Buying and Selling Precious Metals

Buying and selling gold and silver is straightforward once you understand three things: how a dealer's price relates to the spot price, what you are actually paying for beyond the metal, and what happens on the other side of the transaction when you sell.

The guides in this pillar cover both directions. On the buying side, they explain what a first gold purchase involves — choosing between bullion and certified coins, deciding between one-ounce and fractional sizes, and vetting the dealer you buy from. They also break down premiums over spot: what goes into the difference between the metal value of a coin and its purchase price, and why the lowest premium is not always the better buy.

On the selling side, the most common situation is inherited material. A guide here covers what to do with coins you have inherited, starting with the single most important instruction: do not clean anything. Cleaning damages original surfaces permanently and reduces what a coin will bring.

Texas buyers also have a state-specific advantage. Texas does not impose state sales tax on precious metals, which is covered in its own guide.

That guide, and these pages generally, are educational information only. They are not tax or legal advice. Texas Bullion Exchange does not provide tax or legal advice — talk to your own tax professional about your situation.

Everything here is educational. Nothing on these pages quotes a price for a coin, because prices move and grade has to be assessed in hand.

Buyers whose thinking runs past the purchase itself sometimes ask about the Principal Protection Program, which locks in the original value of a qualifying gold position. A specialist can explain what qualifies.

Texas Bullion Exchange is a Texas dealer with a physical location and specialists who handle these transactions daily. Call 855-344-2646 to talk through a purchase or a sale before you commit to either.