Investing in Bullion

Posted on April 07, 2021

What is bullion?

Bullion refers to precious metals in their physical form that have been refined to a high purity level. The word bullion comes from the French term bouillon, which referred to the boiling process used to refine precious metals at the time. Bullion is valued based on its weight, which is generally measured in ounces, and its purity. Sometimes, bullion from a specific refiner may command a premium based on popularity and demand. For the most part, though, bullion is valued solely based on its precious metal content.

Forms of bullion

Bullion can come in many forms, including:

• Bars - Come in a stackable shape for easy storage and good for bulk purchases, ranging in weight from ridiculously small (1/100 oz) to substantial (1kg or 2.2 lbs).
• Coins - Highly liquid and easy to trade, coins are great for small investments and first-time buyers.
• Rounds - Like coins, but not created at a government mint (and therefore have no face value).
• Ingots - The largest form of bullion, ingots are basically really big bars. Sometimes, the word “ingot” is used to refer to an unminted, cast bullion bar, which can be irregularly shaped, uneven, and generally unappealing visually.

The most common types of precious metals that make up bullion are:

• Gold - The most well-known precious metal, gold has been used as money, as decoration, and as a store of value for centuries.

• Silver - Widely used in photography, medicine, electronics, and jewelry in addition to its demand among precious metals investors.

• Platinum - One of the rarest elements in the Earth’s crust, making it almost as valuable on a per-ounce basis as gold. Much denser and much harder to melt than gold. In addition to its use in jewelry, platinum is widely used as a catalyst in industrial applications.

• Palladium - An incredibly rare precious metal (15 times rarer than platinum and 30 times rarer than gold) used in cars to reduce toxic gas emissions and, unlike the precious metals above, rarely used for jewelry.

Why own bullion?

Typical portfolio investments like stocks, ETFs, and bonds come with their own inherent risks. Consider, for example, “counterparty risk” or the possibility that a company might go out of business, leaving your stock or bond worthless. Governments that issue bonds might decide they’re better off just not paying their debts (or inflating their currencies to eliminate the actual value of the debt).

Many bullion buyers have little trust in the stock market and vastly prefer to spend their hard-earned savings on an asset they can see and hold in their hands.

Alternatively, bullion presents a hedge against the risks of other investments. In fact, investing in gold, silver, and other precious metal bullion has been relied on as an excellent hedge against economic crisis, currency inflation, and stock market crashes for centuries.

For example, the price of gold has performed exceptionally well in times when the Dow Jones Industrial Average has declined. This is especially apparent when looking at recent recessionary periods like that of the coronavirus pandemic. During the beginning and middle of 2020, when the coronavirus shut down the U.S. economy, the Dow Jones performed poorly, while gold bullion increasingly grew in value.

As a store-of-value asset, precious metal bullion tends to maintain its value in difficult economic conditions, making it an excellent option for any well-diversified savings portfolio.

How is bullion different from numismatic precious metals?

Bullion is a commodity, meaning it’s “fungible.” One ounce of gold is treated the same, from a price perspective, as any other (the same way a $1 bill is interchangeable with four quarters or a hundred pennies). Bullion’s value is almost exclusively derived from its precious metals content.

Meanwhile, numismatic coins made of precious metals derive their value not exclusively from their metal content. Scarcity, condition, beauty, age, and (of course) demand all affect the price. For example, proof coins are considered numismatic as they are produced for the sole purpose of collecting and showcasing.

Here’s another example to help you understand the difference: if you sell a one-ounce gold bullion bar to a dealer, they’ll weigh it and make you an offer. If you bring an 1851 $20 liberty gold double eagle coin to a dealer, they’ll look at it through a jeweler’s loupe, consult pricing guides, do some online research, then make you an offer. For these reasons, numismatic metals are purchased mainly by hobbyists and collectors for additional reasons, including their precious metal content. Central banks and investors generally purchase bullion.

How to Buy Bullion

There are several ways to buy physical bullion, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.

