One little-discussed reality of investing in precious metals is the fact that our investments are certain to outlive us. Where our lives span only a few decades, elemental gold and silver have existed for billions of years. This reality presents us with a problem, however. We need to decide what happens to our precious metals...

Key Takeaways Gold bars begin as mined ore that must be crushed, processed, and concentrated before any refining can occur. Refining techniques like the Miller and Wohlwill processes remove impurities to achieve investment-grade purity up to 99.99% gold. After refining, gold is cast or minted into bars, stamped for weight and purity, and distributed globally...

Key Takeaways Mints primarily produce bullion at scale and rely on authorized purchasers and dealers to distribute products to the public. Authorized purchasers buy large quantities from mints and supply dealers, who then make bullion accessible in smaller amounts to investors. Buying through dealers creates a more efficient, competitive market, helping improve liquidity, pricing, and...

If you hang around precious metals traders for any length of time, you are likely to hear a reference to gold as a “safe-haven asset.” When the existing economic or geopolitical status of the surrounding world declines, both experienced investors and novices have a tendency to stash as much of their wealth in the yellow...

January 2026 seemed to usher in a new era for gold prices. The first month of the new year capped a remarkable two years in which the price moved from just over $2,000/oz to more than $5,400/oz. We’ll leave the reasons behind the meteoric rise for a different article. However, we would like to explore...

Without the South African Mint, the modern bullion coin industry might not exist in its current form. Until the production facility of the South African Reserve Bank debuted the Krugerrand in 1967, the world had never seen deliberate and regular production of coinage specifically designed for investment in precious metals rather than everyday commerce. So,...

The Mexican Mint, or Casa de Moneda de México, is the sovereign mint serving the people of Mexico. It is the oldest mint in the Americas and the oldest continuously operating mint in the Western Hemisphere. The Mexican Mint occupies a curious place in the world of numismatics and precious metals. It is one of...

Key Takeaways Gold and silver prices are influenced by inflation, interest rates, and U.S. dollar strength Precious metals often gain demand during periods of economic or geopolitical uncertainty Silver’s industrial demand makes its price movements more volatile than gold Gold and silver occupy a special position in the economy, in that both have served as...

The China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPMC), commonly known as the China Mint, is the sovereign minting authority for the People’s Republic of China. It operates under the People’s Bank of China and oversees the production of Chinese circulating coins, banknotes, and bullion products through its network of minting facilities. It is best known...

The Austrian Mint, or Münze Österreich, is the sovereign mint that serves, well, Austria. It produces both circulating coinage and bullion products for the country and is one of the most prestigious and respected government mints in Europe. Part of its acclaim stems from the popularity of its signature bullion coin, the Austrian Philharmonic. The...

The Royal Mint is the sovereign mint serving Great Britain and the United Kingdom. It is also one of the oldest and most respected minting institutions in the world. The Mint itself has deep connections to world history, the British throne, and the coinage of one of history’s most influential empires. It has produced a...

Most sovereign mints are named simply after their constituent countries — the US Mint, the Royal Canadian Mint, and so forth. So, those who do not deal in precious metals might be forgiven for confusing the Perth Mint with a private mint. However, the Perth Mint is one of Australia’s most important government-owned precious metals...

With the Dahlonega Mint, we arrive at a very special location. For one thing, it’s undoubtedly the hardest branch mint to pronounce (it’s “duh-LAWN-uh-guh,” if you’re interested). For another thing, it’s likely the least-known of any facilities to call itself an official branch mint location. It’s also the branch mint placed in the least populous...

It takes courage and gumption to decide that the best way for a sovereign mint to gain prestige is simply to make a ridiculously pure gold coin. However, in 1979, that’s exactly what the Royal Canadian Mint did when it released its first .999 fine gold Maple Leaf. Since then, the RCM’s reputation for quality...

When the powers that be in the early days of the United States decided the country needed a second branch of the US Mint, it may come as a surprise that they chose Charlotte, North Carolina as its location. However, the debut of the Charlotte Mint in the Tar Heel State in 1837 cemented its...

Ah, New Orleans. The Big Easy lives in all of our hearts as the home of the French Quarter, Mardi Gras, and sublimely delicious food. So, the fact that it is also the site of a historic branch of the US Mint may come as a bit of a surprise. However, the New Orleans Mint...

Key Takeaways Gold coins are not formed naturally; they go through a multi-step process that includes mining, refining, assaying, and precision striking at sovereign mints. Before gold can become a coin, it must be refined to a specific purity and certified for weight and composition to meet mint and legal-tender standards. Bullion coins are produced...

The name “West Point” is rightfully synonymous with the United States Military Academy, the service academy and university that has trained United States Army officers since 1802. However, another important facility also calls the prominent bluff overlooking the Hudson River home — the West Point Mint. This page explores the history and purpose of this...

The westernmost production location in the US Mint portfolio is the San Francisco Mint. Aside from the original Philadelphia Mint, it is the longest-serving mint location in the country. It is the primary mint location responsible to produce proof coins, and it also produces select commemorative issues. However, it is also deeply connected with the...

An assay office is a specialty office that tests, verifies, and certifies the elemental purity of a precious metal object. Through various methods, professionals in this field determine the elemental composition and purity of a given sample. This service is critical for precious metals investors because the value of gold and silver stems first from...

The Denver Mint is one of four production facilities operated by the US Mint. It is also one of the two primary producers of circulating currency in the country – the other is the US Mint’s flagship, the Philadelphia Mint. However, the Denver Mint’s national importance goes beyond its fundamental role as a producer of...

The Philadelphia Mint is where it all began. When the new United States Congress issued the Coinage Act of 1792, it established the US Mint as an entity and designated Philadelphia as the location of the Mint’s office and production facility. Nearly every denomination of US coinage began its life at the Philadelphia Mint. Now,...

So, a gold-backed cryptocurrency is what it sounds like. It is a digital token of exchange that is designed to track the value of gold and may represent a claim on, or a redemption right to, a specific amount of physical gold under the issuing company’s terms. This type of cryptocurrency is part of the...

We take it for granted that the economy continues to churn around the clock, year after year. So, what would happen if the economy just…stopped? Unfortunately, it can happen. In fact, it has occurred several times in recent history. These occurrences are often referred to as black swan events. As painful as they are at...

Between the advent of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate medium of exchange and discussions about the BRICS countries’ plans for a new gold-backed currency, it’s clear that the introduction of new currencies is not a thing of the past. Because it is conceivable that two forms of money may circulate at the same time, you need...