The primary difference between silver rounds and silver coins is legal tender status. Rounds **are not** legal tender, and are generally made by private manufacturers. Both are made from highly pure silver.

coins and rounds

Morgan silver dollar coin, next to a 1 troy oz Morgan Design silver round (Gainesville Coins photo)

What Are Silver Coins?

Coins are legal tender, which means they have a face value or denomination. Thus silver coins are money. All coins are issued by governments. The coin will always have a date, the year in which it was made. The precious metal content of a coin is backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing government.

Although silver coins have always been money, today they are made for investment purposes or as collectibles. It would not be wise to spend a commemorative half dollar for 50 cents when it has roughly $10 worth of silver content!

Key takeaway: Silver coins are legal tender made by the government.

What Are Silver Rounds?

A silver round is a circular piece of silver bullion that has no monetary value and is manufactured by a private mint.

Think of silver rounds as disk-shaped silver bars. You can also think of them as modern versions of silver medals. By the end of this article, you will be familiar with both silver coins and silver rounds, and be able to easily tell the difference.

When you first look seriously at purchasing silver bullion, it's easy to get confused. Silver bars are pretty easy to understand. Silver bullion coins also make sense, once you get used to the idea that the face value on the coin has nothing to do with its actual worth. But when it comes to silver rounds, it's easy for the new silver investor to get confused.

Key takeaway: Silver rounds are disks of highly pure silver made by private manufacturers.

Coins Compared To Silver Rounds

CHARACTERISTICS OF COINS

  • Coins can only be issued by a national government.
  • Coins carry the name of the government that issued them.
  • Coin designs have to be approved by the government.
  • Coins carry a date.
  • Coins carry a denomination.
  • Coins are legal tender.
  • The weight and purity of bullion coins are backed by the government.
  • Prices of coins are higher than that of rounds.
  • Production of fake coins are prosecuted under anti-counterfeiting laws.
  • CHARACTERISTICS OF ROUNDS

  • Rounds are not issued by a government.*
  • Usually, only "Classic Design" silver rounds carry the name of a nation.
  • Rounds can carry any design the maker wants (subject to copyright law).
  • Most rounds do not carry a date.
  • Rounds can never display a denomination.
  • Rounds are not legal tender.
  • The weight and purity of silver rounds is backed by the reputation of the dealer.
  • Bullion rounds are cheaper than coins.
  • Production of fake rounds are prosecuted as fraud.
  • *Government-issued "rounds" are called medals or medallions, and are usually thicker and smaller than silver rounds. Medals do not carry a denomination, and are not legal tender.

    Key takeaway: Silver rounds lack the legal tender denomination of silver coins, among other minor differences.

    Pros and Cons of Silver Rounds vs Silver Coins

    Distinguishing between rounds and coins serves a practical purpose. Although similar, there is enough difference to create trade-offs between these two forms of silver bullion.

    ADVANTAGES OF ROUNDS VS COINS

  • Usually, rounds carry a lower premium than coins of the same weight and purity.
  • Rounds can feature any design or theme.
  • Rounds are typically easier to find for sale.
  • DISADVANTAGES OF ROUNDS VS COINS

  • Rounds often have lower production quality than coins.
  • Rounds are not backed by the full faith and credit of any government.
  • Most rounds are not collectible.
  • Key takeaway: Silver coins tend to be more expensive and more collectible than silver rounds, all else being equal.

    Why Do Silver Rounds Get Confused With Coins?

    It's no surprise that many people get confused when first encountering silver rounds. They're roughly the same size and weight as silver bullion coins and can have similar designs. Some common reasons that rounds get confused for coins are:

