Ownership and storage

Short answer: Owning the metal is the easy part. These guides cover where to keep it, how to protect it and how to record it so you can prove what you own.

18 guides in this topic.

• How Much Space Does a Silver Stack Need?

  Silver is bulkier and heavier per dollar than gold. Here is the volume and weight of an ounce, a hundred ounces and a kilogram, worked out from density.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Keep Your Precious Metals Private

  Privacy is part of security. Here is how to keep your stack quiet: who to tell, how to store records, what to avoid posting, and how to plan for your family.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• Allocated vs Unallocated Storage Explained

  When a custodian holds your metal, the type of storage decides what you actually own. Here is the difference, the cost trade-off and the questions to ask.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Pack and Ship Precious Metals Safely

  Sending coins or bars needs more care than an ordinary parcel. Here is how to pack, insure and track a shipment, and what to document before it leaves.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• Bullion Record-Keeping Checklist

  Good records turn a pile of metal into a portfolio. Here is exactly what to write down for each purchase, and what to keep with each piece.

  Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Document a Coin's Provenance for Future Resale

  A clear ownership and purchase history can meaningfully help resale, especially for anything valuable. Here's what provenance documentation actually looks like in practice.

  Oct 2, 2026 · 4 min read

• How to Sell a Coin Collection: A Step-by-Step Guide

  Selling a coin collection well takes more than finding a buyer — here's a practical process for getting a fair price, whether you're selling one coin or an entire collection.

  Sep 20, 2026 · 6 min read

• How to Track a Multi-Series Coin Collection Without Losing Your Mind

  Once a collection spans multiple series, sizes, and metals, a simple list stops working. Here's a practical system for tracking a growing, multi-part collection.

  Sep 14, 2026 · 5 min read

• Milk Spots, Toning, and Spotting: A Collector's Guide to Silver Coin Surface Issues

  Not every mark on a silver coin means damage — here's how to tell milk spots, natural toning, and handling marks apart, and what each actually means for value.

  Sep 11, 2026 · 5 min read

• The Role of Humidity and Climate in Long-Term Coin Preservation

  Temperature swings and humidity do more damage to a coin collection than most people realize. Here's what actually matters for long-term storage conditions.

  Sep 4, 2026 · 4 min read

• Coin Capsules vs. Tubes vs. Albums: Storage Options Compared

  Capsules, tubes, flips, and albums each protect coins differently — here's how to choose the right storage for bullion coins, a growing date set, or a display collection.

  Aug 3, 2026 · 5 min read

• How to Photograph Your Coin Collection for Insurance and Resale

  A simple, repeatable system for photographing your bullion and coin collection — the angles, lighting, and details insurers and buyers actually need to see.

  Jul 31, 2026 · 5 min read

• How to Insure Your Precious Metals Collection (And What Most Policies Miss)

  Homeowner's insurance usually caps precious metals coverage far below what collectors actually own. Learn what's covered, what isn't, and how proper documentation makes a claim possible.

  Jul 9, 2026 · 6 min read

• Setting Up a Family Vault: Documenting Your Collection for Your Heirs

  Most collections have no plan beyond the person who built them. Here's how to document a collection properly so your family isn't left guessing.

  Jun 24, 2026 · 5 min read

• Importing Your Dealer Order History Into a Portfolio Tracker

  If you've bought from APMEX, JM Bullion, or Kitco over the years, your purchase history already exists — here's how to bring it into a tracker instead of re-entering everything by hand.

  Jun 22, 2026 · 4 min read

• Tracking a Collection Split Across Multiple Storage Locations

  Home safe, bank deposit box, third-party vault — most serious collectors don't keep everything in one place. Here's how to track a split collection without losing track of what's where.

  Jun 18, 2026 · 5 min read

• How to Document Your Physical Gold Collection (The Right Way)

  Proper documentation protects your collection from theft, simplifies insurance claims, and ensures your heirs know exactly what you own. Here's the complete guide.

  Jun 8, 2026 · 8 min read

• Storing Gold Bars vs Coins: What's Actually Different

  Bars and coins have different storage needs — different shapes, different handling risks, different ways they get damaged. Here's what actually changes between the two.

  May 31, 2026 · 5 min read

Also see the glossary and the free tools.