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If you were going to buy...

tnsprotnspro Posts: 786 ✭✭✭
in Precious Metals
If you were going to buy some 10oz troy silver bullion bars as a gift for my young nieces (that would be great, i can give you my address!!), does it matter if it is - Engelhard, NTR or others. Why are they different prices? The range from $298 - $335 or so - -- Because they are more 'collectable"? Can you tell i have no idea what i am talking about!

Any help you can give would be great. Looking to buy them from Provident.

Jim

Currency Wants: Any note with serial number 00000731

Comments

  • nibannynibanny Posts: 2,761 ✭
    Usually, well known refineries demand an higher premium, that you will get back when you decide to sell your bar.
    The top two manufacturers are Engelhard and Johnson Matthey, as you can see from the listed prices.

    If you are looking just for silver, NTR is fine. As a git, I would go with something better like the two mentioned above.

    Having said that, for a niece I would rather buy a little gold coin or bar - maybe with a bezel. I think a girl will prefer gold and a boy silver, but that's just my opinion.

    MM
    The member formerly known as Ciccio / Posts: 1453 / Joined: Apr 2009
  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,082 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If one was going to buy Krugerrands would it be worthwhile to try to get them holdered as genuine by PCGS?
    theknowitalltroll;
  • WingsruleWingsrule Posts: 3,010 ✭✭✭✭
    As Matteo said, JM and Engelhard are the top two in my opinion. Neither of them have been manufactured for decades so their is a limited supply and will generally command a higher premium. Others, like Silvertowne, NTR, etc. are cranked out daily and are very common. There are variations of the JM / E bars that command higher, and in some cases, ridiculous premiums for collectors because of their scarcity.

    I heard a story once of one of the 'non top two' getting popped for selling .999 silver that realy wasn't .999, but have never been able to verify that story.

    The premium you pay for JM or E now will still exist when they decide to sell them, although it may fluctuate (from a dollar standpoint) as spot varies.

    If you look at other bullion websites, you will see similar variations in premiums depending on the manufacturer.

    My $0.02
  • bronco2078bronco2078 Posts: 10,212 ✭✭✭✭✭


    I vote with the gold coin in a bezel. I picked up a pendant which was a nice 1/10th AGE in a hefty 14k bezel for straight melt recently . Not to sound sexist or whatever but in my experience women don't want silver rounds or bars as gifts but they like jewelry . A gold coin in a setting is jewelry and if you can get it for melt its a great deal. Also a well designed bezel can make a smallish gold coin much more impressive . When I was looking at the pendant I also looked at some 14k earrings each had a 2 peso coin set in it and those looked very nice as well but one had a broken stud so they would have needed to be fixed before they could be worn. Plenty of coin shops or we buy gold places will toss stuff like that on a scale and sell it by weight. They don't pay huge money for things like that when it walks through their door so if you pay more than the refiner you should be able to own it.

    Some jewelry even when offered at melt is hideously ugly and wouldn't go over very well so use your common sense . Gold does make a good gift but if the first person you think of when you see a piece is Mr. T its best to pass on it.



  • pursuitoflibertypursuitofliberty Posts: 6,910 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Since your nieces are young, I would consider a top brand, as they may own them for a number of years, at which time some of todays recognized minters may not be so recognized. That said, I would think other options besides just JM and Englehard could be appropriate. Sunshine makes and attractive bar, and they have a long history.

    Regarding a girls preference for silver over gold ... I have one daughter and no nieces, so I can only speak for one ... and frankly she digs silver way more than gold, especially when it comes to jewlery. I think that is all a matter of preference for each person.

    Finally, you might consider a silver eagle album and 8 to 10 ASE's to start them each out. I find young non-numismatic types really dig ASE's (at least American children), and this would then be a gift you could grow for them ... adding years for them on occassions as they get older. Also, depending on their age, 2 is better than 1 (and so on), right?

    just 2c worth on a quiet Sunday



    “We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”

    Todd - BHNC #242
  • tnsprotnspro Posts: 786 ✭✭✭
    Many thanks for the help everyone. They know nothing about coins or gold/silver so I just wanted to introduce them with something cool ....(10) 1oz bars should do it ....and 10oz is right around my budget for a birthday present for them. (6 girls) I am just trying to start them out with something simple and that would hold its value. I also think I should wait a while since the price right now is high but seems to be going down. The first b-day is in June so I have some time to shop around.

    Again, thanks!

    Jim

    Currency Wants: Any note with serial number 00000731
  • DrBusterDrBuster Posts: 5,378 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Man I'd go for some koalas or kooks over bars for nieces. Cool factor would be higher.
  • tydyetydye Posts: 3,894 ✭✭✭
    I would take a different approach. My daughter and nieces love when I take them to the coin shops that handle metal and let them pick out silver and gold jewelry. Usually the price is around spot. At least they can enjoy the silver and gold. $300 will buy a significant amount of jewelry in these types of places. My daughter has even snagged Tiffany out of these bins.
  • golfer72golfer72 Posts: 3,588
    Just be glad they are not your daughters! Now that would be expensive.
  • ModernCoinModernCoin Posts: 394
    I would never consider paying a premium for a 10oz bar unless it was a slight premium for old hand poured bars. Most local B&M's aren't going to pay more for a particular 10oz bar. Sure there are exceptions to that, but generally you won't recoup a premium for bullion silver. Since the gift is for young girls I think it would be wiser to spend a little more per ounce and give them something pretty like Koolas, Kooks, Lunars, etc. While most here recognize the beauty of a 10oz chunk of Ag, I certainly wouldn't expect a plain stacking bar to hold the attention of a young girl for very long. I would give them 5 premium 1oz rounds over a single 10oz block. Either way you're destined to be their favorite Uncle image.

  • BAJJERFANBAJJERFAN Posts: 31,082 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I would never consider paying a premium for a 10oz bar unless it was a slight premium for old hand poured bars. Most local B&M's aren't going to pay more for a particular 10oz bar. Sure there are exceptions to that, but generally you won't recoup a premium for bullion silver. Since the gift is for young girls I think it would be wiser to spend a little more per ounce and give them something pretty like Koolas, Kooks, Lunars, etc. While most here recognize the beauty of a 10oz chunk of Ag, I certainly wouldn't expect a plain stacking bar to hold the attention of a young girl for very long. I would give them 5 premium 1oz rounds over a single 10oz block. Either way you're destined to be their favorite Uncle image. >>




    Do those local B & Ms charge the premium when they sell the 10 ounce bars? Sounds a lot like their take on toned Morgans to me.
    theknowitalltroll;
  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My choices would be Engelhard or Johnson Matthey !!!
    Hope you find something really cool for the future.
    Timbuk3
  • morgantypemorgantype Posts: 456


    << <i>Just be glad they are not your daughters! Now that would be expensive. >>



    TRUTH!
    Many buy and sell transactions. Let's talk!
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