Then as now, these ingots were a much sought-after exchange item which was easy to transport and could be readily melted down at any time. At that time, there was little standardisation, so these early ingots had irregular, open-pore surfaces rather than the classic rectangular shape we see with the precious metal bars available today. The exchange rate for Swiss francs is also published daily across all the major financial markets.Ĭast ingots made of precious metals such as gold, bronze, copper, tin or silver are known from archaeological finds dating back as far as the second millennium BC. Silver is traded in US dollars per one troy ounce (31.1034768 g). All transactions are, of course, directly dependent on the silver price, which is published daily on the global precious metal exchanges. The value of a silver ingot is primarily governed by its weight. Such flexibility makes this type of investment accessible and affordable for every investor, because it can be adapted to suit the needs of any existing budget, and at any time. Silver bars offer investors the choice of a convenient standard format which is available on the market in many different denominations from one gram to approximately 31 kilograms (a good delivery silver bar of approximately 1,000 ounces). It also represents a secure and independent investment. This shows that, alongside gold, silver is also a precious metal much sought after at times of crisis. This is particularly evident in times of international crisis.
Experts too are noticing an increased demand for silver whenever the market price of gold rises: The price of silver seems to generally track gold whilst still keeping a discreet distance apart. Besides gold bars, silver bars are another popular form of investment, and have the distinct advantage of a somewhat lower purchase price for each individual unit.