Reviews
Bullion sale channels: what to check before you sell
Bullion sale channels: dealer, auction, consignment, and private sales, with the questions to ask, the terms to verify, and how payment risk differs in each.
Contributor
Ethan C. Turner
Subject: Precious Metals and Physical Assets: blog, bullion. What needs to be clarified before choosing an approach? Practical guides, comparisons and the questions behind a choice form this editorial remit. Ethan C. Turner is the editorial byline assigned to this area. A general description is a starting point, not a substitute for the particulars. This is an editorial pen name used by the publication, not a claim of an independently verified personal identity.
Features
Conflicting silver bar tests: a fictional case
A fictional case of conflicting silver bar tests shows how XRF, weight, dimensions, conductivity, and ultrasound results were documented and resolved by a lab.
Guides
Silver guide: CBP entry, forms and marking for imports
This silver guide covers CBP entry forms, silver classification under HTS Chapter 71, country-of-origin marking, and how long entry records are kept.
Guides
How to document a non-destructive bullion examination
A non-destructive bullion examination record must show who tested it, with what equipment, and where the method stopped short of full assay.
Features
Household bullion storage case: a fictional walkthrough
A fictional household bullion storage case: one household rebuilds inventory, split custody, privacy controls, insurance records, transfer, and recovery.
Reviews
Home safe, bank box, and private bullion vault compared
Bullion storage options compared across access, custody, privacy, insurance, evidence, disaster exposure, operating hours, and succession planning.
Guides
How to build a bullion inventory without exposing it
A bullion inventory records what you own, its cost basis and storage location while keeping vault access codes and home addresses out of the file.
Maintenance
Bullion order checklist: payment, shipping, delivery, and inspection
A shipped bullion order checklist for verifying payment, price locks, carrier and signature terms, package condition, opening, inspection, and claim ownership.
Guides
How to verify bullion seller identity and document an order
Verify bullion seller identity, request a complete written quote, and keep dated evidence from payment through delivery, inspection, and any dispute.
Guides
Bullion dealer due diligence: checks and records
Bullion dealer due diligence means identifying the seller, recording product and delivery terms, and keeping payment and inspection records.
Guides
Affordable jewelry and watches: construction and wear
Affordable jewelry and watches, explained through metal construction, wear at contact points, watch components, and practical choices on a small budget.
Guides
Which jewelry and watch brands actually deserve the price, in 2027?
Ranked jewelry and watch brands for 2027, judged on hallmarking, servicing and resale value, with what each luxury house is actually good at.
Rules
Paying Cash for Bullion: A Buyer's Counter Checklist
Paying cash for bullion over $10,000 means ID, a Form 8300 filed by the dealer and a January 31 statement. A buyer's checklist for the counter and after.
Guides
Bullion Insurance Homeowners vs Scheduled: What's Covered
Bullion insurance homeowners vs scheduled coverage: why standard policies cap or exclude coins, and how endorsements, appraisals and floater limits really work.
Rules
IRS Form 8949 for Physical Gold Sales: How to Report Capital Gains
IRS Form 8949 gold sales must be reported sale by sale, with basis and proceeds on Schedule D. Here is who files, what to keep, and the penalty for getting it wrong.
Guides
Pawn Shop Bullion Inspection: What to Ask Before Buying
Pawn shop bullion inspection means checking a seller's license, asking how a coin was tested, comparing its quote with spot, and putting terms in writing.
Rules
Physical Gold in a Living Trust: How to Title Bullion for Heirs Without Probate
Physical gold living trust titling decides whether heirs get bullion directly or through probate. Here is what trustees must disclose, keep, and file.
Guides
Bullion storage options in Texas, a guide to the state depository and vault rules
Texas bullion storage runs from the state depository in Austin to private vaults in Dallas and Houston, each with its own title, insurance and fee terms.
Rules
IRS Form 1099-B and Form 8300: what bullion dealers file and sellers report
Federal reporting for bullion dealers and sellers: Form 1099-B for specified items and Form 8300 for cash over $10,000, with records and penalties.
Rules
How US sales tax on bullion works across Texas, California, New York and Florida
US sales tax on bullion depends on your state: Texas, California, New York and Florida each set different exemption thresholds and dealer collection rules.
