Frequently Asked Questions About Buying & Selling Precious Metals

Alex Lexington is a family-owned precious metals dealer and fine jeweler in Atlanta, Georgia, serving investors since 1977. We buy and sell gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion at competitive wholesale-based pricing. We also offer custom fine jewelry through our INDULGE collection and in-house assay services.

Yes. Alex Lexington has operated continuously since 1977 — nearly five decades. We are BBB accredited with an A+ rating, maintain a 4.9-star Google rating, and are registered with all applicable federal and state agencies. Our family has served Atlanta investors for three generations.

We are located at 3335 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341 — just minutes from Buckhead, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, and Brookhaven. Free parking is available on-site.

Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We are closed on weekends and major holidays. No appointment is necessary for most transactions.

No appointment is required for standard buying or selling. Walk-ins are welcome during business hours. For large transactions (over $25,000), estate evaluations, or custom jewelry consultations, calling ahead at 404.815.8893 is recommended.

We carry over 140 precious metal products including American Gold Eagles, Gold Buffalos, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, South African Krugerrands, Austrian Philharmonics, British Britannias, Mexican Libertads, and gold bars from PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Credit Suisse, Argor-Heraeus, Perth Mint, Asahi, and Royal Canadian Mint. Sizes range from 1 gram to 1 kilogram.

American Silver Eagles, Canadian Silver Maple Leafs, Silver Krugerrands, Silver Britannias, Silver Philharmonics, Australian Kangaroos, Koalas, and Kookaburras. Silver bars from 1 oz to 100 oz. Silver rounds including Buffalo and generic designs. Plus 90% constitutional silver (Morgan dollars, Peace dollars, Walking Liberty halves, Washington quarters, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes).

Yes. We carry American Platinum Eagles, Platinum Maple Leafs, Platinum Britannias, and platinum bars from PAMP Suisse and Valcambi (1g to 1 oz). For palladium, we offer palladium bars from Valcambi and PAMP Suisse.

Our prices are based on the live spot price of each metal plus a transparent margin. Gold bullion margins are typically 3–3.5%, silver bullion 6–10%, and platinum/palladium comparable to gold. Spot prices update in real-time from professional trading networks. The price you see is the price you pay — no hidden fees.

The spot price is the current market price per troy ounce of pure gold, set by global commodity exchanges and updated continuously during trading hours. It serves as the benchmark for all gold transactions. You can view the current spot price on our website or call us at 404.815.8893.

The spot price is the base commodity price. Dealers add a premium (margin) above spot to cover sourcing costs, handling, and business operations. Our margins are among the lowest in the Southeast — typically 3–3.5% on gold, meaning you pay very close to the wholesale price.

No minimum. We sell fractional gold coins as small as 1/20 oz and 1-gram gold bars, making precious metals accessible at every budget level.

Cash, wire transfer, ACH bank transfer, credit/debit cards (3.5% processing fee applies), and USDC stablecoin. For orders over $5,000, wire transfer or ACH typically offers the best value since there's no processing fee.

Georgia exempts investment-grade precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, palladium) from sales tax when the transaction exceeds $1,500. Transactions under $1,500 may be subject to Georgia sales tax. We handle tax calculation automatically at checkout.

Yes. You can browse and purchase through our Maroon platform with live pricing, multiple payment methods, and automatic trade execution. You can also shop on our main website at alexlexington.com.

Government-issued coins (Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands) carry a face value, are legal tender, and typically have slightly higher premiums due to production costs and collectibility. Bullion bars are produced by private mints, have lower premiums, and are priced closer to spot. Both contain the same amount of pure metal per troy ounce.

.9999 fine (also called "four nines") means the metal is 99.99% pure. Canadian Maple Leafs, Gold Buffalos, and many bars are .9999 fine. American Gold Eagles are .9167 fine (22 karat) but still contain a full troy ounce of pure gold — the remaining weight is copper and silver alloy for durability.

A troy ounce is the standard unit for precious metals, equal to 31.1035 grams. It is slightly heavier than a regular (avoirdupois) ounce of 28.35 grams. All precious metals pricing worldwide is quoted in troy ounces.

