Best Online Gold & Silver Dealers: Secure & Reputable Options

While online banking has made managing money easier than ever, it has also led to most people relying solely on digital assets.

Precious metals are a popular investment choice for people wishing to buy a tangible asset that retains its value over time. In particular, gold and silver generally maintain their value even when the stock market faces major financial fluctuations.

They also do well in times of inflation and political uncertainties. When traditional stocks oscillate significantly because of these external factors, precious metals only become more valuable.

For investors who prefer a hands-off approach, you certainly can buy stocks in gold and silver that are traded daily just like any other stock. However, many people prefer to keep a physical store of their precious metal.

While relatively illiquid, buying physical gold and silver is generally viewed as a long-term investment, and it’s certainly a good option if you’re worried about inflation or the future of paper currency.

Best Places to Buy Gold and Silver Online

eBay and Craigslist are both great places to start. But unless you’re confident that you’re dealing with a reputable seller, you might want to look into other sites that specifically specialize in precious metals.

We’ve compiled a list of the best online gold dealers, along with reviews of each one to help you find the best place to purchase gold and silver.

APMEX (American Precious Metals Exchange)

One of the largest online dealers in the world, APMEX is able to pass on savings to customers because of the sheer volume of business it does each day. Not only can you buy silver, gold, and other metals, you can also sell or trade from your current holdings.

The selection is huge, covering the major precious metals, historic gold coins, “elite” coins, old banknotes, and foreign coins. It also has an extensive collectibles section with rare coins and currency from around the world.

Provident Metals

What started as a precious metals trade show business has launched into one of today’s largest online bullion dealers.

Provident Metals holds several professional memberships, including the American Numismatic Association, the Professional Coin Grading Service, and the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation.

Provident’s collections include gold, silver, copper, platinum, and palladium, with an extensive selection of each one. In addition to coins, rounds, and bullion bars, Provident Metals also sells U.S. and foreign coins, wholesale products, and IRA bullion products.

You’ll appreciate the company’s attentive service and timely delivery. And if you order $99 or more, shipping is free; otherwise, it costs just $5.95 to ship.

Scottsdale Mint

Scottsdale Mint (formerly Scottsdale Silver) focuses on silver and gold while also offering each in different collectible series. They sell both types of metal in coins, bullion bars, and rounds, with a particular premium set on artistic minting.

For example, some recent popular collectible sets include a Vikings series and a Godfather set featuring images from the iconic movie franchise.

To qualify for free shipping with insurance, you must make a minimum purchase of $500. This may seem steep compared to some other companies providing free shipping at $99, but much of the allure of Scottsdale Mint comes from the company’s creative minting process.

JM Bullion

Shipping is free on all JM Bullion orders over $199. They sell physical gold, silver, platinum, and other bullion that arrive directly at your door. They inspect every inventory item to ensure only quality products are sold and accept many forms of payment (Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, PayPal Credit, bank wires, paper checks, and bitcoin).

Fully accredited at both state and federal levels, JM Bullion also has reliable customer service that you can reach via phone or 24-hour Live Chat. Sign up for email, and they will mail you exclusive sales and promotions.

Kitco

Kitco has many precious metal types, including gold, silver, palladium, platinum, and rhodium.

The website also provides a slew of data and news to help you with your portfolio decisions. You can even download apps for gold news, market alerts, and scrap value calculations for your smartphone.

GoldSilver.com

As its name implies, GoldSilver solely sells gold bars, coins, and jewelry and silver bars and coins. They also sell products such as safes and storage containers. You can also create an account to sell back your gold bullion, gold coins, and silver bars through the website.

There’s a flat rate shipping fee of $25 for any order under $500. Otherwise, shipping, handling, and insurance are free. In addition to traditional payment options, GoldSilver also accepts PayPal.

Silver.com

Don’t be fooled by the name. While Silver.com could be the best place to buy silver online, they also sell various gold, platinum, and copper products. In addition to government mints, you can also find gold coins, gold bullion, silver coins, silver bars, and more from private domestic and foreign mints.