Guides
Bullion Spot Pricing: LBMA Auction Times and Price Layers
Bullion spot pricing explained: what the LBMA benchmark covers, when each auction runs, the layers between benchmark and invoice, and US tax reporting.
Features
Choosing a one ounce platinum bullion format: a fictional case
A fictional case compares four one ounce platinum formats: Maple Leaf coin, APMEX round, PAMP Suisse minted bar, and Johnson Matthey cast bar, with invented quotes.
Features
A gold bar purchase and its exit cost: a worked case
Gold bar purchase case comparing a 20-gram bar with a one-ounce coin through delivered premium, custody, documentation, buyback spread, and sale records.
Features
First physical metals purchase case: the order of checks
A fictional first physical metals purchase case: the pitch refused, then seller, product, delivery, storage, tax-record and exit checks in the order made.
Rules
Bullion marking problems: 10 common errors and fixes
Bullion marking problems can start with denomination, fineness, assay cards, or packaging. Review ten common errors and fixes for bullion records.
Rules
Thin markets, wide spreads, and limited-product problems
Platinum and palladium market problems guide covering missing bids, wide spreads, stale benchmarks, limited products, collector switches, testing gaps, and fixes.
Rules
Gold Bullion Problems: Weight and Packaging Checks
Gold bullion problems can start with ounce conversions, damaged assay cards, and serial mismatches. Learn what to check before buying or disputing a bar.
Rules
Precious-metals buying mistakes and controlled fixes
Precious-metals buying mistakes guide for pressure sales, hidden premiums, product switches, leverage, vague storage, payment changes, delivery, and disputes.
Guides
How to Compare Gold Bullion Quote Details Line by Line
Learn how to compare gold bullion quote details by matching fine-gold content, spot timing, purchase costs, delivered price, premiums, and resale value.
Maintenance
First bullion purchase due-diligence checklist
First bullion purchase checklist for product identity, dealer research, premiums, payment, delivery, authentication, storage, insurance, records, and exit.
Guides
Gold Bullion Buying Guide: Working Out Fine Content
Gold bullion buying starts with fine content: troy ounces versus grams, karat and fineness, and why a coin and a bar can hold the same amount of gold.
Maintenance
Gold coin and bar inspection checklist on delivery
Gold coin and bar inspection checklist for listings, packages, markings, weight, dimensions, security features, records, testing limits, and escalation.
Reviews
Physical metal, metal funds, mining shares, and futures compared
Physical metal, commodity funds, mining shares, and futures compared by ownership, exposure, custody, fees, liquidity, leverage, business risk, and disclosures.
Guides
Platinum and palladium bullion guide to risks
Platinum and palladium bullion guide to the risks of each metal: supply, products, quotes, U.S. tax and IRA rules, verification, storage and resale.
Maintenance
Platinum and palladium dealer-quote checklist
Platinum and palladium quote checklist covering metal identity, products, benchmark times, premiums, fees, packaging, testing, bids, delivery, and records.
Reviews
Platinum, palladium, gold, and silver bullion compared
Platinum, palladium, gold, and silver bullion compared by demand, retail depth, product range, bulk, premium, verification, custody, volatility, and exit.
Guides
Bullion product specification reading guide: identity, mass, dimensions, marks, and packaging
Reading a bullion product specification: record identity, separate gross weight, fineness and fine content, note dimensions, tolerance, marks, packaging and sources.
Guides
How to receive, inventory, and store silver bullion
Silver bullion receiving and storage method covering package evidence, counts, weights, condition, private inventory, safe materials, load, insurance, and access.
Guides
How to research platinum bullion product details
Learn to research platinum bullion product details: identify the item, check its specification, compare a benchmark, test resale depth, and plan verification.
Maintenance
Silver bullion purchase and condition checklist
Silver bullion purchase checklist covering exact specifications, quote terms, package condition, counts, markings, security, measurements, surfaces, and records.
Guides
How to write a personal precious metals purchase policy
A precious metals purchase policy sets your purpose, spending cap, eligible products, quote fields, seller checks, payment, custody, records, and pause rules.