.999 vs. 90% Ag: What is the best ratio?

[theo]

Most people who invest in Ag (in the U.S at least) seem to gravitate to either 90% coins or .999 rounds and bars. So what do you think is the best ratio between the two? Also, does anybody favor a significant percentage of any other forms (40% halves, Canadian 80%, Swiss 83% etc)?

Just curious.

[slvrbck]

I buy silver when I find it priced to be what I consider cheap. Haven't bought very much in the past 3 yrs. doesn't really matter what form as long as it's recognizable and legit

[SilverDragon72]

Personally, I like to get both kinds...the .999 or 90%

I'll take shiny in any form I can get.

[paymehigher]

I am also interested in what people think on this.

[Engineer]

I am also interested in what people think on this.

999:900 ratio doesn't matter as much as liquidity.

[Hawkeye]

I like whatever I can get! I've been back and forth on this question. I might lean a little toward .999 just because I like that a 1 oz round is 1 oz of silver. If I see 5 ASEs, I don't have to break out the calculator to see if I'm getting a good deal or not, like I would have to do with 5 90% quarters or halves. Not a big deal, but I also just like the shininess of .999. Personally, I also like 80% Canadian - I like the coin designs and I like the fact that all denominations are .6 oz per 1$ face.

I have no idea what my actual percentages are, but, just for fun, something like this would be my preference:

60% .999 (50% government rounds/10% generic rounds/bars)
25% 90% American
15% 80% Canadian

[cooyon]

I like whatever I can get! I've been back and forth on this question. I might lean a little toward .999 just because I like that a 1 oz round is 1 oz of silver. If I see 5 ASEs, I don't have to break out the calculator to see if I'm getting a good deal or not, like I would have to do with 5 90% quarters or halves. Not a big deal, but I also just like the shininess of .999. Personally, I also like 80% Canadian - I like the coin designs and I like the fact that all denominations are .6 oz per 1$ face.

I have no idea what my actual percentages are, but, just for fun, something like this would be my preference:

60% .999 (50% government rounds/10% generic rounds/bars)
25% 90% American
15% 80% Canadian

+1

I also like US 40% due to limited downside of the .50 FV, bought about 3,000 of them five years ago or so when Ag was way down, at about 1.10-1.20 each. Have always liked Canadian .800 because it's so easy to calculate with .6000 oz per $ FV. Also bought a lot of foreign silver crowns which had ASW close to either .77 or .72 similar to US 90% and cartwheels, like Panama balboas and French 5FR. Silver is silver, although for some reason I have never been excited about .925 sterling, don't know why.

[CLINT-THE-GREAT]

Personally, I like to get both kinds...the .999 or 90%

I'll take shiny in any form I can get.

This is me as well. I like both for different reasons....

-The Great

[theo]

Advantages of .999 Ag

1. Ideal for investment due to purity.
2. Generally .999 issues are considered more attractive
3. Denominations make them easier to count and store.

Advantages of 90% U.S./80% Canadian coins

1. Favorable as barter currency/trade-able asset in case of currency crisis
2. Lower premiums
3. More opportunities for numismatic gains

I think that your preference between 90% vs. .999 depends, in part, on how you see things playing out. A currency/economic collapse favors 90% (and 80%) coins, however rising commodity prices with the present financial/economic system in tact seems to favor .999 Ag.

[SilverDragon72]

Personally, I like to get both kinds...the .999 or 90%

I'll take shiny in any form I can get.

This is me as well. I like both for different reasons....

-The Great

There is something so satisfying about having both forms of silver. Just the feel of the coins in your hand as a solid investment.

90% Constitutional silver....great!

.999 Pure Silver? Simply awesome!

Either way, I feel that you just can't lose with either choice.

[Computer Jones]

Ag is Ag.

If I can stack at spot (or less) I'll take any I can get; be it 99.99%, 92.5%, 90%, 80%, 40%, 35%, etc.

I figure it should preserve the wealth I put into it, and I'll be able to get something for it if I should need to in the future. Otherwise, it will end up with my Grandchildren, or their Grandchildren.

[TwoPenniesEarned]

If you live in Canada like I do then I'd say grab the 80% whenever you can get it. Canadian currency controls allow you to leave the country with up to $9,999 in cash in whatever denomination you want...which means you can leave the country with 6000 ounces of legal tender coinage.

In the US there's a $5.00 limit on coins.

So I prefer the CDN junk for its cross border flexibility.

[Hawkeye]

I forgot all about 40% and war nickels. I like those too. I guess I'll take anything I can get at what feels like a decent price.

[scyther]

If you live in Canada like I do then I'd say grab the 80% whenever you can get it. Canadian currency controls allow you to leave the country with up to $9,999 in cash in whatever denomination you want...which means you can leave the country with 6000 ounces of legal tender coinage.

In the US there's a $5.00 limit on coins.

I'm pretty sure that's not true... you're probably thinking of pennies and nickels.