Buy Gold and Silver Bullion — Trusted Dealers and Buying Guide
Researched and curated by FindRareCoins.com — updated regularly
Whether you're adding to a long-term stack, buying your first silver coin, or moving into gold as a hedge against inflation, choosing the right dealer matters as much as choosing the right metal. FindRareCoins.com partners with four of the most reputable precious metals dealers in the industry — all with strong track records, secure shipping, and competitive premiums over spot.
This guide covers what each dealer does best, how to compare pricing, and what to look for when buying gold or silver bullion online. Use the silver melt calculator to check current melt values before any purchase, and visit our precious metals guide for deeper background on bullion types, storage, and investment considerations.
Current Precious Metals Spot Prices
Live Precious Metals Prices
Live prices from Kitco.com · Sponsored
Trusted Bullion Dealers — Side by Side
These four dealers are FindRareCoins.com's vetted affiliate partners. All offer secure shipping, established reputations, and competitive pricing across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products.
Best for Beginners
JM Bullion is one of the largest and most trusted online bullion dealers in the United States. Founded in 2011, they carry a wide selection of gold and silver coins, bars, and rounds at competitive premiums, with free shipping on orders over $199. Their product pages include detailed specifications and real-time pricing, making them a strong starting point for new bullion buyers.
- Free shipping on orders over $199
- Gold, silver, platinum & palladium
- U.S. Mint authorized purchaser
- No minimum order
- Multiple payment options including card, check & crypto
Best for Live Pricing
Kitco has been a trusted name in precious metals since 1977, originally serving industrial and professional markets before expanding to retail bullion sales. They offer real-time spot price charts and market commentary alongside their product catalog, making them the preferred choice for buyers who want to track market conditions closely and time purchases to favorable spot price movements.
- Live spot prices and market data
- Trusted by professionals since 1977
- Gold, silver, platinum & palladium
- Storage programs available
- International shipping options
Best for Variety
Money Metals Exchange stands out for the breadth of their product selection and their strong editorial content on precious metals investing. In addition to gold and silver, they carry copper and palladium bullion, junk silver bags, and a range of numismatic products. They've been consistently rated among the top precious metals dealers in the country by independent reviewers.
- Top-rated by independent review sites
- Gold, silver, platinum, palladium & copper
- Junk silver bags and pre-1965 coins
- Monthly auto-investment program
- IRA-eligible products available
Best for Low Premiums
SD Bullion built their reputation specifically on offering some of the lowest premiums over spot in the online bullion market. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Michigan, they focus on fast fulfillment and price competitiveness, frequently undercutting larger competitors on popular products like Silver American Eagles and gold bars. A strong choice for buyers who prioritize minimizing their cost-per-ounce above other factors.
- Consistently low premiums over spot
- Fast shipping and fulfillment
- Gold, silver, platinum & palladium
- Price match guarantee
- IRA-eligible products available
What to Buy — Gold, Silver, Platinum & Palladium
🥈 Silver Bullion
Silver is the most accessible entry point for most new bullion buyers. The 1 oz Silver American Eagle — produced by the U.S. Mint since 1986 — is the world's best-selling silver bullion coin, with a guaranteed .999 fine silver content and government-backed legal tender status. Silver rounds and bars carry lower premiums than coins and are a cost-efficient choice for buyers focused on maximizing ounces. Junk silver (pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars) is another popular option — 90% silver content, widely recognized, and typically priced close to melt with minimal premium.
Use the silver coin melt calculator to calculate the melt value of any silver coin before you buy or sell. For deeper background on what drives silver prices and how silver fits into a broader precious metals strategy, see the precious metals guide.
🥇 Gold Bullion
The 1 oz American Gold Eagle (.9167 fine, 22K) and the 1 oz American Gold Buffalo (.9999 fine, 24K) are the two flagship U.S. gold bullion coins. Both are IRA-eligible and globally liquid. Gold bars offer lower premiums per ounce than coins — particularly in 10 oz and 1 kilo sizes — and are preferred by larger investors. Fractional gold (1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz) carries higher premiums per ounce but allows smaller purchases and finer-grained position sizing. Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins (Double Eagles, Eagles, Half Eagles) trade for both their gold content and numismatic premium; see the U.S. gold coins guide for details.
