What Is an Assay and How Refiners Work
Quick answer An assay is a lab test that measures how much gold is actually in your metal. Refiners use it to…
Read guide ›Buying Bullion guides
Buying physical gold or silver comes down to three decisions: what form (coins, bars or rounds), where to buy it (a local shop or an online dealer), and how much above the metal price you are willing to pay. That last number, the premium, varies by product and by seller, and learning to compare total landed cost is the single most useful skill a bullion buyer can have.
These guides cover formats and premiums, verifying dealers before you pay, storage and insurance at home or in a vault, and the paperwork that protects you later. Start with how to buy gold or how to buy silver, verify authenticity with is your gold real, and compare local options in the gold dealer and coin dealer directories, where every listing carries verified customer reviews.
All Buying Bullion guides (48)
US Mint Bullion Program Explained: Eagles, Buffalos, Authorized Purchasers, and Premiums
Quick answer The U.S. Mint strikes bullion coins but sells them wholesale to a small network of Authorized Purchasers who resell to…
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Silver Rounds vs Coins vs Bars: The Complete Buyer’s Guide
Quick answer Coins for resale liquidity, rounds for the lowest premium on one-ounce units, and 10 to 100 oz bars for the…
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Pawn and Secondhand Dealer Laws by State: Overview
Quick answer Every state regulates gold buyers, and most require ID, a written transaction record, a mandatory holding period before melting, and…
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Gold Bars: A Complete Guide to Sizes, Brands, and Premiums
Gold bars are the most direct way to own investment-grade gold. Unlike coins, which carry a legal-tender face value and a mint’s…
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Why Bullion Premiums Spike in a Crisis: The Buyer and Seller Guide
⚡ Quick answer Physical premiums disconnect from spot the moment retail demand outpaces mint capacity When a financial shock arrives, investors reach…
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Where to Buy Gold: Online Dealers vs Local Coin Shops Compared
Quick answer Local coin shops and online dealers each serve different needs; compare published premiums at both before you buy. Local coin…
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What Gold Dealers Report to the IRS (and What They Never Do)
✓ Quick answer Most gold dealer transactions generate no IRS report When you buy gold or silver from a dealer, that purchase…
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Transporting Gold Safely Within the US: Law, Risk, and Best Practices
Quick answer Legal in all 50 states, but theft and civil asset forfeiture risk are real if you travel unprepared. No federal…
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Silver Eagles vs Generic Rounds: The Premium Math Nobody Shows You
Quick answer Eagles cost more to buy and recover part of that gap at resale. The remainder comes out of your return.…
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Silver Coins vs. Rounds vs. Bars: Which Form Should You Buy?
Quick answer Sovereign coins cost the most and sell the easiest; private rounds hit the premium sweet spot; bars win per-ounce at…
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Silver Bar Sizes: From 1 oz to 1,000 oz, and Which Sizes Make Sense
Quick answer 10 oz and 100 oz are the premium sweet spots; 1,000 oz bars are wholesale objects most private buyers should…
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Should You Grade Your Bullion Coins? An Honest Cost-Benefit Answer
Quick answer For most modern bullion coins, grading is not worth the cost For common-date modern American Eagles, Maple Leafs, and similar…
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Shipping Gold and Silver by USPS Registered Mail: Step-by-Step Guide
Quick answer USPS Registered Mail insures bullion shipments up to $50,000 with a documented chain of custody at every step FedEx and…
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Refiner vs. Dealer vs. Pawn Shop: Which Buyer Fits Your Gold?
Quick answer Match the buyer to the gold type, not the advertisement Refiners pay best on scrap, broken jewelry, and large mixed…
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Pre-1933 US Gold Coins vs Modern Bullion: History, Premiums, and the Sales Pitch to Understand
✦ Quick Answer Pre-1933 US gold coins are legitimate collectibles with wide premium swings by date, mint, and grade. The “confiscation-proof” pitch…
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Negotiating With Coin Dealers: What Actually Moves the Price
Quick answer On bullion, negotiating room is thin. On numismatic and mixed lots, the first offer usually leaves real money on the…
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Taking Gold Abroad: Moving Internationally with Bullion
Quick answer US export is unrestricted by quantity, but destination import rules and capital gains math usually determine whether you ship or…
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Which Bullion Sales Trigger a 1099-B: The IRS Reportable Items List Explained
★ Quick answer Dealers file Form 1099-B only on specific bullion types above set quantity thresholds; American Eagles are exempt regardless of…
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Home Safe for Gold and Silver Bullion: A Buyer’s Guide
✓ Quick answer For bullion, burglary resistance matters far more than a fire rating Consumer fire safes are engineered to protect paper,…
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Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Gold at Home? Sublimits and Real Options
Quick answer A standard home policy caps bullion coverage at a small sublimit for theft; three real options exist to close that…
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Dividing Gold and Silver in a Divorce: Valuation, Disclosure, and Taxes
Quick answer Divorce transfers of bullion are generally not taxable events, but the receiving spouse inherits the original cost basis, not current…
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Dealer Monthly Accumulation Programs: Silver Subscriptions Reviewed Honestly
Quick answer Silver subscription programs automate saving but rarely deliver the lowest cost per ounce Monthly silver accumulation programs enforce a dollar-cost…
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Scratched, Dented, or Damaged Bullion: How Much Does Condition Really Matter?
Quick answer A scratched gold bar still contains every ounce of gold it was minted with. For standard investment-grade bullion (common gold…
Read guide ›Other topics
Buying Guides 196 guides Coins and Collecting 42 guides Comparisons 112 guides Compliance & Scams 74 guides Eligibility 152 guides Fees & Costs 80 guides Jewelry and Watches 16 guides Laws and Taxes 31 guides Pawn and Loans 16 guides Prices and Data 27 guides Rollover & Tax 173 guides Selling Gold 41 guides Silver, Platinum and Palladium 36 guides