I usually try to get 1 oz quantities... anything bigger will be too hard to use as currency post-SHTF IMO.
Generally do rounds or coins..
Coins because of the acceptance.. and rounds since they have a greater appearance of coins over bars I expect they will gain quick acceptance once folks get used to silver coins as currency
I got it as coins this time.
I used to buy mostly rounds figuring in SHTF the distinction between rounds and coins would quickly become blurred and their values the same yet buying rounds vs coins gets me slightly more actual silver for the money.
However when during recent unemployment I tried to sell rounds to my local commercial guy he said he is not allowed to accept bullion precious metals anymore (which rounds are just like bars) due to a recent law in his jurisdiction … only "proper" coins.
And while emergency conversion to $$ in pre-SHTF is not a major consideration for me when buying Silver its not zero either.
Also the premium for Canadian Maple leafs over spot is consistently less than for Silver Eagles.
https://www.jmbullion.com/2018-canadian-silver-maple-leaf/
vs
https://www.jmbullion.com/2018-american-silver-eagle/
In my experience if buying a quantity of rounds I was satisfied paying 1 dollar over spot.
Silver Eagles usually are 3 dollars over spot
Maple leafs on the other hand are only 2 dollars over spot.
Again this means when buying a good quantity and the market of the day often will modify these numbers but just as a ballpark...so all number will fluctuate and those are just general trends I seem to have observed.
A lot of my stash are Walking Liberty rounds that share the appearance with Silver Eagles.
Walking Liberty rounds look quite similar and if used for coinage in post-SHTF I suspect they would also be quickly respected ( in phase 3 when the big dieing has stopped and food and population are back in equilibrium)
Also Walking Libertys:
https://www.jmbullion.com/1-oz-sunshine-walking-liberty-silver-round/
Another one I like are the Silver Buffaloes:
https://www.jmbullion.com/1-oz-silvertowne-buffalo-silver-round-new/
When buying rounds I generally try to pick those with very Classic American Motifs to help emergency acceptance by private parties unfamiliar with silver rounds/ or even coins.
Also why not have a little bit of fun with this and get something different on occasion..
PS:
(...as I type this response I see today there was a sale on Eagles so the difference between Maple leafs and Eagles was much less than normal... had I known I might have gotten Eagles)