White gold, platinum, and the magnet that ruins a Saturday
White gold is gold with a costume. Platinum is a different metal. Tungsten rings crash the party. Test. Do not…
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The public coin and money library, plus dealer guides — what people bring to a shop, how money works, and how shops run.
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Why some shops will not take a card when you buy gold
Card fees eat the spread. Chargebacks on metal are a nightmare. Cash, debit, and wire exist for a reason. It…
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Cash, check, or wire when you sell: pick the boring option
Cash feels final and trips reporting rules. Checks and wires are how grown-ups move large numbers. Ask what the shop…
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A jar of pennies is almost never a treasure chest
Most penny jars are face value plus time. Wheat cents are usually still cents. Keys exist. Hours of sorting a…
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Facebook Marketplace gold: treat it like a stranger with a sack
Parking-lot eagles are how people learn about tungsten and fake slabs. Meet at a shop. Test. Or skip it.
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Stolen metal, police holds, and why a shop might say “not today”
Secondhand metal laws exist because theft is real. A hold or a declined buy is not a verdict on your…
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Dental gold: ugly, real, and worth bringing
Crowns and bridges can be high-karat gold. They look terrible. Shops still buy them by test and weight. Do not…
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Power of attorney, estates, and who is allowed to sell the metal
Shops have to know you can sell what you brought. A POA, an executor letter, or three arguing cousins are…
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Insurance appraisals vs a shop bid: pay for the paper you actually need
A written replacement value is a paid document. A cash bid is an offer. Do not ask for the first…
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