Gold bars ownership in the United States is legal. U.S. citizens can own gold bars, coins, bullion, and jewelry in any quantity with no federal limits. This right was restored on December 31, 1974, after a 40-year ban stemming from Executive Order 6102 (1933) which required citizens to surrender gold to the Federal Reserve during … Read more
Palladium isn’t magnetic. It’s paramagnetic. It has a weak magnetic attraction ensuring pure-palladium items remain immune to magnets of any size and strength. Palladium is paramagnetic due to the presence of unpaired electrons in its electronic structure, specifically in the 4d orbitals. Palladium alloyed with magnetic and ferromagnetic metals exhibits magnetic properties. Why is Palladium … 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
Irish silver hallmarks are official stamps applied to silver items to certify their purity, origin, and date of manufacture. A complete Irish hallmark typically includes a maker’s mark (initials or logo), a fineness mark (such as 925 for sterling silver), an assay office mark (the crowned harp), and a date letter indicating the year of … Read more
The global aluminum market is estimated at 76.47 million tons in 2026, expected to reach 107.3 million tons by 2035, valued at $190.98 billion growing to $222.4 billion. China dominates production at 60% of global output, followed by India (6%), Russia (5%), Canada (4%), and UAE (4%). Primary uses include transportation (29%), construction (26%), and … Read more
Platinum hallmarks are official stamps certifying the purity and authenticity of platinum items and indicating exactly how much platinum an item contains. The most common marks are Pt950 (95% pure), Pt900 (90%), Pt850 (85%), and Pt999 (99.9%, used for investment bullion). These hallmarks are regulated by authorities such as the FTC in the US and … Read more
The most valuable and rarest US coins ever sold span over a century of American minting history. Topping the list is the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, which sold for $18.9 million, followed by the 1849 Coronet Head $20 Double Eagle, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar (among the earliest US silver dollars), and the 1787 … Read more
American Gold Eagles are official 22-karat gold bullion coins produced by the U.S. Mint since 1986 and available in four sizes and three versions: bullion, proof, and burnished. They are considered a strong investment for several reasons. They qualify for gold IRA accounts despite being below the standard 99.5% purity threshold, certain rare editions carry … Read more
Silver rounds are privately minted, coin-shaped pieces of .999 fine silver designed purely for investment rather than circulation. T carry no legal tender status but compensate with lower premiums over spot price, making them a cost-effective way to accumulate silver. Silver rounds advantages include high purity, diverse designs, ease of trading, straightforward storage, and inflation … Read more
Ruthenium is a rare platinum-group transition metal (atomic number 44), discovered in 1844 and primarily sourced as a byproduct of platinum mining. Pure ruthenium coins don’t exist, but two pure ruthenium bars are sold commercially: a 1oz and a 1gram version. Black ruthenium coins are different: existing gold or silver coins, including the Mexican Silver … Read more