I have heard that the development of money in Lydia in the first millennium BC was a major development in history. How so? What major benefit would any society have if it used gold and silver coins in everyday transactions, compared to small gold and silver bars? I’m thinking about the ancient societies where money was developed, not about modern times.

I live in Europe – Austria

I ve been wanting to buy silver bullion (whether coin or bars). However I don’t know of shops here in Austria, and language is a barrier for me (They speak German, and I speak broken German). So, I’m wondering if there are any reputable banks in Europe (or stores) which sell these things online at not such a high premium for a small investor like me.

Thank you
OK..

I forgot to mention this ..
When I say about buying .. I also meant buying it physically and storing it my self physically. I dont want to store it somewhere. I want to see it. Hence that online store or a regular store or even a bank for that matter has to offer some type of shipment to me.
thanks

What is the typical size (height, width, and length) of the gold and silver bullion that people buy as an investment.

Suppose I wanted to invest in silver bullion, partially as a serious investment, partially for the novelty of having some "portable property".

Suppose I went to a coin dealer and bought several silver 1oz pieces, or a large bar, would I be able to sell them later without excess testing and fees? Assuming that I took and kept possession of the bar(s) to avoid storage fees.

What I mean is when I go to sell the bars (back to a dealer) will the process be: "Your bars have the right mass, here is your money". Or will it be more convoluted?

I’ve heard stories about a person who took his bars in, and had to pay for the dealer to drill holes in bars to ensure that the bar hadn’t been hollowed out and filled with a cheaper metal.

What is a typical pathway from purchase to sale of a bar of silver?

For less then 0 hundred dollars would you suggests silver bars, rounds, or something like American Silver Eagles or Canadian Maples? Is it safe to buy these from a website or better to go to some kind of coin shop? If so, what are some trusted sites?