By Pat Collins & John Halloran | Updated on 08/19/26

What Is Verified Fair Pricing?

Verified Fair Pricing is CGE’s documented price-comparison process: before giving you our price, we check live pricing from two of the largest established national online bullion dealers on the same product and quantity you’re buying or selling — and show you the proof.

Before your order is confirmed, we pull live pricing on your exact items from both comparison dealers, screenshot both prices, and keep them on file with the date of the trade. You see their better qualifying price alongside ours quote, so you can see exactly what CGE beat.

We do the shopping. You don’t need to gather quotes. CGE checks both dealers on the same product in the same quantity you’re buying or selling. Quantity matters because dealer pricing often improves as order size grows, and a comparison at a different quantity isn’t a true comparison.

We beat the best qualifying price we found. On purchases, we identify the lower verified price of the two comparison dealers. On liquidations, we identify the higher verified buyback price. CGE then beats that price on qualifying transactions.

We document it. Both comparisons are screenshotted and retained with the date of the trade. The comparison isn’t a claim you have to accept — it’s a record you can see.

We lock your price at confirmation. Once the transaction requirements are complete, you approve the price, and CGE confirms the trade, your order is locked.

Verified Fair Pricing applies whether you’re opening a gold IRA, liquidating an existing IRA or personal holdings, or buying metals for home delivery.

Because precious-metals prices move continuously, call 800-300-0715 for current pricing.

CGE’s standard minimum is $25,000, but it is not an absolute cutoff. If your transaction is smaller, call anyway. We can still run the comparison and may be able to complete the transaction.

What Verified Fair Pricing Covers — and What It Doesn’t

What It Covers

• Identical products, identical quantity — the same metal, product, weight, and condition, compared at the same quantity. Same product, same count.
• Current, verifiable pricing — a live price on an item that is actually available.
• The two comparison dealers shown above — established national online precious-metals dealers whose current pricing can be independently verified.

What It Doesn’t Cover

• Limited-time promotions, coupons, or clearance offers
• Out-of-stock or unavailable products
• Credit-card, financed, or special-payment pricing
• Auction, marketplace, or individual-seller listings
• Loss-leader offers built around a small quantity of low-priced bullion when the remainder of the proposed transaction consists of substantially higher-markup products

Not sure whether a price qualifies? Ask us. CGE will tell you before you commit.

Why CGE Has a $25,000 Standard Minimum

CGE primarily works with clients investing or liquidating $25,000 or more because our high-volume, lower-margin model works most efficiently on larger transactions.

There are several straightforward reasons.

CGE operates as a high-volume discount dealer. Lower margins work best on larger transactions and allow us to combine competitive pricing with personal service.

Gold IRAs have fixed costs. Custodial and storage charges can represent a larger percentage of a smaller account balance, so investors should weigh those costs before establishing an IRA.

The minimum is a guideline, not a wall. CGE makes exceptions when a transaction is close or the circumstances make sense.

We’ll still try to help. If CGE is not the right fit for a particular transaction, we would rather point someone in the right direction than have them overpay simply because their purchase falls below our normal minimum. Always give us a call as we are happy to help. 

CGE has served precious-metals investors since 1992.

How CGE Helps You Sell Metals You Already Own

Verified Fair Pricing applies to selling precious metals as well as buying them.

If you already own physical gold or silver — inside an IRA or in your possession — CGE compares current buyback pricing from both comparison dealers on the same products and quantities, screenshots both prices, and works to provide a better qualifying price.

You see the current comparison before deciding whether to sell.

For a complete explanation, see our guide on how to liquidate a gold IRA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Guarantee the Absolute Lowest Price Anywhere?

No. CGE does not claim to guarantee the lowest precious-metals price everywhere, every minute of every day. No dealer can reliably make that promise.

What CGE guarantees is a specific, documented process: we check two established national online dealers on the same product and quantity, screenshot both prices, and beat the better qualifying price we verify.

Precious-metals markets move continuously, so the comparison is made using current pricing at the time of your transaction.

Which Dealers Do You Compare Against?

CGE compares prices against the two established national online precious-metals dealers shown above on this page.

The comparison is made on the same product and in the same quantity — same metal, product, weight, and condition — so the numbers are meaningful.

Both competing prices are screenshotted and retained with the date of the trade.

Do Gold and Silver Premiums Drop on Larger Orders?

Generally, yes. Gold and silver dealer premiums often decline as the quantity purchased increases.

