Where to Buy Gold: Dealers, Coin Shops and IRA Purchases

Editorial responsibility: Best Top 10 Gold Investments · Sources checked October 6, 2026.

Physical gold can be bought through bullion dealers and coin shops; an IRA purchase also involves the account custodian and storage arrangement. Choose the channel after deciding whether you want personal possession, third-party storage or a retirement-account holding.

Match the purchase channel to the task

Buying fund shares through a brokerage is a different transaction from purchasing a coin or bar. See the investment-options guide before choosing a product solely because it contains “gold” in its name.

Can you buy bullion directly from the US Mint?

The US Mint explains that its bullion coins reach the public through its Authorized Purchaser network. Do not confuse those investment bullion products with collector products sold through the Mint’s retail catalog. Being a retailer that carries a Mint coin does not by itself mean the business is an Authorized Purchaser.

Identify the exact product in a quote: coin or bar name, mint or refiner, weight, fine-gold content, quantity and condition. A proof or collectible version is not an equivalent price comparison simply because it has a similar design or weight.

Build an order record

1. Seller: record the legal business name, address and contact details on the agreement.
2. Product: retain the itemized description rather than a broad “gold package” label.
3. Price: save the total, the quote expiry and any difference between payment methods.
4. Delivery: record the expected timing, insurance responsibility and required signature or collection process.
5. Problems: read cancellation, return and shipment-dispute terms before paying.
6. Exit: ask for a current bid for the identical items, with deductions and conditions.

The CFTC’s consumer advisory recommends checking dealer background and getting fees in writing. A price comparison does not replace those checks.

One comparison that avoids a common mistake

Suppose one seller quotes a newly minted one-ounce bullion coin and another quotes a collectible proof coin. Comparing only the two totals does not tell you which dealer has a lower markup for the same product. First request the identical item from both sellers; then compare the full cost at a comparable time.

Our two-offer price example shows how shipping and payment charges can reverse the apparent result. For a small bar, use the gram and purity calculator to check the metal-reference arithmetic.

Keep IRA suitability separate from dealer selection

A dealer’s offer does not decide whether changing your retirement account is appropriate. The IRS FAQ sets out restrictions and exceptions for IRA investments in metals. Confirm the actual holdings and custody arrangement; do not infer eligibility from a seller’s general use of “IRA-approved.”

Use the gold IRA explainer and account-fee worksheet for those separate questions.

Compare the companies after the product

Our ten-company directory features American Hartford Gold, Augusta Precious Metals, Goldco, GoldenCrest Metals and Lear Capital as commercial partners, followed by five additional brands. Featured placement is commercial. Current comparable written quotes and service testing have not been independently verified, so the directory does not certify a cheapest or best provider.

For a worked company example, our U.S. Gold Bureau review separates the dealer purchase, Texas Bullion Depository account and resale program, with links to the governing terms.