The US Mint doesn’t sell silver coins like American Silver Eagles directly to the public. It sells them wholesale to authorized purchasers, who then resell to dealers and retail buyers, adding premiums along the way. So you’d typically buy from a coin dealer or online bullion retailer, not the Mint itself.
Whether it’s “worth it” depends on your goal. As a hedge against inflation or currency risk, silver can play a small diversification role, but it’s volatile and pays no yield. Premiums over spot price (often 10-20%) eat into returns, especially for smaller purchases.
If you want pure silver exposure, ETFs are cheaper. Coins make more sense if you value tangibility or collectibility.