This guide collects what we’ve written about precious metals and bullion — purity and fineness, buying and selling mechanics, sales tactics to watch for, and the general considerations people weigh when treating metals as part of a diversified strategy.
We are writers, not financial advisors or coin dealers. Nothing here is investment advice, and we never state specific prices or values — those change constantly. Consult a licensed financial advisor and a reputable, low-pressure dealer before a significant purchase.
If you’re just starting out with identification and history rather than bullion, our coin collecting guide is the better starting point.
Precious Metals & Bullion
- Bullion Coins vs Bars: What’s the Difference — Bullion coins and bars both hold precious metal, but they differ in form, premiums, liquidity and verification
- Common Bullion Coin Sizes Explained (1 oz & Fractional) — A plain-language guide to 1 oz, fractional and gram bullion coin sizes, how they’re measured, and why smaller sizes cost more per ounce
- Gold Purity Explained: Karats, Fineness, .999 — What karats and fineness numbers like .999 actually mean, how gold purity is measured, and why it matters for coins and bars
- How Bullion Coins Are Minted vs Collector Coins — A plain-language look at how mints strike bullion coins versus collector coins, and why the differences affect condition, cost and appeal
- How to Tell Real Gold From Fake: Basic Methods — Learn the basic checks people use to spot fake gold coins and bars, and why a professional appraisal matters before any purchase
- Silver Purity Explained: What “Junk Silver” Means — What does ‘junk silver’ actually mean? A clear look at silver purity, 90% coinage, and how to tell what you’re holding
- The Difference Between Fine Gold and Alloyed Gold — Fine gold is (near) pure gold; alloyed gold is mixed with other metals for strength and color
- Understanding Hallmarks and Assay Marks on Precious Metals — Hallmarks and assay marks stamp purity, origin and maker onto gold and silver
- Understanding Platinum and Palladium Bullion Coins — How platinum and palladium bullion coins work, how they differ from gold and silver, and what affects their value
- What Constitutional Silver Means & Where It Comes From — Constitutional silver refers to pre-1965 US coins that were 90% silver
- What Determines a Coin’s Melt Value — Melt value depends on metal content, purity, weight, and live spot prices
- What Is a Numismatic Premium and Why It Exists — A numismatic premium is the amount a coin’s price exceeds its raw metal value
All precious metals & bullion articles
Buying & Selling
- Certificates of Authenticity: What They Really Prove — What a certificate of authenticity actually verifies, what it doesn’t, and why it’s no substitute for independent grading or appraisal
- Coin Insurance and Appraisals: What to Know — How coin appraisals and insurance actually work, what documentation you need, and how to avoid overpaying or under-protecting a collection
- Coin Show Etiquette and What to Expect — A practical guide to coin show etiquette and what first-time attendees can expect from tables, dealers, and bourse floor manners
- How Coin Auctions Work: A Beginner’s Guide — Learn how coin auctions actually work, from consignment to bidding to buyer’s premiums, before you bid or consign a coin
- How Estate Sales Handle Inherited Coin Collections — How estate sales and executors typically sort, identify, and sell inherited coin collections, and what heirs should know before doing anything
- How to Evaluate a Coin Dealer’s Reputation — Learn practical ways to check a coin dealer’s credentials, transparency and track record before making a purchase or sale
- How to Prepare a Coin Collection for Sale or Appraisal — Learn how to inventory, organize, and present a coin collection for an appraisal or sale without guessing at values or making costly handling mistakes
- Questions to Ask Before Buying From a Coin Dealer — Key questions to ask a coin dealer before buying, from pricing and authentication to return policy, so you can shop with confidence
- Red Flags That Suggest a Counterfeit Coin Listing — Learn the warning signs of a counterfeit coin listing, from pricing and photos to seller behavior, before you buy online or in person
- Understanding Buyback Policies When Selling Coins — How dealer buyback policies work when selling coins or bullion, what affects the offer, and questions to ask before you commit
- What Documentation Should Come With a Graded Coin — Learn what paperwork, labels, and records should accompany a professionally graded coin, and why gaps in that trail matter before you buy
- What to Know Before Buying Coins Online — Learn what to check before buying coins online, from seller reputation to return policies, photos, and authentication
Investing Considerations
- Capital Gains Considerations for Collectibles — A general, non-advisory look at how capital gains concepts apply to coins and collectibles, and why records and professional guidance matter
- How Collectors Distinguish Collecting From Investing — How coin collectors tell collecting apart from investing, and why knowing your own motivation shapes what and how you buy
- Liquidity Differences Between Bullion and Numismatic Coins — How quickly bullion and numismatic coins convert to cash differs, and why premiums, condition and market demand drive that gap
- Numismatic Value vs Bullion Value: How They Differ — Numismatic value and bullion value are priced differently
- Precious Metals Sales Tactics to Watch For — Learn to recognize common pressure tactics in precious metals sales, from urgency framing to inflated numismatic premiums
- Precious Metals in a Diversified Portfolio — How gold, silver and other metals are generally viewed within a diversified portfolio, and what to weigh before including them
- Questions to Ask Before Opening a Precious Metals IRA — Key questions to ask about custodians, storage, fees, and coin eligibility before opening a precious metals IRA
- Storage and Custody Considerations for Physical Metals — How home safes, bank boxes, and third-party vaults differ for storing gold and silver, and what custody really means
- Understanding Volatility in Precious Metals Markets — Why gold and silver prices swing, what drives short-term volatility, and how to think about it before buying or selling
- Understanding the Concept of a Gold-Backed IRA — What a gold-backed IRA actually is, how it works mechanically, and the questions worth asking before treating one as part of a retirement plan
- What Drives Interest in Gold During Uncertainty — Why gold demand rises in uncertain times, what actually drives it, and how to think it through without hype or high-pressure sales tactics
- What “Safe Haven Asset” Means and Its Limits — What people mean by “safe haven asset,” why gold gets the label, and what that term does not guarantee
All investing considerations articles
Also on Gold Coins Today
The companion guide, Coin Collecting Guide, covers the other half of the subject. Our about page explains who writes this site and what we will not claim.
Gold Coins Today publishes general information about coin collecting and precious metals, not financial, investment, tax or legal advice. We are writers and editors, not certified numismatists, appraisers, financial advisors or dealers. Coin and bullion values change constantly and depend on condition, authenticity and the current market — get a current appraisal or spot price from a qualified, reputable source before buying or selling, and consult a licensed financial advisor before treating precious metals as part of an investment strategy.