#1. Goldco

Goldco is our favorite gold and silver dealer. The company, which has been in business since 2006, was founded by Trevor Gerszt. Gerszt formed Goldco to help investors diversify their portfolios by investing in gold and silver.

Goldco is one of the most respected online precious metals dealers. They have hundreds of positive reviews from past customers and have earned the highest ratings possible from the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance (A+ and AAA, respectfully).

If you choose to work with Goldco, you can purchase gold and silver as a personal investment, or you can choose to set up a Gold or Silver IRA. With a Gold or Silver IRA, you can add precious metals to your retirement account, allowing you to simultaneously take advantage of the benefits of investing in gold and silver along with the tax benefits IRA holders receive.

Whether you're looking for gold and silver for your IRA or for a personal investment, we think you'll agree that Goldco offers a nice selection of coins and bars. Below are some of the options that are available to choose from:

Gold

Silver

#2. Augusta Precious Metals

Augusta Precious Metals is another top name in the precious metals industry. They were founded in 2012 and have worked hard to help each of their customers with their investment needs. Customers like the service and products offered by the company, as is shown through the positive reviews that have provided for Augusta Precious Metals.

Additionally, Augusta Precious Metals has earned top ratings from prominent review organizations, such as the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance. The BBB has given Augusta Precious Metals an A+ rating and the Business Consumer Alliance has awarded an AAA rating. Both of these are the highest ratings available through these organizations.

With Augusta Precious Metals, you can purchase gold and silver coins or bars for a personal investment, or you can choose to have them added to a retirement account. If you're interested in opening a Precious Metals IRA, Augusta Precious Metals works with Kingdom Trust, Equity Trust, and GoldStar Trust Company to help their customers through the process of opening the IRA and funding it.

You'll find that Augusta Precious Metals offers a large selection of gold and silver coins and bars, many of which are eligible to be held in an IRA.

Below are some of the different common gold bullion, premium gold, common silver bullion, and premium silver available through Augusta Precious Metals.

Premium Gold

Common Gold Bullion

Premium Silver

Common Silver Bullion

#3. Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group also has a lot to offer when you're looking for the best gold and silver dealer. The company was founded in 2003 and has its headquarters in Burbank, California. One of Birch Gold Group's key missions is to empower each customer by providing them with the knowledge they need to make key financial decisions.

You'll work with a member of the Birch Gold Group team and will be able to share any questions you have or seek advice regarding which precious metals you will want to invest in. In addition to customer empowerment, some of the other standards that Birch Gold Group has laid out for their team includes empathy, ethics, transparency, and efficiency.

You can invest in gold and silver coins and bars, as well as platinum and palladium coins and bars with Birch Gold Group. The company also offers a wide selection of coins and bars that meet the IRS' purity requirements to be held in a Gold or Silver IRA.

Here are some of the gold and silver coins and bars you can choose with Birch Gold Group:

IRA-Approved Gold

Additional Gold Coins

IRA-Approved Silver

Additional Silver Coins

#4. Noble Gold

When you visit Noble Gold's website, you can learn a lot about the company and their philosophy. While they were founded more recently than the other gold and silver dealers that made our top list, they have established themselves as a trustworthy and reliable company. Noble Gold offers its customers competitive pricing along with a dedicated and responsive team who is available to address any questions or concerns.

You may decide to simply purchase gold or silver as a personal investment with Noble Gold. Of, if you prefer, you can also add gold or silver coins or bars to a retirement account.

Here are some of the different gold and silver coins and bars available through Noble Gold.

Gold

Silver

In addition to the gold and silver coins and bars listed above, Noble Gold clients can also purchase platinum and palladium coins and bars, if they desire. This is something that many other precious metals dealers do not offer.

#5. Regal Assets (NO LONGER RECOMMENDED)

OK, let's wrap up our reviews by taking a look at Regal Assets. Regal Assets, which was founded in 2009, has been featured on the INC 500 in the financial services category.

One of the things that we think makes Regal Assets unique from most other gold and silver dealers is that they also allow their customers to invest in precious metals. You can open a special Regal IRA, which is a type of Self-Directed IRA. Add gold, silver, platinum, or palladium to your Regal IRA to prepare for retirement.

Below you'll find a list of the different gold and silver coins and bars offered by Regal Assets. These are all available for individual purchase or to add to a Precious Metals IRA or Regal IRA.

Gold

Silver

How to Select the Best Gold and Silver Dealer

Choosing the best gold and silver dealer isn't always an easy decision. The factors outlined below, however, may help make it a bit easier for you to make a decision.

❑ Selection of Coins and Bars

One of the first things to look at when comparing different companies is the available selection of gold and silver coins and bars. While some companies may offer only a limited selection, others have a more extensive offering. If there are any specific coins or bars you're searching for, confirm that they are available with the different companies you're considering.

❑ Support

Customer support can vary quite a bit between different gold investment companies. Finding a company that will respect you as a customer and be available to help answer your questions or provide guidance can be a big help when shopping for gold or silver.

❑ Experience

Next, look up the company's history and experience. Look for a well-established gold and silver dealer that is respected in the industry. Comparing reviews from past customers on sites such as Trustpilot or Google can also be helpful.

❑ Fees

Finally, look for any additional fees that are charged by the company. These can include storage fees if you're looking to store your metals, shipping fees, advisor fees, and so on. Make sure nothing sounds unreasonable or completely out of line with what you're seeing elsewhere.

Our Top Pick

As we mentioned above, Goldco is our top pick for the best gold and silver dealer. While the other four companies we reviewed are strong contenders, we don't think any of them compare to the overall selection and service you'll enjoy with Goldco.

What do you think? Are you ready to start invest in gold and silver today? Visit Goldco's website or chat with one of their customer service representatives. We think you'll be glad you did!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Can you add gold or silver to an IRA?

Yes, Gold IRAs are a type of Self-Directed IRA that allow you to hold physical precious metals in your retirement account. There are some restrictions on the purity of the gold and silver pieces that can be held in a Gold or Silver IRA, however. According to the IRS, gold must be at least 99.5% pure and silver must be at least 99.9% pure.

Is gold or silver a better investment?

There is no one right answer to this question. Both gold and silver have their own benefits and potential risks, so each person needs to weigh these and make a personal decision. Gold and silver both continue to be highly sought after and easy to liquidate.

What may help determine which is the right investment for you is the cost of each precious metal. Purchasing gold will be significantly more expensive than silver. If you are looking to hold a large quantity of metals, you can get more for your money with silver. Or, if you'd prefer to have a small, yet valuable holding, gold may be the better option.

The other choice to consider is investing in both gold and silver. Just as investing in precious metals can help diversify your portfolio, holding some gold and some silver can help to further diversify it and offer you greater protections.

Is it safe to buy gold or silver online?

If you do your research and select a reputable company, you shouldn't have any concerns about purchasing precious metals online. Choosing a company that has been in business for a number of years and is highly reviewed by their past customers can give you confidence that your metals will make it to you safe.

As an added check, you can also consult reviews from the Better Business Bureau to gain more insight on the business practices of the company and how you can expect to be treated.