Introduction to Silver Stacking: What Silver to Buy!
It’s hard to give advice on exactly what to buy, since your motivations and plans may be a bit different, so there’s no easy answer to this.
So it’s almost going to double on a “plan your stacking” and “set stacking goals” and “stacking styles”
It is often suggested to plan your stacking and setting some goals. I would also say to set a budget of a monthly ounce count to add. It’s addicting and even though it does double as an investment and form of saving, it’s very easy to start spending too much on silver.
This is probably a good idea, there’s lots of different silver out there and you have to consider gold and other metals too. A perfect example most people may reference is why buy a 100oz silver bar when you can just buy an ounce of gold. It’s much easier to store and it’s also good to diversity across precious metals. (I’m not going to even present the debate regarding the gold to silver ratio vs its historic ratio and ratio as physical metal in excisions and suppression of silver price.) Honestly I don’t follow it that much, I’ll admit right now, I’m mostly a collector over an investor.
Collector vs Stacker
It’s not always a clear division, but let’s just put it out there, some silverbugs collect and some stack.
For collectors it’s all about the cool and unique silver, the one of everything, the year sets. Heck if you collect generic silver or just annual coins or can scour the junk bin at you LCS you may not even spend much more/oz than the stackers. But generally the collector is willing to spend a couple dollars more per oz of silver. Of course this adds up over the ounces, but at the same time if you think the silver price is already much suppressed and undervalued what’s a couple extra dollars per ounce.
For he stackers it’s all about the ounce count. They buy the most generic bullion at the best process. They can probably build a wall or a little house with all the 10oz bars they have. They scour the internet for every at spot deal and save up to buy the dips, or wait for the amazing deals to really add weight to the stack.
Of course you can always be somewhere in the middle, this is where planning your stack comes in. Maybe you decide you want to go 50/50, or let yourself 10-20% of your stack for more fun stuff. I used to think I was going to set a ratio, but I’ve since just went with 100% collector. I still have a nice little stack of silver and it’s damn fun to display, look at and show off. I hope to never have to sell it in a pinch, so I’m not too worried about the premium and feel it will still have more than enough value long term and still be silver if the bottom ever falls out.
Generics vs Numismatics
You can see that what you choose to stack will changed based on your goals and what type of silver bug you are. Stackers will focus more on junk silver and generic bullion. While collectors will focus more on the other types including; numismatics, graded silver, poured silver and semi-numismatics.
Like I said in the intro there is no right or wrong way to stack, but it’s good to be mindful and aware of the whole process.
Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more
Footer by @bearone
I started stacking to dig myself out of poverty. I buy myself a coin every week out of my wage, i feel like im paying myself a silver coin for all the hard work and it takes away all the emotion out of the remaining fiat that is used to pay rent and bills. I save £5 notes for gold, when there is enough for a sovereign or 1/4 beast i add a little gold to the stack, eventually i had to give up smoking to increse my funds to buy some collecables i wanted.
I would advise anyone wanting to start stacking to set out a long term plan, dont try and stack too quickly and play a long game. For someone stacking on a small budget save up a little first and buy a small gold coin to start the stack and then buy the silver to protect the gold piece like getting your chess pieces in place, get a good starting coin.
Been stacking since 2011 and im still living in poverty to a degree, sat on a broken sofa, renting a house in disrepair and driving a car thats 14 years old but my stack would more than buy a sofa, it could buy a brand new car and would be just enough for a nice deposit on my own house so im well on my way to dig myself out of the poverty trap ive always been in. I had a 10 year plan so i will assess where i am in 2022.
Awesome advice man. I think it's a great way to replace one habbit with another, like you mentioned smoking. If you just move that money to silver you will never notice and have quite the stack, Same for the morning coffee or daily fastfood or something.
As kid I collected coins which has led to my more recent obsession with silver. I guess I'm still more of a collector. So far I have only bought coins/rounds and have no bars or poured silver for that matter. Mostly I have Eagles and Maple Leafs and it's really only recently that I have branched out into other things. I have absolutely no plan though :)
Fortunately I have been content with occasional small purchases so I don't feel spending has been out of control...yet.
It seams like everyone starts out collecting as kid.
Curiosity question, do you also do like some people and save the pre-'83 pennies for the copper? Last I checked they were really worth 3¢ each in copper alone so people pool them, awaiting the day they are no longer legal tender and can be sold for the metal.
Oh I just realized you're in Canada! So the question is moot. Your govt already logically got rid of pennies, no?
We did get rid of pennies, but it doesn't stop people from stock piling them. Like me...lol. I have way too many pennies.
I've been a pure stacker until several months ago when the 2017 STEEM silver round came around. I normally still buy lowest price over spot that I can find (usually 5-15 oz of 0.999 at a time) but I am currently waiting on a few collector's pieces from @pit-bullion and can't wait for the 2018 STEEM round.
I also would like to increase my holdings in junk silver like the pre 1965 quarters and dimes too.
And you're right, it is way too easy too spend too much on silver per month. Luckily I've managed to keep it under control.
Yeah, It's easy to start to want to get all the cool stuff.
I am just starting out, and I set a monthly budget I am comfortable with.
Now, I think i've decided to try and split 50-50 between buying collectable, or artistic silver and silver that I can get close to spot.
I consider both an investment, but if I ever had to convert silver into fiat quickly, it would be easier to let go of the "boring" stuff at market value first, than to try and get top dollar for my unique or rare items.
Yeah, definantly, if it's a form of saving and you feel you may even need to sell some it's good to have some generic stuff.
My name is Huw and I’m a collector. It’s like an AA meeting. I’m just buying certain coins that take my fancy at any random time. I need to develop a plan though.
Yeah, if your just starting out, give a bit of though to a plan at least.
Good post with great information for new stackers. I always think about writing posts like this but never do.
Yeah, I've been sitting on the idea for a long time as well.
After a few months of being on here, it start to feel like your rewriting old topics. lmao.
Great write up! I'm a 50/50 collector. Sometimes you just can't pass up a nice slabbed reverse proof even if it's a little more. :)
A reverse proof it so nice, i'm with you there.
i think im definitely a collector.. i really like find coins that amuse my mind and bring the emotion out of me
Yeah that's prefect man. That's mostly me too!
@phelimint I will still collect to a point but as I get older I realize that my stacking is more about ounces than collections..........
Yeah, I wonder if I will change focus along the way.