Affiliate disclosure: This page contains a BullionVault affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you register and transact after using it, at no extra cost to you. This does not affect the comparison.
Quick comparison
| Question | Coins or small bars | Professionally vaulted silver |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | You hold the metal and control its storage. | The metal stays with a professional vault operator; ownership and access depend on the provider’s legal and operational structure. |
| Typical costs | Dealer premium, possible VAT, delivery, insurance or secure storage, plus the resale spread. | Trading charge, custody and insurance fee, possible bank or currency fees, and provider-specific minimum charges. |
| Selling | You normally find a dealer or buyer, verify the metal and arrange delivery. | You can usually offer the holding for sale through the provider’s market, subject to liquidity, fees and account rules. |
| Taking delivery | Already in your possession. | Often designed primarily for storage and resale. Physical withdrawal can require large bar sizes and substantial fees and taxes. |
| Main trade-off | Direct possession, with responsibility for security and resale. | Convenient professional storage and trading, with reliance on the provider and vaulting arrangements. |
When physical silver may fit
Coins and small bars may appeal when direct possession is the main goal. They can also be easier to divide or transfer in small units. Compare the full delivered price with the metal value: retail premiums, VAT treatment, shipping and the price a dealer will actually pay back can materially change the result.
When vaulted silver may fit
Vaulted silver may appeal when you value professional storage, insurance and easier online trading. It can reduce the practical burden of securing and transporting metal. The trade-off is ongoing custody cost and dependence on the platform, its controls, its vault operators and its withdrawal rules.
BullionVault costs and withdrawal limits
BullionVault’s published tariff says order-board trading charges start at 0.5% and decline with annual trading volume. Silver custody is listed at 0.48% per year, billed monthly, with an $8 monthly minimum. Its tariff and terms say physical silver withdrawal is generally limited to whole 1,000-troy-ounce bars, charged at 10%, with applicable VAT, transport and insurance added. These terms can change, so check the current documents before acting.
Read BullionVault’s current tariff ↗
Read its bullion-withdrawal guide ↗
Read its ownership and safety information ↗
Explore professionally vaulted metals
Review BullionVault’s live prices, current charges, legal terms and vault options directly. Opening an account does not require you to fund or trade.
Visit BullionVault · affiliate link ↗We may earn a commission from an eligible registration or transaction, at no extra cost to you.What to verify before choosing
- The total purchase and eventual selling cost, including currency conversion.
- VAT and tax treatment for your country, storage location and delivery choice.
- Who legally owns the metal and how holdings are audited and insured.
- Minimum custody charges, especially for a small holding.
- Withdrawal sizes, fees and identity-verification requirements.
Educational comparison only. It is not a recommendation or personalized investment, tax or legal advice. Details checked against BullionVault’s official pages on 15 September 2026.