the only silver to buy is what's called "junk silver". US coins, half-dollars, quarters and dimes, minted 1964 and earlier. There is 0.712 oz. per dollar of face value. A "bag" is $1,000 face. Its intrinsic value is 0.712 times the spot value of silver. Coin shops will also sell half-bags and will sell lesser quantities.
But these silver "Eagles" and all that BS stuff sell for way too much premium over the spot price--and when you go to sell, all you'll receive is spot.
http://www.kitco.com is a good site for keeping current on prices. Common metals as well as precious metals...
Gold? Coin shops or at coin shows. Whether or not a sales tax is added on depends on both state law and how well a dealer knows you--and if you're paying by cash or check. Cash at a coin show is usually the least hassle, least cost.
For less than one-ounce coins, there are the English sovereigns and the Mexican gold pesos from 2 pesos on up through 2-1/2, 5, 10, 20 and then the 1.23-ounce 50-peso coin.
I haven't seen a lot of these around, lately. And there are the US Mint fractional gold coins. 1/10th, 1/4, and 1/2 as well as the full ounce Eagle.
Original US gold coins minted for circulation carry a fair premium above bullion, and most are actual collector coins...
Given what the Fed is doing with the printing presses, and all the liquidity injections worldwide, there are reasonable odds that the dollar will continue to decline in buying power. Gold could thus increase in nominal value in dollars. Silver? Hard to tell. I think it might well have more odds for a higher percentage increase than gold since it's an industrial metal. But, lots of political factors as well as marketplace effects. I dunno.
China has stated a desire to increase its gold reserves from 300 tons to 1,400, IIRC. At any rate, the Chinese government has been a strong buyer. I vaguely recall something like another hundred tons in these last several months.
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