How to sell gold and silver: prices, identity checks and posting your bullion safely

The short answer

When you sell gold or silver coins and bars to a dealer, you are paid for the fine metal they contain, at a price linked to the live spot price, less the dealer's margin. On CC Holdings we pay 97% of the live spot value of the fine metal, with no fees or commission.

You request a quote, we confirm the price by email and check your identity, you post the items to us insured, we check them, and we pay you by bank transfer. You can start on our Sell to us page. This guide isn't investment or tax advice.

When selling bullion makes sense

There is no single right moment to sell. Common reasons are:

• You need the money, for a house purchase or an unexpected bill.
• The price has risen and you want to take some of a gain.
• You want to rebalance, so that metals make up a smaller share of your savings.
• You have inherited coins or bars and would rather hold cash.

Keep the buy/sell spread in mind. You paid a premium when you bought, and a buy-back price is below spot, so selling soon after buying usually returns less than you paid unless the spot price has risen. Our guide to the spot price and premiums explains the round-trip cost with a worked example.

How dealers price a buy-back

Most dealers start from the spot price of the metal, applied to the fine weight of the item, the pure metal it contains. They then take off a margin, which covers checking the metal, holding it and selling it on.

Dealers express this differently. Some quote a percentage of spot, some a fixed amount below spot, and some deduct separate fees for testing, payment or return postage. When comparing offers, compare the amount you will actually receive.

Our price is 97% of spot, with nothing deducted. With hypothetical round numbers, and a spot price of USD 2,000 for gold and USD 30 for silver:

The live figures for every item are on the Sell to us page, and you can choose to be paid in any of our six currencies: GBP, EUR, USD, CHF, CAD or AED.

What affects the price you get

The metal content sets the price, but a few things can change what a dealer will pay, or whether they buy at all.

• Recognised mints and refiners. Well-known coins such as the Britannia, Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, Sovereign, American Eagle, Vienna Philharmonic and Kangaroo, and bars from recognised refiners, are the easiest to sell at full price because their specification is known and they are easy to resell.
• Packaging and certificates. Bars are best kept in their original packaging or with their assay certificate. It isn't always required, but it makes checking quicker.
• Condition. Light wear on a bullion coin is normal. Damaged, cleaned or holed coins are bought at their metal value after testing, and may be priced lower. Never clean or polish a coin before you sell it: cleaning leaves fine scratches and can reduce what it is worth.
• Collector value. Proof coins, rare dates and other numismatic pieces can be worth more than their metal to a collector. We don't buy proof or numismatic coins, or jewellery, through the Sell to us page; contact us first if you have them.

How selling to CC Holdings works

1. Request a quote. Choose your items on the Sell to us page and send the form. You see an estimate at 97% of the live spot price straight away. There is no obligation.
2. We confirm the price. Within one working day we email you a confirmed price and a reference number, with the address and packing instructions, and we check your identity.
3. You send your items. Post them to us insured, at your own cost and risk, quoting your reference, within 5 working days.
4. We check them. We weigh, measure and test every item without damaging it.
5. You get paid. We pay the confirmed price by bank transfer, only to an account in your own name, within one working day of checking.

If items arrive late, or differ from your request, we offer you a new price or return them to you insured, at your cost. Please don't send anything until we have confirmed the price.

Identity checks: why they are needed

We check the identity of every seller. Precious metals are valuable, portable and easy to sell, so anti-money-laundering rules require dealers to know who they are buying from. The checks help stop criminals turning stolen goods or illegal money into clean cash.

In practice this means:

• we confirm who you are before we pay;
• we pay only to a bank account in your own name, never to a third party;
• we don't deal with people, companies or organisations sanctioned or designated by the EU, the US, the UK or the UN;
• we keep identity records for at least 5 years, as the rules require.

The checks also protect you: nobody else can sell metal in your name.

How to post bullion safely

Once we have confirmed your price, the items travel at your risk until they reach us, so packing and insurance matter.

• Insure the full value. Use a tracked, signed-for service and check that it covers precious metals up to the value you are sending. Many standard postal services limit cover for bullion or exclude it.
• Declare the value. Give the carrier the correct value so the insurance is valid. An under-declared parcel may not be fully covered.
• Pack discreetly. Use plain outer packaging with nothing on the outside that hints at the contents. Pack items so they can't move or rub, and keep coins in their capsules or tubes.
• Take photos. Photograph the items, the packed parcel and the sealed box before you send it, and keep your receipt and tracking number.
• Quote your reference. Follow our packing instructions and quote your reference, so we can match the parcel to your request.

Tax when you sell

Depending on where you live, a gain on selling may be subject to capital gains tax or income tax; some countries exempt gains after a minimum holding period. We don't charge VAT when we buy metal from you.

In the UK, gold Sovereigns and Britannias are legal tender and are generally exempt from UK capital gains tax for individuals. Rules differ by country and change over time, so please check with a tax adviser before you sell. Keep your purchase invoices: they show what you paid.

A checklist before you sell

• Check the live buy-back price for your items on the Sell to us page.
• Gather your purchase invoices, original packaging and any certificates.
• Don't clean or polish anything.
• Be ready to confirm your identity, and have a bank account in your own name.
• Wait for our confirmed price and reference, then post within 5 working days.
• Use an insured, tracked service that covers precious metals, and declare the full value.
• Pack discreetly, take photos and keep your receipt.
• Check how any gain is taxed where you live.

Common questions

Do you charge any fees?

No. We pay 97% of the live spot value of the fine metal, with no fees or commission. You pay the cost of posting your items to us.

Can I sell items I didn't buy from you?

Yes. We buy gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion coins and bars, wherever you bought them. Describe anything that isn't listed in the "Other items" box on the Sell to us page and we will quote for it.