Costs and safeguards
Gold dealer spreads and premiums
Learn the difference between a spot price, retail quote and repurchase offer.
Spot price is not the retail price
Spot is a market reference for wholesale metal. Retail coins and bars can carry fabrication, distribution and dealer premiums; a dealer's repurchase bid can be below its selling price. Products with the same metal weight can have different premiums.
Calculate a same-time spread
For the exact same product, subtract the dealer's bid from its ask, then divide by the ask to express the immediate round-trip difference. Compare quotes at approximately the same time because the underlying market price changes.
Check the exact product
Ask for metal content, mint, year where relevant, condition and whether the item is priced for bullion or collectibility. Higher premiums are not guaranteed to be recovered when selling, especially for products marketed as rare or exclusive.
Before you make a decision
- Which claims are supported by current written documents?
- What costs or restrictions apply if circumstances change?
- Who can independently confirm the tax and custody implications?
A practical example
Suppose the same coin has an illustrative ask of $2,600 and an immediate bid of $2,400. The $200 difference is the round-trip gap for that quote, not a forecast of future value. If another dealer quotes a different coin or quotes an hour later, the comparison may be misleading. Always specify the product, time and quantity. Ask whether shipping, verification or minimum transaction sizes alter the bid.
Continue researching
Sources and further reading
Official reference: IRS IRA investment FAQs · IRS Publication 590-A · IRS Publication 590-B. These references explain general rules, not a recommendation of a particular dealer.
Editorial note: Provider terms and applicable rules may change. Confirm current details with primary sources before acting.