Inflation is rising, and silver has a history of holding its value over time unlike paper assets like stocks and bonds. Investors generally turn to silver as a “safe haven” investment and hedge against inflation. Silver can also offer protection from an economic crisis or market crash.

Silver is an industrial metal, which means it has tangible value and is used in the manufacture of a variety of things, from batteries to medical equipment. As these industries flourish, silver will remain in demand.

Gold generally holds its value and preserves your purchasing power over the long haul, despite fluctuations in the dollar. Gold can also serve as a hedge against recessions. When the stock market takes a dive, investors often flock to gold which increases its value.

Most analysts have a gold price forecast for 2025 of well over $3000 an ounce. Considering that, as of July 2025, the market has reached a spot price of over $3300 an ounce (up from the $2000 an ounce price in March of 2023), this alone suggests that there is a lot of momentum.

It appears that the downward correction in the platinum market has finally ended. In fact, prices have risen an impressive 133% from their lows. Platinum hit a low mark of $600 per ounce before rebounding in 2021. As of July 2025, its spot price is now over $1400 per ounce. Platinum's primary use is in the automobile industry as a necessary component in a car's catalytic converter. Platinum is 25 times rarer than gold.

Yes, there a strong market for fancy serial number notes. Examples include very low serial numbers generally three digits or less, repeating serial numbers, and serial numbers that could be someone’s birthday or anniversary. Some Star notes will have a premium, but this depends on the series and signature combination.

The United States Mint discontinued using silver in coins in 1964 for dimes and quarters. Half dollars saw a reduction in silver content in 1965 to 40%. This continued through 1970 with that alloy.

There are very few valuable coins still in circulation. Most of the silver got sorted out in the 1960’s. The Hunt brothers' attempt to corner the silver market in the late 1970s provided a catalyst for excessive sorting, with silver hitting almost $50 per ounce. We find perhaps one silver coin per year in circulating spare change at best.

Not intrinsically. There has to be collector demand. Just as an example, modern American Silver Eagles have had a big uptick in premiums this year while ancient Roman coins have stagnated or declined.

First, to determine whether a coin is real, we check the weight of the coin with a sensitive scale that weighs in grams. Most governments use extremely precise manufacturing methods. Even with wear, a coin should be very close to its known weight.

Secondly, many counterfeiters will miss small details. VAM World is an excellent resource for finding clues left behind from known die parings. Good magnification and light helps in this area.

Yes, provided they are certified by a few select services. PCGS, NGC, and ANACS coins carry a premium, and many dealers will buy these coins sight unseen based on these companies' reputations and standards of quality. There are many other companies in the space, but these companies are not broadly recognized and their slabs won’t likely carry a premium.

Graded coins with a CAC sticker added will bring an additional premium.

Almost all cleaning methods will change a coin's appearance and reduce its value. Chemicals and rubbing a coin will remove metal. Coins are struck at high pressure, giving the metal a high natural luster, and cleaning a coin will impair this luster.

Coins can be professionally cleaned and restored. Both NGC and PCGS offer a cleaning service with proprietary methods. Grand Rapids Coins LLC is a licensed dealer for both organizations, and we can submit coins for restoration.

It depends. There’s good toning and bad toning. Natural (not induced by a chemical or artificial process) rainbow-colored silver coins with red, blue, green, yellow, and gold colors are highly sought after by collectors. Having the obverse of a coin toned will bring more premium when compared to the reverse.

There is currently a very good market for rainbow toned coins in the Morgan Dollar space.

Darkly toned brown and black coins will usually decrease the value of a coin. Once a coin tones black, it’s pretty much irreversible. This is known in the hobby as terminal toning.