It depends on your goals. Gold coins offer recognizability, government backing, and easier resale. Gold bars offer the lowest premium over spot, maximizing your metal per dollar. Many investors hold both — coins for liquidity and bars for bulk accumulation.

Bring your coins, bars, jewelry, or scrap to our Chamblee location during business hours. We'll evaluate your items using our in-house XRF spectrometer, provide a no-obligation quote based on the current spot price, and pay you the same day if you accept.

We pay competitive prices based on the current spot rate minus a small spread. Common bullion coins (Eagles, Maple Leafs, Krugerrands) and bars from recognized mints receive the highest buyback rates. The exact price depends on the product, condition, and current market.

Yes. We buy gold jewelry of any karat (10k, 14k, 18k, 22k, 24k), broken jewelry, dental gold, gold watch cases, and other scrap precious metals. Every item is tested with our in-house XRF spectrometer for accurate purity assessment.

We use in-house XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectrometry, which is non-destructive and provides precise purity readings within seconds. This is the same technology used by refineries and government mints. We do not use acid testing, which can damage items.

Same day. Once you accept our offer, we process payment immediately via check, wire transfer, or ACH. There is no waiting period for standard transactions.

Yes. We buy sterling silver (.925) flatware, hollowware, tea sets, and serving pieces at competitive melt-based prices. Bring your items in for a free evaluation.

Yes. We actively buy pre-1965 U.S. silver coinage including Morgan dollars, Peace dollars, Walking Liberty halves, Franklin halves, Kennedy halves (1964), Washington quarters, Standing Liberty quarters, Mercury dimes, and Roosevelt dimes (pre-1965). These coins contain 90% silver and are priced based on their silver content.

We buy 40% silver Kennedy half dollars (1965–1969) and 35% silver war nickels (1942–1945). These are priced based on their respective silver content multiplied by the current spot price.

We operate with wholesale-based pricing sourced directly from major distributors like Dillon Gage. Our gold margins of 3–3.5% are significantly lower than the 5–8% charged by many national online dealers. Lower overhead and direct sourcing relationships keep our costs down.

Yes, a 3.5% processing fee applies to credit and debit card payments. This fee covers the payment processor's charges. Wire transfer and ACH payments have no surcharge, making them the most cost-effective option for larger purchases.

For large orders (typically over $5,000), you can lock in today's price with a 10% deposit paid by credit card. The remaining 90% is due via wire transfer within 48 hours. This protects you from price movement while allowing time to arrange funding.

We are confident in our wholesale-based pricing, but we're happy to discuss any competitive quotes you've received. Call us at 404.815.8893 with the specific product and competitor's price, and we'll do our best to work with you.

Yes, for in-stock items purchased in our Chamblee showroom. Most popular coins and bars are available for immediate delivery. Some specialty items or large orders may require 1–3 business days for sourcing.

Yes. We ship fully insured via registered mail or private courier services. Shipping costs and insurance are quoted at the time of purchase. All shipments require signature confirmation.

Yes. All shipments are fully insured for the total value of the metals. Insurance is included in the shipping cost. We use tamper-evident packaging and require signature confirmation for all deliveries.

Yes. Our INDULGE collection features custom engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry. We work with GIA-certified diamonds and offer settings in 14k gold, 18k gold, and platinum. Every ring is custom-designed to your specifications.

Absolutely. We specialize in custom-designed pieces including engagement rings, wedding bands, pendants, earrings, and bracelets. Bring us your vision — or a photo of what you love — and we'll create a custom design with a detailed rendering before production.

Yes. We offer ring sizing, prong repair, stone resetting, chain repair, clasp replacement, rhodium plating, and polishing. Most repairs are completed within 1–2 weeks.

Our fine jewelry is priced competitively with typical margins of 20–30%, significantly below traditional retail jewelers who mark up 100–300%. We source directly from trusted manufacturers to keep prices fair.

Gold has been a store of value for over 5,000 years and has historically preserved purchasing power during periods of inflation, currency devaluation, and economic uncertainty. Most financial advisors suggest allocating 5–15% of a portfolio to precious metals as a hedge. Alex Lexington does not provide investment advice — we provide the metals and the expertise to help you make informed decisions.

