A safe is only as good as its rating and its fixing. Here is what to look for in size, security rating, fire protection and placement for home bullion storage.
Short answer: choose a safe with an independent security rating, bolt it to the structure, size it for growth, add fire protection if you can, and keep its location private. Check your insurer's requirements, because many policies limit cover for metal kept at home.
Safes are rated by independent testing bodies for how long they resist attack, and the rating usually relates to the value they are suited to protect. Ask your insurer which rating they require for the value you hold.
A light safe can be carried away whole. Bolt it to the floor or a wall, ideally into concrete, as the manufacturer recommends.
Metal is dense and takes more space than you expect once you add tubes, boxes and paperwork. Choose a larger safe than you need now. For an idea of volumes, see how much space a silver stack needs.
A fire rating mainly protects documents and slows heat reaching the contents. Gold and silver have high melting points, about 1,064 °C and 962 °C, but a severe fire can still damage them, and packaging can burn. Keep a desiccant in the safe, and keep coins in capsules or tubes so humidity does not cause tarnish.
Choose a location few people know about, and see how to keep your precious metals private. Record what is in the safe and where the key or code is kept for a trusted person.
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