Top Silver Coins

• American Silver Eagle
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
• British Silver Britannia
• Mexican Silver Libertad
• Somali Silver Elephant
• Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic
• Morgan Silver Dollar
• 90% Silver “Junk” Dimes
• Australian Silver Kangaroo
• Chinese Silver Panda

Silver’s spot price has nearly doubled between December 2025 and January 2026, prompting a lot of excitement among investors. Many people are interested in buying silver amid rising prices, but that raises a question: what are the best silver coins to buy?

Several factors affect what silver coins you should buy. We’ll discuss both these factors and the top ten best silver coins to buy in this guide! Read on to find the answers you need.

What Factors Make a Silver Coin Good? Choosing the Best Silver Coins to Buy

When deciding the best silver coins to buy, there are some factors to take into account. Some of those factors include:

• Silver purity
• Liquidity
• Design and popularity
• Sovereign mint vs. private mint
• Condition (Grade)

Silver purity refers to the amount of silver in a coin. Most of the coins in this list are bullion coins, meaning that they have .999 or .9999 silver purity. These are the highest levels of silver that a coin can have, and these coins also https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/investments-in-collectibles-in-individually-directed-qualified-plan-accounts" target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>qualify for a precious metals IRA.

Liquidity refers to how easy it is to exchange or trade a coin. More liquid coins are more valued by investors.

Another factor that affects a coin’s worth is its design and popularity. Like all commodities, precious metals like silver are ruled by supply and demand. The more demand there is for a coin model, the more worthwhile it is for you to have one.

Mints also matter a great deal. Sovereign mints, meaning mints run by a government, have significant reputability in the precious metals market. However, several private mints have highly esteemed reputation. So, the mint that produces a coin matters a lot when you invest in silver bullion coins.

The final thing in our list is a coin’s condition and grade. This part really only matters for numismatic, or collectible, coins. These coins are different from bullion coins because they are not primarily valued for their precious metal contents, but rather for their rarity, design, and historical value.

Comparison of Top Silver Coins by Purity, IRA Eligibility, Mint, Premiums, and Numismatic Value

American Silver Eagles

https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins/american-silver-eagle">American Silver Eagles come courtesy of the United States Mint. This coin was first minted at the San Francisco Mint in 1986, and has continued to be minted annually. In 1993, minting moved to the Philadelphia Mint, then to West Point in 2001.

The American Silver Eagle contains one troy ounce of .999 fine silver. It is the only silver bullion coin with legal tender status in the U.S., and the IRS has given permission for its inclusion in a precious metals IRA, https://www.moneymetals.com/programs/iras">such as the IRAs we offer.

Its obverse side bears the famous “Walking Liberty” design, created by Adolph Weinman in 1916. Until 2021, its reverse bore the Shielded Eagle design created by M. Mercanti. Midway through 2021, the coin’s reverse design changed to the Flying Eagle created by Emily Damstra.

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Canadian Silver Maple Leafs

The https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins/canadian-silver-maple-leaf">Canadian Silver Maple Leaf is another much beloved coin for silver stackers and investors. Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, this coin contains one ounce of .9999 silver. This purity makes this coin one of the purest silver coins on the market.

You can find this coin in either bullion or proof form. Like the Silver Eagle, the Silver Maple Leaf holds legal tender currency status in Canada. It has a face value of $5 Canadian dollars, though its actual worth far exceeds that.

One reason that investors love this coin is because of its extra security features. The Royal Canadian Mint uses unique technology to ensure the authenticity of these products. These security features include the use of radial lines, laser mark micro-engraving, and “Bullion DNA”. Essentially, all of these things create a unique pattern of lines in a coin that no other coin in the mint has.

These marks are not visible without technology and are incredibly hard to replicate. So, investors can have their Silver Maple Leaf coins scanned in a database. That database can confirm whether this coin is a genuine product of the Royal Canadian Mint.

The coin’s obverse has historically depicted Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait. This shifted after the Queen’s death in 2021. In 2024, the Royal Canadian Mint began minting the Silver Maple Leaf with King Charles III’s portrait on its obverse.