The cost of processing, packaging, and shipping an order doesn’t rise in direct proportion to its size. For that reason, many precious-metals dealers publish quantity tiers with lower per-unit pricing as order size increases.

This is also why a price comparison only means something at matched quantity. A quote on ten coins and a quote on one hundred coins may represent two different prices for the same product.

CGE runs the comparison on the same product at the same quantity you’re actually buying.

The practical move is to ask for the all-in price per ounce at each tier rather than looking only at the headline coin price, then compare that figure across dealers.

On a large transaction, even a relatively small difference in the per-ounce premium can produce a meaningful difference in the total ounces received.

If you’re comparing volume quotes, call CGE at 800-300-0715 and we’ll run yours against both comparison dealers.

Can I Negotiate the Price of Gold and Silver Coins?

Sometimes, but widely traded bullion usually has less negotiating room than high-premium or exclusive products because its market price is easier to verify.

Dealer margins on recognized bullion can be checked quickly by comparing the same product across multiple sellers.

Where pricing differences often appear is in order size, product mix, and payment method. A bank wire generally prices better than a credit card, and purchasing fewer, larger-denomination products can cost less per ounce than spreading the same investment across many smaller items.

Premium, exclusive, proof, or graded coins can be different. Those products may carry substantially wider margins, which is one reason a dealer can sometimes offer a large apparent discount and still maintain a substantial markup.

A large “discount” on a product you cannot independently price-check does not by itself demonstrate that the price is competitive.

Are Gold Bars Cheaper Than Gold Coins?

Usually, slightly yes. On a per-ounce basis, gold bars typically carry lower premiums than sovereign gold coins of the same weight.

Coins include minting and legal-tender costs that bullion bars generally do not. Larger bars also typically cost less per ounce than smaller bars. 

The trade-off is divisibility and recognition.

Sovereign coins such as American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs are widely recognized and can be sold individually. A large bullion bar must generally be sold as a whole unit.

Many investors hold both for that reason. CGE prefers American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs because they have a much better buyback market than bullion bars and this matters as the price of bullion continues to rise. 

Coins also have anti counterfeit technologies built into the coinage. 

For IRA holdings, bars must meet applicable fineness requirements and be produced by an approved refiner or mint.

Should I Buy One-Ounce Coins or Fractional Coins?

If your goal is to maximize the amount of gold you receive for your money, one-ounce coins usually provide better value than fractional coins.

Half-ounce, quarter-ounce, and tenth-ounce coins generally carry higher premiums per ounce because many of the minting and distribution costs are similar regardless of the coin’s size.

Fractional gold does have a practical advantage: it can be easier to sell in smaller amounts.

But if your priority is obtaining the most gold for your dollars, one-ounce coins and bullion bars are generally the more efficient choice.

Calculate the all-in price per ounce for both and compare the difference.

Are Proof or Graded Coins Worth the Extra Cost?

CGE likes American Eagle Proofs at times and at other times the premium falls. For an investor primarily seeking exposure to gold or silver, proof and graded coins generally cost more than standard bullion and the additional premium is not guaranteed to be recovered at resale.

The resale market pays what buyers are willing to pay at the time of sale — not necessarily what the original dealer charged.

Graded common-date bullion coins from PCGS and NGC can still be compared meaningfully because equivalent products trade at multiple dealers.

What’s more difficult to price-check is a dealer-exclusive or proprietary product for which identical competing listings may not exist.

That’s where meaningful price comparison becomes harder.

What’s the Difference Between Bullion Coins and Numismatic Coins?

Bullion coins are priced primarily according to their precious-metal content plus a market premium, while numismatic coins are valued largely according to rarity, condition, and collector demand.

Examples of widely traded bullion coins include American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, Krugerrands, and Austrian Philharmonics.

A collectible or numismatic coin can sell for many times the value of the precious metal it contains.

The distinction matters because the two categories require different types of valuation.

Bullion pricing can usually be compared across established dealers in minutes. Numismatic pricing requires specialized knowledge of rarity, grade, market demand, and comparable sales.

It also matters for retirement accounts: collectibles are not permitted in an IRA.

Which Gold and Silver Coins Are Allowed in an IRA?

Gold and silver held in a precious-metals IRA must generally meet IRS fineness and eligibility requirements.

Gold must generally be at least .995 fine, silver at least .999, and platinum and palladium at least .9995, and qualifying products must come from an eligible mint, refiner, or assayer.

American Gold Eagles are specifically permitted by statute despite being .9167 fine.

