them onto other customers.
In theory, yes, silver coins can conduct electricity. But we’re only talking about the pure silver investment coins which contain 99.9% silver. Silver is by far the most conductive of all elements, to the point, where all other metals are benchmarked against silver to gauge conductivity. Silver currency coins which contain no silver at all will conduct electricity at a far lower level.
If you have very old coins with a value far greater than its simple silver weight, then either sell them through an auction of a specialist dealer. For bullion silver coins, silver dealers will provide the best price and trustworthy service. If you have time on your hands, then you can try selling privately through portals such as eBay, but this poses risks. For scrap coins, local jewellers are easy to sell to but are prepared for low prices.
Uncirculated silver coins are recommended for investors. They are far cheaper than proof coins so you can get more silver for your money. Silver dealers won’t pay much more for silver proof coins when you come to sell. If you’re a coin collector, then proof coins can add a higher sense of finish and exclusivity to the coin.
The best way to clean valuable silver coins is with warm soapy water. Soak the coins for 10 to 15 minutes turning them occasionally. The coins can then be rubbed dry with a cloth, paying attention to removing any surface dirt. Avoid using a brush which could scratch the silver or chemicals like vinegar which could detract from the coin’s lustre.
Silver coins should ideally be bought when the economy is quiet, and the stock markets are doing well. This usually means a low silver price so you can secure coins at this level. The value of coins rises with the underlying silver price and should be considered a medium to long term hold due to short term volatility. Buying silver regularly is another strategy to gradually accumulate a substantial holding by averaging out buy prices.
Silver coins can be bought directly from the US Mint’s website. In a similar way to the Royal Mint, you’re restricted to buying coins only produced by the mint. They won’t sell 3rd party coins. Due to their reputation, the mint doesn’t need to be super competitive on prices and won’t generally offer quantity discounts. There is a focus on boxed proof coins rather than bullion coins. Better deals will be had from buying from a silver dealer, who will offer to buy back the coins, provide lower prices and more choice.
If you want hassle-free storage, it’s best to store coins with the silver dealer from whom you bought. This usually entails storage in a specialist warehouse to maintain the silver’s integrity and includes insurance. If you want to store yourself, then the coins should be kept somewhere secure and be insured against theft. Reducing the amount of handling and oxygen to the coins will help prevent tarnishing. Keep the coins in their tube and keep airtight if possible. If bought in large quantity, silver coin tubes can be stored in monster boxes (of 20-25 tubes), and the boxes conveniently stacked.
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A very quick way to test silver coins is to place an ice cube on top of the coin. As the world’s best conductor of electricity, the ice cube should start to melt immediately compared to one placed on a wooden surface. Testing the silver coin for magnetism can’t prove it’s genuine, but any sign of sticking to the magnet will prove it’s a fake. When looking at well-known silver coins, careful visual comparisons with a real silver coin will usually unearth some straightforward differences with finish, detail and edging.
Silver Britannias are the best silver coins to buy for investment. They’re mass-produced bullion coins so offer a high degree of value. Limited issue coins tend to command a premium. Britannias are 1oz in weight so provide divisibility. Any profits made on selling silver Britannia coins are CGT exempt as the coins are legal tender in the UK. There’s a strong second-hand demand for the coins so selling prices are high.
Britannia coins are an excellent investment for the medium to long term. Silver is currently very cheap compared to historical values. Industrial demand for silver is rising with advances in technology as silver is used for its conductive qualities. Silver Britannias are an excellent option is they’re highly liquid, world-renowned and tax-free for UK investors.
Buying silver coins is an excellent option for those seeking a tangible asset with no counterparty risks. The value of silver can rise with industrial and investment demand, but supply is very limited due to its precious metals status. Coins can be a better option to buy than silver bars as they can be tax-free and can be sold is small sizes. Discounts are available for buying in larger quantities of coins.
Don’t be tempted to buy coins from online shops like eBay and Craigslist. Authenticity can be a huge problem if you buy privately. Stick to buying from prominent silver dealers so you can rest assured that the silver is real. They will also provide the facility to store the silver if you wish, deliver it to your door, and buy it back in the future. Physical Gold Limited have structured their online portal to offer silver coins without charging VAT.

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