The reverse is the side that gives the coin its name. It shows the nation’s symbol, the Maple Leaf. This symbol gives the coin a patriotic spirit for Canadian investors. It is also worth noting that this is the only other silver coin that the IRS allows Americans to use in a precious metals IRA.

British Silver Britannias

The Royal Mint has released the British Silver Britannia every year since 1987. Like the Maple Leaf and American Eagle, this coin enjoys legal tender status in its home nation. Moreover, unlike most of the bullion coins on this list, this coin is free from a capital gains tax.

The coin contains one troy ounce of .999 silver. https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins/silver-britannia">Its obverse depicts Britannia, a woman of strength, serenity, and beauty. She holds a shield with the Union Jack in her right hand, along with an olive branch, symbolizing peace and stability. The trident represents Britain’s historic position as a naval power.

For most of the coin’s history, its reverse has shown various portraits of Queen Elizabeth. However, with the Queen’s death in 2021, the Royal Mint transitioned to a https://www.moneymetals.com/british-britannia-king-charles-1-troy-oz-999-pure-silver/897">portrait of King Charles III in 2023.

Mexican Silver Libertads

https://www.moneymetals.com/silver-mexican-libertad/375">Mexican Silver Libertads have been in production since 1982 by the Mexican Mint. Initially, it was released as a 1 oz Brilliant Uncirculated coin, with a 1 oz proof version following in 1983. The series later expanded into various fractional silver iterations.

The Silver Libertad contains one ounce of .999 fine silver. The Mexican Mint strictly limits the number of Silver Libertads released, averaging less than one million coins per year since 2008. Strikings from 2000 and beyond show a winged woman from the Mexican Independence Victory column on the front and an eagle on a cactus consuming a snake on the back.

Somalia Silver Elephants

Somali Silver Elephants are a part of the African Wildlife series. This coin comes from the Bavarian State Mint (Germany), despite being issued by the nation of Somalia.

The coin has a legal tender status of 100 shillings; its initial metal composition was .999 fine silver. The Somalia Silver Elephant coins switched to .9999 fine silver purity in 2016 and have retained this purity standard ever since.

The coin’s obverse shows the Somalian Coat of Arms, and the reverse shows various elephant designs. Different artists present new designs for the coin with each annual iteration. The variety in these coin designs makes them beloved commodities with collectors.

Austrian Silver Philharmonics

https://www.moneymetals.com/austrian-philharmonic-silver-one-ounce-coin/142">The Austrian Silver Vienna Philharmonic, also known as the “Silver Phil” was first struck in 2008. Its design came courtesy of Thomas Pesendorfer, the renowned coin designer of the Austrian Mint. Minted in Vienna, the coin contains one troy ounce of .999 pure silver. One fun fact about this coin is that it holds legal tender status; it is the first of its kind to have a face value based on the Euro.

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The coin’s face displays the organ in the Musikverein, the world-famous concert hall that serves as the home of the Vienna Philharmonic. The reverse shows a harp, cello, violins, a French horn, and a bassoon with the words Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic).

As of 2026, the Austrian Philharmonic has reached a total mintage of more than 100 million coins since 2008. Annual mintage varies, but has ranged between 3-15 million in high-demand years.

Morgan Silver Dollars

This is the first coin on our list that is not a bullion grade item. Instead, this coin is an example of Constitutional silver, also known as “junk silver”: it is a coin minted before 1965 with a 90% silver, 10% copper composition.

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The United States minted hundreds of https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/silver-dollars/morgan-dollars">millions of Morgan Silver Dollar coins between 1878 and 1921 before transitioning to the Peace Dollar in 1921. In 2021, the United States Mint reissued both coins in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of that change. Additional strikes of both coins were released in 2023 and 2024.

The coin’s design is what makes it so memorable. It depicts Lady Liberty on the obverse, facing left, and surrounded by 13 stars. The reverse shows a somewhat gaunt-looking eagle, which earned the coin the nickname of the “Buzzard Dollar.”

Numismatic collectors should be on the lookout for a few details when they purchase Morgan Dollars. The first thing to look for is the Eagle tail feathers. Initially, the eagle showed eight tail feathers.

However, after only 11 days, the Mint changed the number of tail feathers to seven. The reason for this was that eagles generally have an odd number of feathers, so the eight feathers was technically inaccurate. An intermediary variety was struck where the 8-feather was struck with 7 feathers, leaving visible remnants of the 8th feather underneath.

