A plain-English guide for people over 50
Buy gold and silver with your eyes open
What coins and bars really cost to buy, store, insure and sell, how the IRS taxes them, and the scams to avoid. Written in plain English, with every fact sourced.
- We don't sell metal
- No price predictions
- Prices dated, sources linked
-
Buy
Coins or bars, the coins most buyers choose, what the spot price means and what markup is normal.
How to buy gold -
Store and insure
Home, a bank box or a private vault, and what your homeowners policy really covers.
Where to store it -
Sell and pay tax
How gains are taxed, what dealers report to the IRS, and how to get a fair price when you sell.
How it's taxed -
Avoid scams
Pressure sellers, collector-coin switches, fake bars and the courier scam aimed at older Americans.
See the 10 red flags
Start here
- How to Buy Gold for the First TimeWhat to buy, where, how it arrives, and the costs first-time buyers miss.
- Gold Coins vs. Gold BarsPremiums, resale and recognition, side by side.
- Premiums and SpreadsWhat a fair markup looks like, with dated examples.
- Where to Store Gold and SilverHome, a bank box or a private vault: cost, access and insurance.
- How Are Gold and Silver Taxed When You Sell Them?How the IRS taxes gold and silver when you sell, in plain words.
- Gold and Silver Buying ScamsThe warning signs US regulators list for metal buyers.
Both sides, every time
What gold and silver can and can't do
Every guide on this site says both sides, links its sources and dates its prices. If you're deciding how much of your savings belongs in metals, see our sister site's guide to how much gold people hold in retirement.
What it can do
- You own it outright, with no company or bank in between.
- Common coins and bars are easy for dealers to recognize and buy back.
- Its price doesn't depend on any one company doing well.
What it can't do
- It pays no income: no interest, no dividends.
- You pay a premium to buy and usually get less than market price to sell.
- It costs money to store and insure, and its price can stay flat or fall for years. Silver swings more than gold.
Latest guides
- Bullion vs. Collector CoinsWhat proof, graded, numismatic and semi-numismatic coins are, why they carry big markups and are harder to sell, and what US regulators warn about them.
- How to Buy Gold for the First TimeA plain-English guide to buying physical gold: what to buy, where, how to pay, where to keep it, and the costs first-time buyers often miss when they sell.
- Gold Coins vs. Gold BarsGold coins vs. gold bars compared: premiums, how easy each is to sell, counterfeit risk, bar sizes, serial numbers, assay cards and rounds, in plain words.
- The Most Popular Gold Coins ComparedThe American Gold Eagle, Buffalo, Maple Leaf, Krugerrand, Britannia and Philharmonic compared: purity, gold content, face value, maker, 22k vs 24k.
- Gold vs. SilverGold and silver side by side: price swings, premiums, storage space, industrial use, taxes, and the gold-to-silver ratio as a measure, not a buy signal.
- Premiums and SpreadsWhat premium, spread and buyback mean, a worked example, the US Mint's own markups, dated dealer prices, and the CFTC warning about 300 percent spreads.
Who we are
Founded by Jaynous Kool, a long-time precious metals investor. About us
How we're funded
Some pages may link to dealers that pay us a fee. That never changes what we write. Affiliate disclosure
How we check facts
Every rule and number links to its source, such as the IRS, the US Mint, the CFTC or the FTC. Editorial policy