Buying and selling

Short answer: Guides for the two moments that cost you money if you get them wrong: paying a premium when you buy, and the spread when you sell.

34 guides in this topic.

• Selling Old Gold Jewelry: Check These First

  Before you sell old gold jewelry, find the karat, weigh each piece and work out its melt value. That one calculation tells you whether an offer is fair.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• Selling Bullion: Local or Online Buyer?

  Both routes can work. Here is how local coin shops and online buyers differ on price, speed, risk and paperwork, and how to compare offers fairly.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Read a Bullion Dealer's Quote

  A quote is more than a price. Here is how to read the premium, fees, shipping, payment-method adjustments and how long the price is held, before you buy.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• Gold Coins vs Bars: Cost Per Gram

  A coin and a bar can look equally priced until you divide by the weight. Here is how to compare them fairly using cost per gram of fine gold.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• Common Mistakes When Selling Bullion

  Most selling mistakes are avoidable. Here are the errors that cost sellers money, from skipping the melt value to ignoring fees, and how to avoid each.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Check a Bullion Dealer Is Legit

  A few minutes of checking can save you from a bad dealer. Here are the signs of a trustworthy dealer and the warning signs to walk away from.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• Are Fractional Gold Coins Worth It?

  Half, quarter and tenth-ounce coins are easy to buy but cost more per gram. Here is when they make sense and how to measure the extra cost.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Negotiate Bulk Discounts With Bullion Dealers

  Larger orders sometimes qualify for better pricing than a dealer's standard listed rate — but you usually have to ask. Here's how to approach that conversation.

  Sep 28, 2026 · 4 min read

• What Is 'Spot Plus' Pricing, and How Do You Read It?

  Dealers often advertise pricing as 'spot plus' a dollar amount or percentage. Here's how to actually read and compare that pricing format across dealers.

  Sep 26, 2026 · 3 min read

• How Bullion Dealers Price During Market Closures and Holidays

  Spot price only updates when markets are open. Here's how dealers handle pricing during weekends, holidays, and unexpected market closures.

  Sep 24, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Authenticate a Gold Bar: A Practical Checklist

  Weight, dimensions, assay marks, and refiner reputation — here's how to check a gold bar is genuine before you buy, and what to do if something doesn't add up.

  Sep 23, 2026 · 6 min read

• How to Buy Gold and Silver as a Beginner: A 30-Day Action Plan

  Knowing you should start isn't the same as knowing what to actually do first. Here's a concrete, week-by-week plan for making your first purchase with confidence.

  Sep 16, 2026 · 6 min read

• .999 vs .9999 Silver: Does the Difference Matter for Stacking?

  Most silver coins are .999 fine; a few, like the Silver Kangaroo, push to .9999. Here's whether that purity difference actually matters for a buyer focused on stacking.

  Sep 14, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Build a Price Watchlist Before You Buy

  Buying on impulse at whatever the current price happens to be isn't the only option. Here's how to set up a watchlist and buy with intention instead.

  Sep 6, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Evaluate Whether a 'Rare' or 'Limited Edition' Coin Claim Is Legitimate

  Marketing language and genuine scarcity aren't always the same thing. Here's how to verify a rarity claim before paying a premium for it.

  Aug 31, 2026 · 5 min read

• Should You Buy Graded or Raw Coins? A Cost-Benefit Breakdown

  Third-party grading adds cost and protects value — but not always in proportion. A practical breakdown of when graded coins are worth it and when raw coins make more sense.

  Aug 27, 2026 · 5 min read

• How to Evaluate a Dealer's Buyback Policy Before You Buy

  The best time to understand how a dealer handles buybacks is before your first purchase, not when you're ready to sell. Here's what to actually check.

  Aug 13, 2026 · 4 min read

• PCGS vs. NGC: Which Coin Grading Service Should You Use?

  The two leading third-party coin grading services compared — what each does, how their grades are perceived by the market, and which to choose for your coins.

  Aug 12, 2026 · 5 min read

• Should You Buy Bullion Jewelry as an Investment?