The order threshold for free shipping is high at $3,000, but their tiered flat rate shipping fees are reasonable. Smaller orders up to $299 cost just $4.95 for shipping and insurance. The highest tier of orders from $1,000 to $2,999 cost just $9.95.

SD Bullion

Silver, gold, platinum, and copper comprise SD Bullion’s core product line, with coins, bars, and rounds from around the world.

They also sell lead bullion in the form of ammo as well as vaults, survival food, and herbal medicine. In addition, SD Bullion offers weekly specials and currently has a promotion for all orders shipped at just $7.77.

Texas Precious Metals

Texas Precious Metals offers several unique features, including the ability to sign up for limit orders. For example, you can automatically place a standing order if gold or silver reaches your desired value.

All orders ship for free using UPS Next Day Air, and all orders ship within three business days of payment. The website offers a curated selection of gold coins, gold bars, silver coins, silver bars, and pre-1933 gold.

Golden Eagle Coins

Golden Eagle Coins is a place for gold and silver investors and collectors alike. Take one look at their website, and you’ll see why — their inventory is enormous.

Prices vary moment by moment because they are based on the commodities exchange, so their site is a great place to go if you are researching when to buy.

Shipping is free on orders $99 and over. Also, be sure to check out their bi-monthly blog for new items and savings.

Gold Dealer

Quoted on CNN, CNBC, and PBS, Gold Dealer offers a complimentary newsletter written by industry masterminds Ken Edwards and Richard Schwary.

They have a physical office moments away from LAX. However, if you prefer not to travel to Los Angeles, their website has everything you’d expect from a reputable online gold dealer.

Offering free, insured shipping on every order, they are able to offer such low prices because, over the years, they’ve cut down on operating expenses whenever and wherever they could. They have always passed their savings on to their customers.

Monarch Precious Metals

Monarch Precious Metals is a newer company established in 2008 to help with the immense public demand for gold bullion. They only use quality metals, so anything you buy from them will be .999+ fine.

They triple-check the weight of every bar they ship. If it is ever underweight, they re-melt it. If it is ever overweight, it’s a win-win for you because they always let it pass and ship it as is.

Everything is custom hand-poured and marked in the old way, giving their metals a unique, old-fashioned look. They accept all methods of payment except PayPal, and every order is properly insured.

CMI: Gold & Silver

An A+ Accredited Business, CMI is located in Phoenix, Arizona. However, CMI will buy and sell precious metals online to investors all over the United States.

Its president, Bill Haynes, considers it his responsibility to educate the public about the dangers and benefits of buying gold and silver products.

On his blog, he regularly updates his audience on all the world factors affecting the prices of metals, and so it’s an excellent resource when determining to buy.

With solid prices, IRAs, and a plethora of educational material to read, CMI should be a website you routinely check if you are a serious investor.

BGASC: Buy Gold and Silver Coins

With thousands of positive customer reviews, it’s not hard to realize why BGASC is an A+ BBB accredited business. They offer free shipping on orders $99 and up, and every order is insured while in transit; moreover, they always ship your order the next business day.

They are one of the largest coin and bullion dealers in the US and sell nearly every type of US coin ever made. They also have a large selection of mints from other countries, such as China, Mexico, and Canada.

The Basics of Precious Metals

Before buying gold or silver, it’s important to understand the different forms they come in. Each type has its pros and cons. Some people focus on one kind they prefer, while others create a diverse mix of different kinds. Before you buy precious metals, figure out which strategy is best for you.

Silver

Let’s start by talking about silver. Typically, you can buy silver either in the form of bullion or junk silver. Silver bullion refers to silver as a bar, coin, ingot, or round.

Silver Coins

The most popular silver coins you’ll come across are as follows:

• American Silver Eagle
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
• British Silver Britannia
• Mexican Silver Libertad
• Austrian Silver Philharmonic
• South African Silver Krugerrand
• Australian Silver Kangaroo
• Chinese Silver Panda

Junk Silver

Junk silver, on the other hand, is any type of old U.S. currency containing real silver. Any U.S. half-quarters, quarters, or dimes minted before 1965 are considered junk silver; and, in reality, aren’t very junky at all.

