Where to Buy Gold: U.S. Gold Dealer Directory (2026)

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After more than two decades of reviewing precious metals dealers, the question I still get most often from readers is a simple one: “Where should I actually go to buy gold?” The honest answer depends on whether you want to walk out of a shop with coins in your pocket, have bullion shipped to your door, or hold metals inside a retirement account. This directory covers all three routes, with links to the local dealers we have personally reviewed, organized by state.

Local Shop or Online Dealer? An Honest Comparison

I have bought from both for years, and each has a place. Here is how they stack up:

How I Vet a Local Gold Dealer

Before I recommend any shop, I run the same five checks. Use them yourself before handing over money anywhere:

• Cross-check ratings. Look at BBB, Google, and Yelp together. A+ complaint handling with middling walk-in reviews is common and worth understanding before you visit.
• Compare the premium against spot. Pull up the live gold price on your phone and ask what you are paying over melt. Anything vague is a red flag.
• Ask for the buy-back spread. A dealer who quotes both sides transparently is a dealer who expects repeat business.
• Longevity matters. Shops that survived 2008 and the 2020 squeeze have proven they can manage inventory risk honestly.
• Watch the pitch. If a bullion conversation keeps steering toward high-premium “exclusive” or “collectible” coins, walk away.

Gold Dealers by State

These are dealers our team has researched or fully reviewed over the years, more than 100 reviews and counting, organized by where each company is headquartered. We are expanding the in-depth state guides one at a time, starting with Nevada. If a state you care about is missing, check back soon or tell us where you shop. Shopping for classic U.S. gold coins specifically? Our guide to Double Eagle gold coins covers where to buy those.

Nevada

Our most detailed state guide so far, covering Las Vegas, Henderson, and Reno, including the shop featured on Pawn Stars and the dealers locals actually use: Where to Buy Gold in Nevada. Reno is also home to Gold Alliance, a national precious metals IRA dealer headquartered in the Silver State.

California

The Los Angeles area is the capital of the gold IRA industry. Companies headquartered here include Noble Gold Investments (Pasadena), Augusta Precious Metals (Beverly Hills), Goldco, Birch Gold Group (Burbank), Advantage Gold, Rosland Capital, American Bullion, and Monetary Gold (Woodland Hills). For walk-in shops, see Camino Coin Company in Burlingame and South Bay Gold in the LA South Bay.

Arizona

Phoenix is one of the strongest coin markets in the Southwest. We have reviewed CMI Gold & Silver, one of the state's longest-running bullion houses, Republic Monetary Exchange, and Swiss America.

Texas

Texas has a deep bench: Austin Rare Coins & Bullion and BOLD Precious Metals in Austin, Universal Coin & Bullion in Beaumont, and Houston Numismatic Exchange in Houston.

Colorado

Denver's USAGOLD is one of the oldest names in the business, and Colorado Gold has served bullion buyers for decades.

Minnesota

The Twin Cities punch above their weight with Investment Rarities, Miles Franklin, and The Gold Guys.

New York

Manhattan's Bullion Exchanges sits in the diamond district, and Eastern Numismatics has served Long Island collectors for decades.

Ohio

SD Bullion, one of the largest online bullion dealers in the country, operates out of northern Ohio.

Louisiana

New Orleans is home to Blanchard & Company, one of the best-known rare coin and bullion firms in the South.

Maryland

For the DC metro area, see our reviews of Gaithersburg Coin Exchange and Rockville's Asset Strategies International.

Maine

New England readers frequently mention Maine Gold & Silver, which we reviewed after several reader requests.

Michigan

Liberty Coin Service in Lansing is one of the Midwest's established names.

Indiana

SilverTowne in Winchester has been minting and selling silver and gold since the 1940s.

Oregon

Monarch Precious Metals is an Oregon-based mint known for its hand-poured silver.

Online and International (Ships Nationwide)

If no local shop fits, we have also reviewed mail-order and international dealers including Modern Coin Mart, GoldSilver, and Canada's Kitco.

Buying Gold for an IRA Is a Different Process

One thing I want to make very clear, because it trips up readers every year: walking into a shop and buying coins does NOT put gold in your IRA. IRS rules require IRA metals to be purchased through a custodian arrangement and stored at an approved depository. Most local shops cannot do this; a handful partner with custodians, and dedicated gold IRA companies do it all day long.

Frequently Asked Questions