At the Apmex website new silver one ounce coins are running about $21
Old junk silver is running at $18.83 per ounce
In my opinion the younger generation has less appreciation for junk silver. They don't remember when silver coins circulated. They want the bright new shiny stuff so maybe it's best to have new and old US silver. The new 10oz silver bars also look beautiful. They are extruded and hard. They used to be poured and looked crude. They are too small to want to counterfeit.
“Old junk silver is running at $18.83 per ounce”
If that’s $18.83 per ounce of actual silver content then yes, it’s a much better buy, which is just another good reason.
You’re also correct that the newer stuff is prettier, but I’m thinking along the lines of barter. One hopes that people will realize that an ounce of silver is an ounce of silver no matter what it looks like as long as the assay can be trusted as with US coins.
I’ve got some of the whole-ounce silver bullion coins, junk silver dollars, etc, but also silver change for, well, small change.
The US Mint also does gold in 1/2, 1/4 and 1/10 ounce sizes if you can get any of it now, but with gold at $1100/oz it’s like having $100 dollar bills. Which is also why, when I had emergency cash on hand some of it was in singles, fives and tens instead of twenties and larger.
Cash comes in handy when paying for small jobs, too. Tradesmen will often give a discount for cash.