Common qualifying products include American Gold and Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, Australian Kangaroos, and bars from approved refiners.

Collectible and numismatic coins are not permitted, and 90% “junk” silver does not meet the fineness requirement.

IRA metals must be held through an approved custodian and stored at an approved depository rather than personally held at home.

Does 90% Junk Silver Qualify for Price Comparison?

Yes for ordinary purchases and sales outside a retirement account; no for a precious-metals IRA.

For purchases and sales outside an IRA, 90% U.S. silver coinage is widely traded and quoted by multiple dealers, so a like-for-like comparison is straightforward.

Pricing is generally quoted per face value or per bag rather than per individual coin, so make sure both quotes use the same unit.

For IRAs, 90% silver coinage does not meet the applicable fineness requirement and cannot be held in the account.

How Do I Know If I’m Overpaying for Gold or Silver?

The simplest way to determine whether you’re overpaying for gold or silver is to compare the same product and quantity at several established dealers and calculate the all-in price per ounce.

Keep gold and silver separate.

Divide the amount spent on each metal by the total number of ounces you’ll receive of that metal. Then compare the resulting price per ounce with the current spot and with competing dealer prices.

Watch carefully when:

• A dealer recommends an unfamiliar exclusive, proprietary, proof, or graded coin that is difficult to price-check.
• You’re given only a total transaction price without clearly understanding what products and quantities you’ll receive.
• The presentation focuses heavily on why a coin is “special” but offers little independent pricing information.
• You’re pressured to authorize the transaction before having time to compare.
• You’re repeatedly encouraged to exchange one metal for another without a clear explanation of the transaction costs. Every new purchase or exchange can create another dealer spread.

Recognized bullions such as American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and bullion bars are far easier to compare across dealers.

If you’re holding a quote now, call 800-300-0715 and CGE will compare it against both dealers used in Verified Fair Pricing.

How Much Over Spot Should I Pay for Gold Coins?

There is no single percentage over spot that represents a fair gold-coin price every day. Premiums change with the product, quantity, market conditions, availability, and dealer pricing.

A better question is:

How does this price compare with what other established dealers are charging for the exact same product and quantity right now?

Widely traded bullion is particularly useful for comparison because equivalent products are readily available from competing dealers.

Premium, exclusive, proof, and graded coins can carry substantially higher markups and may be harder to compare.

Before buying, know three things:

1. The current spot price
2. The total price of your metals
3. The total number of ounces you’ll receive

How Do I Calculate the Real Price Per Ounce of a Precious-Metals Purchase?

Divide the total purchase price for each metal by the total number of ounces of that metal you receive. The result is your effective price per ounce.

Then compare that number with the current spot price and with prices from other established dealers.

Keep gold and silver separate. Blending the two metals produces a number that is not meaningful.

This one calculation makes offers comparable that otherwise may be difficult to evaluate.

It is also one reason CGE recommends recognized bullion: widely traded products are easier to independently price-check than unfamiliar or proprietary coins.

How Many Ounces of Gold Should I Receive for My Money?

The number of ounces of gold you should receive depends on the current gold price, the product you’re buying, the quantity, and the dealer’s premium.

When comparing dealers, use the same amount of money and compare the same product at the same quantity.

The lower all-in price per ounce provides more gold for the same dollars.

Instead of asking only what a transaction costs, ask:

How many total ounces of gold will I actually own when the transaction is complete?

That principle is at the heart of Verified Fair Pricing: compare equivalent products and measure how much metal your money actually buys.

What Should I Ask About a Dealer’s Buyback Price Before Buying Gold?

Ask what the dealer would pay you today for the exact product they’re asking you to buy, then compare that amount with the price they’re charging you.

The difference between the purchase price and the current buyback price is the transaction spread.

Seeing that spread before you buy gives you a clearer picture of what an immediate liquidation would cost.

This is particularly important with high-premium or exclusive products, where a large retail premium may not be recovered when the product is sold.

No responsible dealer can predict what gold will be worth later.

What recognized bullion provides is current price transparency: bids for widely traded products are relatively easy to obtain and compare.

Do I Need Another Dealer’s Quote Before Calling CGE?

No. You do not need to obtain another dealer’s quote before calling CGE because Verified Fair Pricing is designed so CGE performs the comparison for you.

CGE checks both comparison dealers whether or not you bring us another quote.

If you already have one, bring it.

If the quote comes from one of the two comparison dealers shown above and meets the requirements — same product, weight, condition, quantity, current pricing, and available inventory — it can be evaluated under Verified Fair Pricing.