The final, corrected design was the 7-tail feathers, which became the standard for all subsequent Morgan Dollars after 1878. Because of these changes, the earlier versions of the coin are more rare and hold more numismatic appeal.

Another factor that can affect a Morgan Silver Dollar’s worth is the mint that produced it. Three mints produced this coin:

• Philadelphia Mint
• Denver Mint
• New Orleans Mint

The Philadelphia Mint produced higher quality coins than New Orleans did, making their coins more valuable.

90% Silver “Junk” Dimes

https://www.moneymetals.com/guides/silver-dimes">Silver dimes circulated pre-1965 in the U.S., are considered junk silver by many investors. These coins, which you can sometimes find amongst your pocket change, are 90% silver and are often sold to be melted down.

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Identifiable by their issue year, their silvery luster, and the tell-tale silver edge (modern dimes have a stripe of brown through their center when viewed edge-on), these coins contain approximately 0.0723 troy ounces of silver each.

Three distinct designs make up the majority of silver dimes:

• The Barber
• The Mercury
• The Roosevelt

Due to the wide availability of these silver dimes and their easily-graded value, they make a reliable investment purchase.

Australian Silver Kangaroos

The https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins/australian-silver-kangaroo">Australian Silver Kangaroo is a popular silver bullion coin issued by the Perth Mint. It contains one troy ounce of .9999 pure silver. This coin has legal tender status in Australia, with a face value of $1 AUD. The obverse has historically depicted Queen Elizabeth II, though its 2024-2026 iterations show a portrait of King Charles III. The coin’s reverse shows a kangaroo, with different designs premiering each year. The changing designs give these coins a significant collector appeal. Another reason that investors love these coins is their increased security measures. Similar to the Silver Maple Leaf, modern iterations of the Australian Silver Kangaroo include a micro-laser engraved letter for security. These engravings become visible with the proper magnification tools.

Chinese Silver Pandas

The https://www.moneymetals.com/buy/silver/coins/chinese-silver-panda">Chinese Silver Panda is another famous silver bullion coin beloved by investors. The series features annually changing panda designs on the coin’s obverse, with the reverse showing the Hall of Prayer for Abundant Harvests in the Temple of Heaven. Since 2016, the People’s Republic of China has minted these coins in 30-gram metric weights, rather than the standard 1 troy ounce. The coin has a limited number of coins produced each year, especially in the earlier years of the coin’s run.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the best silver coin for beginners?

A: Generally speaking, the best silver coin for beginners is the American Silver Eagle. This coin is eligible for a precious metals IRA, holds legal tender status, and comes from one of the world’s most trusted mints.

Q: Can I buy silver coins in an IRA?

A: Yes, you can buy eligible silver coins in a self-directed precious metals IRA. Popular coin choices include the American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, and the Austrian Silver Philharmonic

Q: Are silver coins a better investment than silver bars?

A: Silver coins tend to offer greater liquidity, government-backed authority, and legal tender status. Silver bars, however, often offer lower premiums per ounce, making them more cost-effective for large-scale purchases. The best choice depends on your investment goals and storage plans.

Q: What is the safest way to store silver coins long-term?

A: For long-term security, silver coins should be stored in a cool, dry, and secure location. Options include a home safe, a bank safety deposit box, or a professional depository like the insured vault storage offered by Money Metals Exchange.

Find the Best Silver Coins to Buy with Money Metals Exchange

Finding the best silver coins to buy is easy when you find a trusted precious metals exchange. Fortunately, Money Metals Exchange makes it easy for you to find each and all of these coins!

Our catalog contains several types of silver coins, including many listed in this article and many others besides. You can also purchase silver bars, rounds, and other precious metals products. If you’re not sure where to store your silver asset, you can also store your coins through our https://www.moneymetals.com/silver-gold-storage">third-party storage services.

We make it easy for you to purchase our precious metals products on our online store. However, you can also address any questions to our customer service team by calling our lines at:

1-800-800-1865

Once you have your questions answered, you can also place your order by phone. Call Money Metals today to find the best silver coins for your portfolio!