Platinum & Palladium
Platinum and palladium are industrial metals with significant catalytic converter demand alongside their investment appeal. Both are far rarer than gold or silver, and their prices are driven heavily by automotive industry demand as well as mining supply from a small number of countries. The 1 oz Platinum American Eagle and 1 oz Palladium American Eagle are the primary IRA-eligible options in each metal. Both carry higher premiums and wider bid-ask spreads than gold or silver, making them more suitable for experienced bullion buyers expanding an existing position than for first-time purchasers.
How to Buy Bullion Safely Online
Buying bullion online from an established dealer is straightforward and secure, but a few practices are worth building into every purchase. Check the dealer's buy-back price alongside their sell price — a tight spread indicates a healthy, liquid market and a trustworthy operation. Verify that shipping is fully insured and that the package won't require a signature at delivery if you won't be home. For orders over a few hundred dollars, consider using a check or bank wire rather than a credit card, since most dealers offer a discount (typically 3–4%) for non-card payment to offset card processing fees.
If you're planning to buy regularly, most of the four dealers above offer recurring purchase programs or price alerts, which take the timing pressure off individual purchase decisions. For storage, home safes work for smaller amounts; for larger holdings, allocated storage programs through dealers like Kitco or Money Metals Exchange offer fully insured, professionally vaulted alternatives.
Affiliate disclosure: FindRareCoins.com may earn a commission on purchases made through dealer links on this page at no extra cost to you.
Additional Resources
Looking for bullion on the secondary market, or want deeper background before you buy?
eBay Bullion
A useful secondary market for comparing prices and buying from individual sellers. Best for pre-1933 gold coins and items dealers don't typically stock. Always check completed sold listings for fair current pricing before bidding or buying.
Browse on eBay →FRC Precious Metals Guide
In-depth background on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium — how spot pricing works, bullion types compared, storage options, and how precious metals fit into a broader collecting or investment strategy.
Read the Guide →Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between spot price and the price I actually pay?
Spot price is the raw market price for an ounce of metal at any given moment, traded on commodity exchanges. When you buy physical bullion, you pay spot plus a premium — the markup that covers the dealer's costs for fabrication, distribution, insurance, and profit margin. Premiums vary by product type (coins carry higher premiums than bars, fractional sizes carry higher premiums than 1 oz), dealer, and order size. Comparing premiums on identical products across dealers is the most accurate way to find the best deal.
Is buying gold and silver online safe?
Yes, from established dealers with strong track records and proper insurance. All four dealers listed on this page have been in business for years with large customer bases and verifiable reputations. Key practices: confirm your order is shipped fully insured, use a payment method that provides a paper trail (check or bank wire preferred for larger orders), and keep a record of your purchase invoice and serial numbers for any serialized bars.
Which is better to buy — coins, rounds, or bars?
It depends on your priorities. Government-minted coins (American Eagles, Maple Leafs) carry the highest premiums but are the most recognizable, liquid, and widely accepted globally. Rounds are privately minted coins with identical metal content but lower premiums and slightly less universal recognition. Bars have the lowest premiums per ounce, especially in larger sizes, but require more due diligence when reselling since buyers may want assay verification. For most new buyers, 1 oz Silver American Eagles are a strong starting point — liquid, recognizable, and reasonably priced.
Are precious metals a good investment?
Precious metals serve a specific role in a portfolio — historically as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation rather than as a growth asset. Gold and silver don't generate income and can go years without appreciating in nominal terms. Their value proposition is primarily as a store of value during economic uncertainty and as portfolio diversification. Most financial advisors who recommend precious metals suggest limiting exposure to 5–15% of a portfolio rather than treating them as a primary investment vehicle.
What is an IRA-eligible bullion product?
The IRS allows certain precious metals to be held inside a self-directed IRA, provided they meet minimum fineness standards — .995 for gold, .999 for silver, .9995 for platinum and palladium. Not all bullion products qualify; collectible coins and pre-1933 U.S. gold coins are generally excluded. American Eagles are a specific statutory exception for gold IRAs despite being 22K rather than .9999 fine. JM Bullion, Money Metals Exchange, and SD Bullion all carry clearly labeled IRA-eligible product sections to make identification straightforward.
How do I store physical bullion safely?
For smaller amounts (under $10,000–$20,000 in metal value), a quality home safe bolted to a wall or floor provides reasonable security. For larger holdings, allocated storage through a professional vault program — offered by Kitco and Money Metals Exchange among others — provides fully insured, independently audited storage outside your home. Allocated storage means your specific bars or coins are segregated and held in your name, as opposed to unallocated storage where you hold a claim to a pool of metal. Keep photographs and documentation of your holdings regardless of which approach you use.
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