Since you are wanting to purchase the silver as an "investment" rather than a "collectible", why would you consider paying extra money for a fancy finish??? Unless you are not really an investor, but a closet collector!
KT does like the advice to hold off until the price of silver goes lower....so long as the stock market is riding high, like it is right now, then silver will stay low or go lower as the stock market rises....but knowing when the stock market may have a significant correction is nigh on impossible. And that is the time that silver (and gold) will jump in value.
One practical way to start with silver is just purchase what you can on a regular basis, and let it ride the ups and downs. If you consistently purchase, then you will get some at lows and some at mediums and some at highs...when do you plan on divesting yourself of it?? Sooner? or Later? Sooner might be the next 5 years, whereas later might be in 10 or 15 years or when you feel it has hit a reasonable high.
Investing in precious metals is a little like buying bank CDs, get a spread so if the interest goes up you will have some maturing you can reinvest and if the interest goes down, you got what was offered when you purchased them, like 1, 3, 5, and 7 years and then reivest as they come due. This is called layering in the investments and banking trade. Works unless the interest goes down and never comes back up, like has happened over the past 7-8 years. Pitiful interest indicates might be time to turn it over into precious metals.
