Buying Gold With Cash: Form 8300, the $10,000 Rule, and Structuring
✓ Quick answer Buying gold with cash is legal at any dollar amount. The dealer files the paperwork, not you. Federal law…
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 (47)
Buying Gold for a Child or Newborn: Gifts That Actually Grow Up Well
✓ Quick answer Low-premium bullion from a reputable dealer, bought with the paperwork thought through, makes a gold gift that actually grows…
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Buying Gold at Pawn Shops: Real Bargains, Real Risks, and How to Test
Quick answer Pawn shops can price gold jewelry and pre-owned coins below dealer retail, but authentication is entirely on you. Because pawn…
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Keeping Your Gold Ownership Private: Legal Privacy Basics for Bullion Owners
Quick answer The US has no gold ownership registry. Most bullion purchases stay private by default. No federal or state agency tracks…
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Bank Safe Deposit Boxes for Gold: 5 Myths vs. Reality
Quick answer A bank safe deposit box protects your gold from burglars but leaves it uninsured and conditionally accessible The FDIC explicitly…
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Tungsten Fake Gold Bars: Documented Cases and Detection
🔍 Quick answer Tungsten fakes exist but are rare, and any reputable buyer runs the tests that catch them. Tungsten and gold…
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How to Verify a Bullion Dealer Before Buying
Quick answer Verify a bullion dealer by confirming state business registration, at least three years of continuous operation, membership in a recognized…
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How to Read a Bullion Dealer Invoice and Spot Quote
$ Quick answer Your invoice must reconcile to the spot quote locked at order confirmation, plus a clearly itemized premium, payment surcharge,…
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Sales Tax on Bullion in Texas: What Buyers, Sellers and Dealers Owe
Quick answer Gold, silver and platinum bullion are sales-tax-exempt in Texas; jewelry and palladium are not. Texas Tax Code Section 151.336 exempts…
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Sales Tax on Bullion in California: Rules and Exemption Threshold
Quick answer California exempts a single-transaction bulk sale of coins and gold or silver bullion of $2,000 or more from sales tax;…
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Build Customer Trust Online: A Gold Dealer’s Guide to Earning Buyer Confidence
Quick answer The 6 trust signals that convert online gold buyers Online gold buyers check six things before contacting a dealer: (1)…
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How To Buy Gold Jewelry Without Overpaying
Quick answer Verify the karat stamp, weigh the piece, then compare its melt value to the sticker before you pay. Retail gold…
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What Is an Assay Card on a Gold Bar?
A small laminated card sealed inside a bar’s packaging does something important: it tells every future buyer exactly what the bar is,…
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Sales Tax on Gold and Silver by State: The Current Map
✓ Quick Answer Sales tax on gold and silver is a buyer-side tax, and 44 states currently exempt most bullion purchases Whether…
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How to Buy Silver: Complete Guide to Coins, Rounds, Bars and Junk Silver
Quick answer Silver’s premium structure makes product choice more important than timing American Silver Eagles regularly trade at 15 to 30 percent…
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How to Buy Platinum and Palladium: The Thin-Market Metals Guide
Quick answer Platinum and palladium are legitimate physical holdings, but they trade in far thinner markets than gold or silver Both metals…
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How to Buy Gold: The Complete First-Timer to Confident-Buyer Guide
Quick answer Buy a recognized bullion coin from an established dealer, pay by wire or check, and skip numismatic upsells until you…
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Sell Gold Bullion: How to Get Paid Near Spot Price
Recognized gold coins and brand-name bars are the simplest precious metal to sell for a fair price. ✓Quick answer Recognized bullion sells…
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What if my Gold IRA dealer goes bankrupt mid-purchase?
✓ Quick Answer If a Gold IRA dealer files for bankruptcy mid-purchase, who controls your funds? Your retirement funds sit at an…
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How LBMA Good Delivery Gold Bars Are Refined and Certified (Step-by-Step)
What the LBMA Good Delivery Standard Is LBMA Good Delivery is the set of physical specifications and quality requirements a gold bar…
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What Is a Numismatic Premium? The Markup That Costs Coin Buyers Thousands
A numismatic premium is the price you pay above a coin’s melt value based on its collectible, historical, or rarity appeal. For…
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Segregated vs Commingled Gold Storage 2026: Which Is Worth the Extra Cost?
Learn the key differences between segregated and commingled gold IRA storage: IRS rules, real cost comparisons (~$50-100/yr), legal implications, and which option…
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IRS-Approved Gold Coins and Bars for a Gold IRA: Complete 2026 List
When you open a self-directed gold IRA, not every gold coin or bar qualifies. The IRS specifies minimum purity standards and approved…
Read guide ›Other topics
Buying Guides 195 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 40 guides Silver, Platinum and Palladium 36 guides