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Yes — here's what 10k gold is actually worth per gram, and why it still has real value.

A step-by-step way to estimate your ring's value before you sell it.

Two words that sound identical but measure completely different things.

Simple tests you can do yourself to check whether gold is real.

A rare precious metal most people have never held, but that has at times traded above gold.

Yes — here's what 925 sterling silver is actually worth per gram.

It depends on when you check — the two metals have traded places more than once.

Simple tests you can do yourself to check whether silver is real.

A step-by-step way to estimate your flatware's melt value before you sell it.

Yes — here's what Pd950 palladium is actually worth per gram.

A karat measures how much pure gold is in a piece — here's exactly what it means.

Same karat, same gold content — here's what actually differs between rose and yellow gold, and what doesn't.

EPNS, Silver Plate, Community Plate — what these marks mean, and why silverplate has almost no melt value even though it can still be worth keeping.

Same karat, same gold content — why white gold sometimes costs more at retail anyway, and what that means for melt value.

Yes, if it's real gold — here's the purity dental crowns actually use, what they're worth, and how selling them differs from other scrap gold.

Gold-filled pieces have real gold in them, unlike gold-plated — but far less than solid karat gold. Here's what that means for melt value.

Nickel silver — also called German silver or alpacca — contains no silver at all. Here's what it actually is and what it's worth.

Vermeil is solid sterling silver plated in gold — its scrap value comes almost entirely from the silver underneath, not the gold on top. Here's why.

What to know about coins, bars, and premiums before your first purchase.

The tradeoffs between premiums, liquidity, and recognizability.

Two silvery-white metals often confused for each other — how they differ.

They can look identical at the jewelry counter, but they're fundamentally different metals with different upkeep.

The tradeoffs between premiums, liquidity, and recognizability.

What to know about coins, bars, and premiums before your first purchase.

What to know about coins, bars, and premiums before your first purchase.

What to know about coins, bars, and premiums before your first purchase.

How to avoid getting lowballed when you sell jewelry or scrap gold.

What stamps like 999, 916, 750, and 585 actually mean.

What stamps like 999, 958, 925, 900, and 800 actually mean.

What stamps like 999, Pt950, Pt900, and Pt850 actually mean.

What stamps like 999, Pd950, and Pd500 actually mean.

The specific tactics buyers use to underpay for scrap silver, and how to spot them.

Melt value is a coin's metal content at today's price. Numismatic value is the collector premium on top. Here's how to tell which one applies before you sell.

In the US, selling gold or silver for more than you paid is generally a taxable capital gain — here's how it works, and when a dealer actually reports a sale.