Are Your Silver Bars .99999 Pure? - APMEX (2024)

• Published on June 21, 2023
• by APMEX

What is the Millesimal Fineness of APMEX Silver Bars?

APMEX branded silver bars and silver products from the 9Fine Mint are .999 fine.

Are There Any 99.999% Pure Silver Products?

While the Royal Silver Company has issued a 99.999 fine Andean Cats silver coin, these were only produced in 2012. There are some available on various secondary markets, but they are priced close to $600.

The Royal Canadian Mint produces 99.99 silver products, and these are the exception to the rule. Among many silver bars and rounds on the market, the most common purity we encounter is .999 fine.

Why is .999 Pure Silver the Standard for Investment Grade Silver?

This level of purity is both IRA-eligible and an industry standard. The 1997 Taxpayer Relief Act allowed for precious metals to be included in IRAs and defined the purity of that silver as 99.9%.

Some of our most cost-effective ways to get into silver include our .999 fine secondary market 100 oz silver bars. These combine a higher weight and secondary market advantages to offer investors a low premium over spot.

There is debate about the difference between .999 and .9999 silver, but one thing is certain: 100.00% silver would be too soft to use in jewelry, coinage, or other applications. The alloy strengthens silver and ensures the product it is made into has durability and lasts a long time.

The greater the alloy, the stronger the silver bar. Similarly, we use sterling silver for household applications like mirrors, place settings, candelabras, and more because the 7.5% alloy makes these products resilient and strong enough for regular use.

What is the Difference Between .999 and .9999 Pure Silver?

The primary difference between 99.9% or .999 and 99.99%, or .9999 pure silver is the method of refinement. There are two standard ways of refining silver- the Moebius system and the Thum Balbach system.

The chief difference between these systems is that electrodes are disposed vertically in the Moebius system and horizontally in the Thum Balbach system. Silver refined using the Moebius system usually has a purity of .999, but on occasion it may be .9999 pure.

Determining which system to use for refining silver considers the kind of impurities present in the silver anodes.

Regardless of the millesimal fineness of the rounds or bars that you buy, a 1 oz silver bar will contain 1 troy ounce of silver. The lower the relative purity of silver in your bar, the greater its overall weight will be.

For instance, the 1-ounce silver American Eagle weighs 31.103 grams. Your silver Eagle does not have an extra .103 grams of silver in it. It is 0.331% alloyed to make it durable and strong to ensure its beauty and value are preserved for generations to come.