If the quote comes from another dealer, CGE will still review it and try to beat it. It simply falls outside the formal two-dealer guarantee, and we’ll tell you that plainly rather than promise a result we cannot guarantee.

We can also help identify situations where an unfamiliar, premium, or exclusive product makes meaningful comparison difficult.

When Does My Price Lock In?

Your precious-metals price is not locked until CGE formally confirms that the transaction is locked.

Generally, that occurs after you and CGE agree on the price, required documents are completed, required funds are available, and CGE confirms the trade.

For an already-funded IRA, the funding requirement may already be satisfied.

Any price discussed before the transaction is formally confirmed should be treated as indicative rather than locked because precious-metals prices move continuously throughout the trading day.

For current pricing, call 800-300-0715.

Does Verified Fair Pricing Apply When I Sell My Metals?

Yes. Verified Fair Pricing applies to qualifying precious-metals liquidations as well as purchases, whether the metals are held inside an IRA or in your personal possession.

CGE compares current qualifying buyback pricing on your products with both comparison dealers, documents both prices, and works to beat the better verified price.

This comparison can be particularly useful when selling high-premium products.

A premium paid at purchase does not mean the resale market will pay the same premium later.

Resale price is determined by what buyers will pay when you sell — not by what the original dealer charged you.

Does Verified Fair Pricing Apply to Gold IRA Purchases?

Yes. Verified Fair Pricing can apply to qualifying gold IRA purchases as well as home-delivery purchases and IRA liquidations.

It can be used when you’re opening a new gold IRA, funding an existing IRA, moving eligible retirement funds through a custodian-to-custodian transfer, buying metals for home delivery, or liquidating precious metals held inside an IRA.

The metal-pricing process does not change: CGE compares qualifying prices on equivalent products and quantities against both comparison dealers.

Custodian, depository, storage, and other third-party account charges are separate from CGE’s metal-price comparison and are set by those providers, not by CGE.

Which Products Qualify for Verified Fair Pricing?

The clearest Verified Fair Pricing comparisons involve widely traded precious-metals products that are readily available from multiple dealers.

These include:

• American Eagles
• Canadian Maple Leafs
• Recognized mint bullion coins
• Recognized bullion bars
• PCGS coins by grade (common years)
• NGC coins by grade (common years)

These products are well suited to comparison because equivalent items are offered by multiple competing dealers.

CGE can compare other products when the item can be sourced and a true like-for-like comparison can be made.

For a qualifying comparison, the products must share the same metal, product, weight, and condition and must be compared at the same quantity.

Dealer pricing changes with order size, so a ten-coin price and a one-hundred-coin price are not equivalent comparisons.

The competing price must also be current, verifiable, and available.

Auction listings, individual sellers, marketplace listings, clearance or coupon offers, and financed or credit-card pricing do not represent equivalent dealer transactions and do not qualify.

How Does CGE Make Money If It Works to Beat Other Dealers’ Prices?

CGE operates as a high-volume discount precious-metals dealer, so the business model does not depend on earning a large markup on every individual transaction.

Instead, the model is built around competitive pricing, larger transactions, repeat clients, and referrals.

That’s also one reason for CGE’s standard minimum: transaction volume makes it possible to operate on narrower margins while continuing to provide personal service.

Premium and exclusive products can support substantially wider margins because direct price comparison may be difficult.

CGE takes the opposite approach and primarily recommends recognized bullion that clients can independently price-check.

If our pricing isn’t competitive, you can see it.

That accountability is intentional.

CGE has been serving precious-metals investors since 1992.

Why Do Some Dealers Want Me to Buy Premium or Exclusive Coins?

Some dealers prefer premium or exclusive coins because those products can carry substantially higher markups and can be more difficult for consumers to independently price-check.

With an American Eagle or Canadian Maple Leaf, you can compare the same coin at numerous competing dealers.

With a dealer-exclusive product, an identical comparison may be difficult or impossible because competing dealers may not carry it.

Some precious-metals companies arrange exclusive coin series or distribution agreements with recognized mints.

Exclusivity itself does not make a coin improper. But exclusivity can give the seller greater control over availability and retail pricing while reducing the number of direct market comparisons available to the buyer.

That distinction matters because a higher retail price does not automatically mean a proportionately higher resale value.

For someone buying precious metals primarily for gold or silver exposure rather than collecting, CGE believes simplicity and price transparency matter more than exclusivity.

That is why CGE recommends American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and recognized bullion bars.