Crazy silver fad

I have been noticing coin dealers selling 1 gram silver bars for outrageous prices meaning I could almost buy a whole ounce of silver for the price of a few of these small bars.  BBut then again people will always take advantage of the people who do not know better.  Even though the bars look nice the buyers will never be able to get a fraction of what they spent on them. What is your opinion?

The cost and production of 1 gram silver bars is quite high and thus this must be factored into their cost. Even with record high silver prices, a single gram is still worth $2 (NZ peso dollars not US ones) and thus anything in a nice card with stamping on it, will zoom that price up to $10 or more. Its wiser to buy a whole ounce for value's sake. But then again many countries issue generic silver ounce rounds and bars that are cheap, but most also offer fancy ounces with themes, characters or gimmicks on them like gemstones, weird shapes, American pop culture like superheroes, that can cost 2x, 3x and even 8x the melt value of the metal. One seller on trade me is selling some superhero 2 or 3 ounce silver rounds for like $1000 or more each. Even our mint in NZ sells its 1 ounce proof silver coins for like $160 or $180 each for $65 worth of silver in a fancy box or a capsule and it has some bird, fish or Maori theme on it.

My guess is many “preppers” and those who think the world is about to keel over (And its a possibility with some of these “leaders” we have) and they need these silver grams for small purchases in the barter system. I mean with no internet, no electricity and an almost electric money system, that no longer pays much heed to fiat and metal currency - small silver units are very useful. Its also like Americans going into coin shops and buying old silver dimes as they are cheap and small bits of real metal.

Finally many mints, countries and companies already issue gold 1 gram coins and bars and like to issue them in silver too, except a gold gram has some real metal value ($200 or so in NZ pesos), yet they still cost more per gram compared to bigger bars. For instance I recently bought 1 gram Perth gold bars for like $210 each, but a 5 gram cost $990 ($198 per gram), 10 grams was $1965 ($196.50 per gram) and the big 20 grammer cost me $3889.00 or just ($194.45 per gram), and had I sprung for their 100 gram bar, it would have cost me the equivalent of $191.50 per gram.

Personally too I thing 1 gram silver bars are just too small and worthless to have much practical use as trading units and are rather overpriced collectibles compared to larger silver units. If I want tiny silver for trade, give me a dime or an old threepence any day.

I agree with Moneytane that 1gram is just too small to be usefull.   I live in the US and the prepper/stacking mindset is a big motivator here and given recent politics there has been a boost in interest.  I feel like not only are they predatory but   for the most part thse tiny bars are a waste, it's far easier to pick up pre 1964 junk coins at melt price if your goal is to barter in the “end times”. 

I know a few people who have Kilo's of sliver bullion hoarded away for the downfall of civilzation.  I just don't really find any joy out of hoarding piles of generic metals. 

Having said that,  I do collect the Aurum notes both gold and silver and they pretty much cost more to produce than the value of the metal in them but I like the artwork and for the price of a fast food meal I don't really consider it too much of a waste.  

I also have a small collection of NZ/AU silver proof's and other rounds again, mostly because I like the designs and I feel that no matter what I can always get the melt price back out of it at the very least.  I have no intention of ever selling and  I hope that all my coins can one day be gifted to my grandchildren.