Learn / Price and market basics
Price and market basics
Spot price, troy ounces, bid and ask, premiums, what moves the price, bars versus coins versus funds, fakes and storage. Education only.
How the gold market actually works, explained neutrally. Nothing in this section is financial or investment advice; it is here so the terms make sense.
Disclaimer
Gold For Real is education and entertainment. Nothing here is financial or investment advice. Do your own research and talk to a licensed professional before buying or selling.
MarketBars, coins and funds comparedPhysical bars and coins, gold-backed funds, futures, mining stocks and digital gold products each work differently. A side-by-side look at costs, risks and practical trade-offs. Education only.MarketBid, ask, spreads and premiumsWhy a gold coin costs more than its spot value, why dealers pay less when you sell, and how to compare the true cost of different products before you buy.MarketBullion coin comparisonThe Gold Eagle, Maple Leaf, Krugerrand, Britannia, Philharmonic, Kangaroo, Panda and Buffalo compared side by side, with purity, weight, issuer and what makes each one different.MarketHow to spot fake goldFrom plated jewelry to tungsten-filled bars, fakes come in many forms. Learn which home checks help, which professional tests are reliable and the warning signs that should make you walk away.MarketSpot price and the troy ounceGold is priced per troy ounce, which is heavier than a regular ounce. Learn what the spot price is, where it comes from, how the LBMA benchmark works and how to convert between ounces, grams and kilograms.MarketStoring gold safelyHome safes, bank safe deposit boxes and professional vaults each have pros and cons. Learn about insurance, allocated and unallocated storage, and how to handle and record your gold.MarketWhat moves the gold priceInterest rates, the US dollar, inflation, central bank buying, investment flows, jewelry demand and fear all push gold up or down. Here is how each factor works and why none of them predicts the price reliably.MarketWhere to buy physical gold (and how to compare dealers)Local coin shops versus online bullion dealers, how to compare the real price you pay over spot, shipping and insurance, buy-back terms and the red flags to walk away from. No rankings, no price predictions.