IRA-eligible gold is IRS-approved gold bullion that meets specific purity standards for inclusion in a gold IRA account. IRA-approved gold bars and rounds must be 99.5% pure and produced by an IRA-approved mint. IRA-approved gold coins must also be 99.5% pure, come with authenticity certificates, be in mint condition, and remain in original packaging. The … Read more
The meaning of IRA-approved silver bullion is that it’s silver coins and bars that meet the IRS requirements to be held inside a self-directed Individual Retirement Account (SDIRA). IRA-eligible silver bullion must be at least 0.999 pure, produced by an approved refiner or government mint, and stored in an IRS-approved depository to qualify for silver … Read more
Welcome to my Goldco Precious Metals review for 2026. Goldco Precious Metals is a legitimate, California-based precious metals company founded in 2006 by Trevor Gerszt. It specializes in selling Gold IRAs to Americans and direct purchases of gold and silver. Goldco holds an A+ BBB rating and strong reviews across consumer watchdog platforms. They also … Read more
Bishop Gold Group is a legitimate, Los Angeles-based precious metals dealer led by their CEO Beau Cassidy. Holding an A+ BBB rating, the company is well-regarded across major review platforms with minimal customer complaints and no customer lawsuits on record. Bishop Gold Group (BGG) offers silver, platinum, and palladium bullion with a $10,000 minimum investment … Read more
Preserve Gold is a U.S.-based precious metals firm founded in 2022 by Daniel Boston, a former senior account executive at Lear Capital. It helps customers invest in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, primarily through self-directed IRAs and direct purchases. The company is viewed as legitimate rather than a scam, with leadership including CEO Jennifer … Read more
Welcome to my Money Metals Exchange review for 2026! Money Metals Exchange is a legitimate U.S.-based precious metals dealer founded in 2010 by Stefan and Mike Gleason. The company buys and sells gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, and rhodium, and also offers gold IRA services, secure storage through its own Idaho-based depository, and a metals-backed … Read more
Welcome to my American Hartford Gold Review for 2026! americanhartfordgold.com isn’t a scam. Instead, American Hartford Gold Group is a legitimate, Los Angeles-based precious metals dealer founded in 2015 by CEO Sanford Mann. The company specializes in gold and silver IRAs for American investors and retirees, with a minimum IRA investment of $10,000. They hold … Read more
Welcome to my Priority Gold review for 2026! Priority Gold is a legitimate precious metals dealer with over 24 years in business, an A+ BBB rating, and strong scores across major review platforms. The company helps American investors open gold IRAs and purchase physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Fees include a $50 setup fee, … Read more
Welcome to my Noble Gold IRA review for 2026. Noble Gold Investments is a legitimate, California-based precious metals company founded in 2016 by Collin Plume. It specializes in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium IRAs and direct bullion purchases, with a $5,000 minimum for IRAs and $2,000 for physical purchases. IRA fees include an $80 one-time … Read more
Britannia silver is a high-purity silver alloy named after Britain’s female personification. It contains 95.8% silver and 4.2% copper. It’s softer and purer than sterling silver, making it ideal for intricate jewelry and silverware designs. This silver alloy is non-magnetic, hypoallergenic, and marked with a “958” hallmark. While historically used for British wrought plate, Britannia … Read more
Gold hallmarks are small stamps on gold items that show purity, origin, and authenticity. They commonly indicate karat or fineness, maker, assay office, and date. Gold bullion usually carries hallmarks showing weight, purity, and manufacturer, but hallmarks alone do not guarantee authenticity. Gold jewelry, gold-plated items, and gold vermeil may not always have hallmarks due … Read more
Rare silver hallmarks are distinctive stamps on silver items indicating their origin, maker, and purity. They originate from from closed regional assay offices, obscure silversmiths, or short-lived periods, making them historically significant. These marks serve as authentication “fingerprints” that substantially increase a piece’s value to collectors. Examples include York’s half-leopard head and marks from master … Read more
900 silver is a silver alloy containing 90% pure silver and 10% other metals (typically copper). This silver alloy is known as “coin silver” because it was used in U.S. coinage from 1792-1964. 900 silver is non-magnetic, hypoallergenic (unless allergic to copper/silver), and can be tested using an eraser which leaves black marks when rubbed … Read more
What Happened to Oxford Gold Group? Don’t to business with Oxford Gold Group. They’ve been scamming people out of their retirement savings and plenty of lawsuits are being filed against them as of today. [/wps_note] Oxford Gold Group Lawsuits Oxford Gold Group lawsuits are aplenty now that they’ve been outed as a scam gold IRA … Read more
British silver hallmarks are government-regulated stamps guaranteeing silver purity, origin, and age. Five key mark types exist: Standard Mark (Lion Passant for .925 sterling, Seated Britannia for .958), Assay Office Mark, Date Letter, Maker’s Mark, and Duty Mark (1784-1890). Currently active assay offices include London (Leopard’s Head, established in 1300s), Birmingham (Anchor, 1773), Sheffield (Crown/Tudor … Read more
A gold IRA account allows investors to hold physical precious metals within a retirement account, offering several key benefits. These include protection against inflation, portfolio diversification, tangible asset security, tax advantages, and self-directed investment control. However, there’re notable drawbacks to gold IRAs you should consider. They carry additional costs such as setup, custodian, and storage … Read more
The best gold IRA depositories in the United States include Delaware Depository, Texas Bullion Depository, and Money Metals Depository in Idaho. Each offers high-security vaults, comprehensive insurance, and storage options for precious metals, with features such as segregated storage, advanced surveillance, and strict access controls. When choosing a depository, investors should prioritize security, insurance coverage, … Read more
Silver hallmarks are stamped markings on silver items that guarantee purity, maker, and origin. Not all silver (like bullion or some jewelry) is hallmarked, and legal requirements vary by country. Common marks indicate purity: 999 (fine silver), 958 (Britannia), 925 (Sterling), and lower grades like 900, 875, and 800. The “Winged Unicorn” mark identifies modern … Read more
Palladium hallmarks are stamps on palladium jewelry and bullion that verify the metal’s purity and origin. These markings show you palladium content as 500, 950, or 999 parts per thousand, typically placed in a pentagonal shape. Not all palladium items are hallmarked. For example, investment-grade bullion often lacks marks, and jewelry may be exempt if … Read more