Devout followers of silver rounds have probably noticed a lot of new names and faces in the precious metals market over the past 18 months. One of the more unique offerings right now are the Silverbug rounds. These rounds are, unquestionably, the first-ever silver bullion products with designs inspired by precious metal enthusiasts and numismatics. Struck with low mintages and brilliant designs, Silverbug silver rounds rarely last once authorized dealers have them in stock. Learn more about the Silverbugs and their namesake rounds in this post.
An Online Community of Enthusiasts
Silverbugs is the name of an online community on the popular blogging site Reddit. The site itself is an open-source social platform that allows community members to post blogs, share photos, and comment. Reddit is, for some, much more than that. It is a place to go for the latest and greatest inside information on all manner of life events, from sports to precious metals.
The Silverbug community is, at its root, a hub for those numismatists and collectors who are fond of silver. In fact, the community’s short section describing its purpose is straightforward:
“Ag. Everything to do with the white metal. Whether you are interested in silver bullion coins, numismatics, or stacking as a hedge against inflation, this is the place to do it.”
Take a brief scroll through their recent posts, and you’ll find that the hottest posts and boards have an intense focus on all things silver. Links to news stories focusing on precious metals are shared. Users ask one another important questions, about concerns such as storing silver bullion, and track the rising and falling prices of silver.
However, this isn’t just place to share in a fondness for silver bullion products. Silverbugs offer helpful information to one another that can impact investments in silver bullion for its members. If you check out the right-hand side of the community navigation page you’ll find a link to the group’s comprehensive list of well-known/authorized silver dealers. It even includes a list of questionable or out-of-business dealers.
More importantly though, this unique community has teamed with the North American Mint to strike a line of silver rounds directly representative of the Reddit community itself. The first of these silver rounds arrived in 2014, and were met with such immense popularity that a whole new line sprung up in 2015.
Silverbug Silver Rounds
The first offering from the North American Mint in honor of the Silverbug community was a silver round featuring the image of the fairy known as “Ariana.” Introduced in 2014, these silver rounds featured an obverse design with the image of Ariana in left-profile relief with rays of sunshine providing a backdrop for her outline. Engravings included the phrase “In Silver We Trust” and the year of issue “2014.” Two subsequent releases in this series included the following designs:
- Robo Bug: The 2nd release in the series saw Ariana’s image replaced on the obverse by the Robo Bug. Also produced in 2014, engravings on the obverse of these rounds featured “In Silver We Trust” and the word “Silverbug” along the bottom.
- The Fairy Archer: The 3rd and final release in the Silverbug Silver Round Series featured another new design, this time capturing the image of the Fairy Archer, with bow in hand and arrow drawn, watching the Earth from above. Engravings again include “In Silver We Trust,” with the year of issue (2015) returning to the obverse.
On the reverse, each round has a common design elements. A pair of wings are featured in the middle of the design, with a center circle containing the elemental symbol for silver, “Ag.” Engravings featured the round’s weight, purity, and metal content (“Fine Silver”), as well as the phrase “For the Silverbug Community.”
Welcome to Silverbug Island
One of the latest offerings from the Silverbug group is the design of a series of 8 silver rounds known as “Welcome to Silverbug Island.” Each of the rounds in this new series features a pirate-themed design. The first release in the series was known as the Finding Silverbug Island Silver Round.
On its obverse is the image of a ship’s galleon sailing on rough seas, with a small island in the foreground featuring an open treasure chest and the “X” that marks the spot. In the background of the design there is a compass, vital in the discovery of Silverbug Island.
The recently released Silverbug Island Kraken Silver Round represents the second design in the popular series, and the first released so far in 2016. The obverse of this round features a fearsome beast that struck fear in the heart of sailors for thousands of years. The mythical kraken is shown attacking the galleon as it sails for Silverbug Island, threatening the hunt for treasure and the lives of all those aboard. The Kraken rounds come in Proof-like, Antique, and BU finishes.
Each of the silver rounds in the Welcome to Silverbug Island series features a common design, as well. In the background of the design, a pile of silver coins rises up out of the sea to create Silverbug Island. In the middle ground you’ll notice a ship that has wrecked upon a shoal of silver coins. Engravings include the phrase “Welcome to Silverbug Island” above the design and the round’s weight, purity, and metal content below.
Struck for Silverbugs, Designed by Silverbugs
The true beauty behind this unique series is the design of the obverse side of all the rounds released in the series. Each new obverse design for a Silverbug silver round, beginning with the original 3-round series, is designed by a member of the Silverbug community and agreed upon through an open contest in the online community. Recently, the Silverbug community posted an invitation to a design contest that includes the obverse designs for the next 2 rounds in the Welcome to Silverbug Island series.
Silverbug Silver Rounds from JM Bullion
JM Bullion is proud to work as an authorized dealer of all the Silverbug Silver Rounds design by the Silverbug community and struck for numismatists at North American Mint. Remember to check back with us frequently to catch the latest information when a new Silverbug round hits the market.
