I was told spot price is for bulk silver. ie you buy a 10oz block of silver you can get it for spot price. Problem is selling it. No one really knows if it's pure silver or you added something to it. That's why people buy coins. You can see the coin has not been altered and check for purity. There is a cost to produce the coin, that's why an once silver coin cost more than spot. When you buy it you have to buy really cheap and hope it goes really high to cover these costs. Usually cheap when economy looks good, high when it looks bad. It's like guns and ammo. Usually to late to buy when you are thinking you need it.