(The Value of Hand Poured Silver, continued...)
First, hand poured silver is individually created. The silver for each and every bar is weighed, melted, poured, weighed again, any rough edges are buffed and then it's weighed again. At this point it goes to the person who will stamp the bar. The stamping process in itself is a monumental task and requires a talent for getting it right "the first time". If not, the whole bar has to start over. If you ever try to stamp a 1 oz silver bar, you'll find it's not an easy assignment to line up the logos, weights, purity designation and any other stamps such as the date or serial number, some of which have to be stamped as individual numbers or lettering.
Second, you need to keep in mind that when you purchase a hand poured silver bar you will almost always receive more than the designated weight. A 1 oz silver bar will undoubtedly weigh 1.02 or 1.05 or something similar. All other weights will be slightly over as well. This insures that the purchaser will not be shorted. So, unlike minted bars which will be exactly what they say, hand poured bars will always give you more silver in each bar.
When you invest in hand poured silver you do so because you enjoy it. The value is there, but so is the collection of unique pieces of craftsmanship. It makes silver collecting interesting as well as financially sound. Let me ask you this....if friends ask to see your silver collection, which would you rather astonish them with....a stack of silver eagles (which are beautiful) or a stash of different hand poured silver bars and rounds, all unique, all different and not one that's not eye catching. Personally, I can see the same minted rounds and bars in anyone's collection or even online because they all look alike. Show me your hand poured collection and I'm there -- ogling, gawking and wanting to feel them in my hand with the best of them.
First, hand poured silver is individually created. The silver for each and every bar is weighed, melted, poured, weighed again, any rough edges are buffed and then it's weighed again. At this point it goes to the person who will stamp the bar. The stamping process in itself is a monumental task and requires a talent for getting it right "the first time". If not, the whole bar has to start over. If you ever try to stamp a 1 oz silver bar, you'll find it's not an easy assignment to line up the logos, weights, purity designation and any other stamps such as the date or serial number, some of which have to be stamped as individual numbers or lettering.
Second, you need to keep in mind that when you purchase a hand poured silver bar you will almost always receive more than the designated weight. A 1 oz silver bar will undoubtedly weigh 1.02 or 1.05 or something similar. All other weights will be slightly over as well. This insures that the purchaser will not be shorted. So, unlike minted bars which will be exactly what they say, hand poured bars will always give you more silver in each bar.
When you invest in hand poured silver you do so because you enjoy it. The value is there, but so is the collection of unique pieces of craftsmanship. It makes silver collecting interesting as well as financially sound. Let me ask you this....if friends ask to see your silver collection, which would you rather astonish them with....a stack of silver eagles (which are beautiful) or a stash of different hand poured silver bars and rounds, all unique, all different and not one that's not eye catching. Personally, I can see the same minted rounds and bars in anyone's collection or even online because they all look alike. Show me your hand poured collection and I'm there -- ogling, gawking and wanting to feel them in my hand with the best of them.
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