Because gold and silver bullion are valuable assets, it’s essential to store them properly to preserve their longevity. Bullion represents a great deal of monetary value in a compact, easily transported package. This makes it a primary target for thieves. When it comes to secure storage for your precious metals, you can choose to store bullion at home or via a third party.

At-home storage

If you are comfortable securing bullion yourself, storing it at home can be a good option. This is the only way to ensure you have access to your bullion at all times and can immediately sell or trade your assets if needed. There are a few things to consider for at-home bullion storage:

• Space - Depending on how much bullion you own, it can take up a significant amount of space. Ensure that you know where the bullion can be stored before you take delivery of the bullion.
• Security - This could be the most critical aspect of at-home storage. If someone breaks into your home, you want to ensure that your bullion isn’t easily accessible. This requires securing a safe to store the bullion and keep it out of anyone else’s hands. Generally, large safes are better since they are more difficult to remove from a home. At the same time, you’ll want to get a safe that is both fire-resistant and waterproof to keep your bullion secure in case of any catastrophic event.
• Environment - Store your bullion in a dry environment away from anything that could prove to be corrosive to the precious metals. Additionally, don’t store gold and silver together as doing so could cause them to clash together and potentially cause damage, thereby reducing the value of your bullion.

Depository

If you don’t feel comfortable storing bullion yourself, you can take advantage of a depository storage option. Depositories can range from dedicated, high-security gold depositories to your local bank’s safe deposit box. Regardless of the type of depository, your bullion is stored in a safe location under the watchful eye of added security measures. Consider these questions when choosing a depository:

Accessibility - What is the company’s policy on accessing your bullion? How much notice must you give to access and withdraw your bullion? Access to your bullion is key to ensuring you can recover it at any time.

Ownership - Do you own specific bullion or simply a share of the total reserves? Since you want to invest directly into physical bullion, having continued ownership of your specific bullion is important.

Security - What is being done to keep the bullion protected and safe? If your bullion can’t be kept secure in a depository, then there is no advantage to using this storage method versus at-home storage.

Insurance

Precious metals insurance is a great way to keep your investment safe and have peace of mind that you are protected. This is especially true if you are storing gold or silver bullion yourself and are concerned about any event that could compromise your assets.

When it comes to at-home storage, homeowners insurance generally won’t cover the total value of your gold and silver in the event of a loss. In general, homeowners insurance policies cover up to $200 per piece for gold and silver, a paltry amount for bullion investors. You may be able to increase this limit by paying more for insurance, but you first must check with your insurance provider. Alternatively, you can purchase a floater policy to cover bullion losses at a higher limit, but you will first have to get your precious metals professionally appraised.

Some third-party bullion storage options like banks and private vaults provide precious metals insurance on any holdings. But don’t assume that insurance is included. Ensure you fully understand what is covered by the vault’s insurance policy and whether bullion is covered under general liability insurance or a separate policy.

Verification

When buying bullion, it’s best to ensure you are purchasing from a verified dealer. The bullion market can be full of fraudulent metals that aren’t what they seem. That makes it all the more important to verify you are purchasing precious metal bullion from a legitimate dealer.

Here are a few things to look out for in a bullion dealer:

• Transparent pricing - If a bullion dealer doesn’t provide transparent pricing for their gold and silver, don’t consider buying your precious metals bullion from them.
• Delivery - Bullion dealers that refuse to deliver your precious metals may be doing so because they never had the bullion in the first place. Even if you don’t want to store your bullion yourself, check to see if the dealer offers delivery.
• Authenticity - Only purchase bullion from dealers who have documented the authenticity of all gold and silver for sale. If the bullion cannot be authenticated, there is no way to know if it came from a legitimate source and is even of the purity advertised.

Consider bullion for your portfolio

Investing in precious metals is something you may want to consider for your portfolio. Whether it is coins, bars, or ingots, bullion is an excellent store-of-value asset for recessionary economic periods. Keep in mind the ins and outs of bullion, including how to properly store precious metals, insurance, and verifying your bullion dealer. This way, you can keep your bullion investment secure for years to come.