  • "Rounds" is an unfamiliar term to the general public. If you stopped someone on the street and asked them "What is a silver round?", they'd have no idea. It's no wonder that someone first looking to buy silver bullion is confused as well.
  • Both silver bullion coins and silver rounds have their weight and purity stamped on them. Modern silver bullion coins will always have their weight and purity stamped on them. Silver rounds will as well. To keep from being confused, remember: "No denomination means it's not a coin."
  • Silver rounds can have designs that look like old coins. No one would confuse a 1 oz "Buffalo Nickel design" silver round with a real buffalo nickel. Likewise, a "Mercury Dime design" silver round will never be confused for the real thing, either. But...
  • Silver rounds are similar in size to old silver dollars. Silver rounds are close enough in size to old silver dollars that people might confuse the two. This is why all silver rounds must have the word COPY stamped on them. Still, dishonest sellers used to hide the word COPY in the design to fool uneducated buyers.
  • To combat this, Congress passed the Collectible Coin Protection Act in December 2014. This law amended the Hobby Protection Act to mandate all silver rounds be prominently and clearly marked COPY.

    buffalo silver round 206035

    The Buffalo silver round design is reminiscent of the classic nickel design by James Earle Fraser.

    Key takeaway: Silver rounds and silver coins have a similar appearance that causes confusion. Being familiar with both products is the surest way to distinguish between them.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Silver Rounds and Silver Coins

    Are silver rounds a good investment?

    Insofar as silver is a good investment, absolutely yes. Rounds offer the best "bang for your buck" when it comes to investing in silver. This is because rounds have a lower premium than comparable coins or name-brand silver bars. Particularly when your main interest is increasing your exposure to silver in your investment portfolio, silver rounds are a excellent option. They are also more cost-effective than bullion coins or silver collectibles.

    Can a silver round be used for legal tender like a coin?

    No, rounds do not carry any legal tender face value. Even though rounds look similar to coins, they are not issued by the government. Rounds have no monetary value, meaning you can't directly spend them on anything. (You would have to sell the rounds for cash first.) The value of a silver round is based on its metal content.

    Are silver rounds more expensive than silver coins?

    No. In virtually all cases, a silver round will be less expensive than a silver coin of the same weight. Rounds are produced by private mints and usually have slightly lower production costs than government-issued coins. Silver rounds can also be manufactured in effectively limitless quantities, so they are widely available. By contrast, the production of silver coins by government mints can face constraints that limits their availability.

    Should I Buy Silver Rounds or Silver Coins?

    The next pertinent question is: which should I buy, silver rounds or silver coins?

    This question really comes down to your preferences. If you want to buy silver bullion at the lowest possible price, then you should buy silver rounds. Much like silver bars, silver rounds are the most economical way to stack as much silver as possible at the lowest price.

    If you're more interested in starting a collection, then your best bet is to buy silver coins. Most coin collectors are more interested in official government-issued products. Keep in mind, of course, that silver coins will be more expensive than rounds for the same amount of silver by weight.

    Tips for Making Smart Buying Decisions About Silver Rounds

    When shopping for silver, the quickest and easiest way to tell the difference between a silver coin and a silver round is to look for a denomination. No denomination = not a coin. Remember also, that a COPY stamp means it is a silver round, not a coin. Always keep in mind, that if a price on a "coin" looks too good to be true, it's probably a silver round (or a fake!).

    If you want to be 100% sure that what you're buying is what you think you're buying, you should buy your silver from Gainesville Coins! In addition to more than four decades of experience in the business, we are an Authorized Purchaser for many prestigious mints around the world. Our customers trust us thanks to our reputation for honesty and customer service.

    We keep silver rounds and silver coins are in completely different categories. If you're still confused, call one of our floor traders. Our traders do not work on commission. There is no pressure, and no trying to up-sell you to a more expensive alternative.

    Below you'll find a few of our best-selling silver rounds. For more to choose from, view our silver rounds category.

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    steve or lorna | 4/26/2023
    Since 1 oz silver coins are worth much more than their denomination, wouldn't a silver round of the same size an quality be a better buy?
    1 Reply
    Everett | 4/27/2023
    Yes, in general a silver round of the same weight will be less expensive than a silver coin. The only difference is that you may get a higher price for a government-issued silver coin when you sell it down the road. It's a trade-off.
    0 Reply
    Steven Cochran

    Steven Cochran

    Precious Metals Market Analyst | BS University of South Florida (2002)

    A published writer, Steven's coverage of precious metals goes beyond the daily news to explain how ancillary factors affect the market.

    Steven specializes in market analysis with an emphasis on stocks, corporate bonds, and government debt.