  Gold jewelry looks like an easy way to combine ownership with wearability — but the economics are very different from coins and bars. Here's what actually happens to your money.

  Aug 9, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Spot a Counterfeit Gold or Silver Coin: A Practical Checklist

  Weight, dimensions, sound, and magnetism — the practical checks a collector can do at home to catch a counterfeit coin before buying or after receiving a shipment.

  Aug 6, 2026 · 6 min read

• Tubes vs Individual Coins: How Should You Buy in Bulk?

  Buying a sealed tube of 20 coins instead of individual pieces changes the premium, the packaging, and how you'll eventually resell. Here's how to decide.

  Jul 26, 2026 · 4 min read

• What Is a Monster Box? Bulk Bullion Buying Explained

  If you've seen dealers advertise a 'Monster Box' of Silver Eagles, here's what the term actually means and whether buying in that volume makes sense for you.

  Jul 22, 2026 · 4 min read

• Best Time to Buy Gold and Silver: Seasonal Patterns and Market Timing Myths

  Collectors love debating the 'best' time to buy. Here's what the seasonal data actually shows, and why disciplined accumulation usually beats trying to time the market.

  Jul 17, 2026 · 7 min read

• Gold Bars by Size: Which Offers the Best Value?

  A 1 gram bar and a 1 kilo bar of the same purity don't carry the same premium per ounce. Here's how bar size actually affects your cost per unit of gold.

  Jul 16, 2026 · 4 min read

• Secondary Market vs Buying Direct From the Mint: Pricing Differences

  Buying straight from a mint isn't always cheaper than buying the same coin on the secondary market. Here's how pricing actually differs between the two channels.

  Jul 14, 2026 · 4 min read

• Numismatic vs. Bullion Coins: What's the Difference and Which Should You Buy?

  Bullion coins are valued for their metal content; numismatic coins for rarity and condition. Confusing the two is one of the most expensive mistakes a new collector can make.

  Jul 13, 2026 · 6 min read

• Should You Buy Bullion With a Credit Card? Fees and Rewards Explained

  Credit card rewards sound appealing on a large bullion purchase, but many dealers charge a real processing fee for card payments. Here's how to think about the tradeoff.

  Jul 8, 2026 · 4 min read

• Sovereign Gold Bonds vs. Physical Gold: Complete Comparison

  Sovereign Gold Bonds offer interest and no storage risk, but physical gold offers instant liquidity and true ownership. Compare both to decide what belongs in your collection.

  Jul 5, 2026 · 6 min read

• How Seasonal Demand Affects Gold and Silver Premiums

  Premiums over spot aren't constant year-round — demand spikes, like gift-giving seasons or market volatility, can push them up temporarily even when spot price doesn't move.

  Jul 4, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Verify a Gold or Silver Dealer's Price Is Fair (Premium Calculator Guide)

  Every bullion dealer charges a premium over spot price — the question is whether it's fair. Learn how to calculate dealer premiums and spot overpriced listings before you buy.

  Jul 1, 2026 · 6 min read

• American Gold Eagle vs Canadian Gold Maple Leaf: Which First?

  Two of the most recognized gold coins in the world, with genuinely different purity, history, and size lineups. Here's how to decide which to buy first.

  Jun 10, 2026 · 5 min read

• Does Refiner Reputation Affect Resale Value? What Actually Matters

  A PAMP bar and an unbranded bar of the same purity contain the same gold — but they don't resell the same way. Here's what refiner reputation actually changes.

  Jun 4, 2026 · 5 min read

• Coins or Bars First? A Framework for New Precious Metals Buyers

  Neither is objectively better — but the right starting point depends on your actual goal. Here's a simple framework for deciding between coins and bars as a beginner.

  Jun 2, 2026 · 5 min read

• APMEX vs JM Bullion vs Kitco: Best Online Bullion Dealers Compared

  The three biggest US online bullion dealers each have different strengths. Here's a detailed comparison to help you choose where to buy your next gold or silver purchase.

  May 15, 2026 · 8 min read

Also see the glossary and the free tools.