
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 toβ¦
Read guide βΊSelling gold starts with one number: the melt value of what you own. Weight, purity and the current gold price set a floor, and every offer you receive can be judged against it. These guides walk through that math, the payout differences between jewelry buyers, coin dealers, refiners and mail-in services, and the tactics that quietly lower offers.
Start with the gold value calculator to get your floor in two minutes, then read how to get maximum value when selling gold and how to spot a lowball offer. When you are ready to sell, you can request offers from verified buyers, compare them privately, or find rated buyers near you in the jewelry buyers and gold dealers directories.

Quick answer An assay is a lab test that measures how much gold is actually in your metal. Refiners use it toβ¦
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Quick answer Pawn wins on a short cash gap when you can absolutely repay within 30 days and want the item back;β¦
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Quick answer For most silver lots, start with a local coin dealer and collect two or three quotes before accepting any offerβ¦
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Quick answer Payout depends on whether your coins have collector value or just metal value Bullion coins like the American Gold Eagleβ¦
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Quick answer Match the buyer to the gold type, not the advertisement Refiners pay best on scrap, broken jewelry, and large mixedβ¦
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Quick answer Most sterling flatware sells near melt value. Certain patterns command more. Sterling silver is 92.5% pure, so your set’s floorβ¦
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β Quick Answer Washington’s 2026 Bullion Tax Change: What You Need to Know Washington state repealed its 1985 precious metal bullion taxβ¦
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Quick answer Virginia exempts gold, silver, and platinum bullion from sales tax, but sellers owe income tax on any profit As ofβ¦
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β Quick answer Texas charges no sales tax on precious metals and has no state income tax on profits Texas Tax Codeβ¦
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Quick answer Pennsylvania taxes gold gains at a flat 3.07% and imposes dealer-side record-keeping rules under the Precious Metals Act Pennsylvania appliesβ¦
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Quick answer Ohio exempts investment bullion and legal tender coins from sales tax since 2021, but your profit from selling is stillβ¦
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Quick answer North Carolina has not charged sales tax on investment gold bullion since 2017. Any profit you make selling gold isβ¦
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Quick answer New York exempts bullion transactions above $1,000 from sales tax, but only when pricing stays within tight markup limits aboveβ¦
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Quick answer New Jersey now exempts investment bullion from sales tax. Profits from selling still owe state income tax. Since January 1,β¦
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Quick answer Michigan exempts 90%-purity investment bullion from sales tax; profits are taxed at Michigan’s flat income rate Michigan’s 6% sales taxβ¦
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Quick answer Massachusetts exempts gold sales of $1,000 or more from sales tax, but taxes your collectibles gain at 8.5%, well aboveβ¦
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β Quick Answer Illinois exempts investment bullion and qualifying coins from sales tax, then taxes your gains at a flat 4.95% Underβ¦
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Quick answer Georgia exempts gold and silver bullion and coins from sales tax with no dollar minimum. Georgia Code Β§ 48-8-3 fullyβ¦
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Quick answer Florida gold sellers pay federal capital gains only – no state income tax, and gold and silver coins are nowβ¦
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Quick answer Selling gold in California triggers ordinary income tax on your profit and a dealer hold period before you receive payment.β¦
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Quick answer Arizona sellers pay no transaction privilege tax on bullion, and qualifying legal-tender coin gains may be subtracted from Arizona taxableβ¦
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Quick answer Inventory first, clean nothing, and separate bullion from numismatics before you call a single dealer. The single most expensive mistakeβ¦
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Quick answer Resale value equals diamond market price plus metal melt value, both well below what you paid at retail Retail jewelryβ¦
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Quick answer Melting pennies and nickels is a federal crime. Pre-1965 silver coins and gold coins are legal to melt. A 2006β¦
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