You can sometimes find junk silver below the spot price, which can often allow you to start with a profit on your investment.

Silver Rounds

Silver rounds are privately minted silver pieces shaped like coins but produced by private mints. They are not government minted or legal tender, so they are not referred to as coins. The most popular silver round is the American Silver Buffalo. However, Scottsdale Mint also produces some beautiful rounds called “Omnia.”

Gold

Gold also comes in bars and coins, each one giving you a different type of entry point into precious metal investing. Buying gold coins is the easiest way for gold investors to start because you can begin by just purchasing a few at a low price point.

Gold Coins

The most popular gold coins to buy are as follows:

• American Gold Eagle
• Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
• British Gold Britannia
• British Gold Queen’s Beast
• Mexican Gold Libertad
• Austrian Gold Philharmonic
• South African Gold Krugerrand
• Australian Gold Kangaroo
• Chinese Gold Panda

Gold Rounds

Similar to silver rounds, the most popular is the American Gold Buffalo.

If you are stocking up as a hedge against inflation or to use as currency in a potential crisis, you’ll find that coins of any type (gold or silver) will be easier to barter with than bars.

If you decide to buy bars, you can get them in different sizes to suit your space or budget; for example, you can purchase 1 to 10-ounce gold bars or up to 100-ounce silver bars. You can even find bars at just a fraction of an ounce if you want to start small.

One of the most significant advantages of this tactic is that you get the lowest premium when you buy larger bars. So while they might not be as easy to get rid of when you’re ready, you’ll get a better value if you can make that large of an investment upfront.

Copper

While silver and gold are the most popular, there are other precious metals to consider as well. For example, copper also comes in bars, rounds, and coins and is very affordable for novice investors.

Many experts believe it’s a wise investment opportunity because of its rising demand in our economy paired with a shrinking supply.

Platinum and Palladium

Platinum is perhaps the most precious of all metals. It’s 15x rarer than gold, and its value exceeds that of gold. Platinum is usually sold as coins minted in the U.S., Canada, or Australia.

Palladium is similar to platinum in its properties and is actually 30x rarer than gold. Because these metals are so rare, not many people invest in them. However, a growing number of investors are adding them to their portfolios, and it’s something you may want to consider as well.

Gold and Silver: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best website to buy gold and silver?

We have listed the most trusted places to buy gold and silver online above. However, it depends on which kind of gold and silver you wish to buy. It also depends on what you consider the best. Are you looking for the best prices on gold and silver? The best selection? Or perhaps the best shipping policy?

Regardless of what you’re looking for, it’s wise to check out at least a few of the gold dealers we mention above and compare prices, selection, and shipping policies on numerous sites.

What is the cheapest way to buy gold and silver?

Purchasing gold and silver bars is the cheapest way to buy gold and silver. Bars typically have the lowest premiums over spot because they are cheaper to manufacture than gold or silver coins.

Generally, it’s always cheaper to buy gold and silver in bulk. Most online gold dealers offer a lower premium per ounce if you purchase a certain amount at once.

Is it safe to buy gold and silver online?

Buying precious metals online is as safe as any other transaction you make online. It’s also just as safe to buy online is as it is to buy from a physical retailer. The key is to buy gold and silver from a reputable gold dealer.

Is it better to buy gold coins or bars?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It depends on your situation, your needs, your budget, and what you prefer. As mentioned above, it’s typically cheaper to buy gold bars, but you will most likely get a better value from gold coins when it comes time to sell your gold.

Gold and silver coins and small bars offer more flexibility when it comes time to sell. Owning smaller units of gold and silver allows you to sell only a portion of your precious metals instead of your whole portfolio.

How much gold and silver should I own?

Experts recommend holding 5-25% of your net worth in precious metals. However, it depends on your goals, your situation, and risk tolerance. Precious metals can be a great addition to your portfolio as long as you know why you’re adding it.