Key terms to know when buying, selling, or storing gold and silver.
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A storage arrangement where specific bars or coins are titled in your name and segregated from other holdings.
Read full definition →A mixture of two or more metals, often added to gold or silver coins to improve durability and wear resistance.
Read full definition →An official test that verifies the purity, weight, and authenticity of a precious metal bar or coin.
Read full definition →The process of evaluating a coin’s condition, authenticity, and quality on a standardized scale (typically 1–70).
Read full definition →The primary U.S. futures exchange where gold, silver, copper, and aluminum contracts are traded.
Read full definition →A fake bar or coin made to imitate genuine bullion, often using base metals plated or filled to deceive buyers.
Read full definition →A benchmark gold price set at fixed times each day that dealers and markets use as a reference for pricing.
Read full definition →A monetary system where a country’s currency is directly tied to and redeemable for gold.
Read full definition →The current market price at which a precious metal can be bought or sold for immediate delivery.
Read full definition →An asset that holds its purchasing power over time instead of eroding the way paper currency can.
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