Gold is the most widely held for wealth preservation and inflation hedging. Silver offers a lower entry point and has significant industrial demand. Platinum and palladium are rarer and have strong industrial uses. The right choice depends on your goals, timeline, and budget. We're happy to discuss the characteristics of each metal.

Many investors hold both. Gold is the traditional safe-haven asset with lower volatility. Silver is more affordable per ounce, has higher percentage gains in bull markets, and has significant industrial demand. The gold-to-silver ratio can help guide allocation — when the ratio is high (80+), silver is historically undervalued relative to gold.

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) means buying a fixed dollar amount of metal at regular intervals (weekly, monthly) regardless of price. This strategy smooths out the impact of price volatility and removes the stress of trying to time the market. It's an effective approach for building a position over time.

Constitutional silver refers to pre-1965 U.S. coins that contain 90% silver — including dimes, quarters, half dollars, and dollars. They're called "junk silver" because they have no numismatic premium and trade based purely on silver content. They're popular for their recognizability, divisibility, and historical connection to sound money.

The gold-to-silver ratio is the number of ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold at current prices. For example, if gold is $3,000 and silver is $30, the ratio is 100:1. Historically, ratios above 80 suggest silver may be undervalued relative to gold, while ratios below 50 suggest gold may be the better value.

Many of our products qualify for inclusion in a self-directed precious metals IRA, including American Eagles, American Buffalos, Canadian Maple Leafs, and certain bars meeting minimum purity requirements (.995 for gold, .999 for silver, .9995 for platinum/palladium). We can work with your IRA custodian for direct purchases.

We offer in-house XRF spectrometry testing that provides non-destructive, precise purity analysis of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium items. Results are available within minutes. This service is available for items you're considering selling, authenticating, or evaluating.

XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectrometry is the gold standard for non-destructive precious metals testing. It identifies the exact elemental composition of an item — telling you the precise gold, silver, platinum, or palladium content without scratching, cutting, or damaging the piece.

Testing is complimentary for items being evaluated for sale to Alex Lexington. For standalone authentication or appraisal services, fees vary based on the number of items and complexity. Contact us at 404.815.8893 for current pricing.

Yes. Our XRF spectrometer can identify counterfeit precious metals by detecting incorrect alloy compositions. Combined with our team's three generations of hands-on experience, we catch counterfeits that other testing methods miss. We also check weight, dimensions, and magnetic properties.

Cash transactions over $10,000 require government-issued ID per federal regulations (FinCEN). For non-cash payments (wire, card, ACH), ID requirements depend on the transaction amount and payment method. We follow all applicable anti-money laundering (AML) and customer identification (CIP) regulations.

Most individual gold and silver purchases are NOT reported to the IRS. However, certain transactions trigger 1099-B reporting requirements — specifically when you SELL certain types and quantities of metals (such as 25+ gold Maple Leafs, 1,000+ silver ounces, etc.). Buying gold itself does not trigger IRS reporting in most cases.

We respect your privacy and maintain strict confidentiality. Your personal information and transaction history are securely stored and never shared with third parties except as required by law. We comply with all applicable privacy regulations.

AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) are federal regulations that precious metals dealers must follow. These regulations help prevent money laundering and fraud. For most standard transactions, compliance is straightforward and does not significantly impact your buying or selling experience.

Since 1977 — nearly five decades. We are a family-owned precious metals business, making us one of the longest-operating precious metals dealers in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Three things: heritage, pricing, and service. We've been family-owned since 1977, we price at wholesale-based margins (3–3.5% on gold vs. 5–8% at many competitors), and we provide personalized guidance rather than high-pressure sales. Our BBB accreditation and 4.9-star Google rating reflect our commitment to trust and transparency.

We are BBB accredited and maintain relationships with major industry distributors and mints. Our team brings decades of combined experience in precious metals, gemology, and custom jewelry design.

Yes. We frequently assist families with evaluating and liquidating inherited precious metals, coin collections, and jewelry estates. We provide detailed inventories with fair market valuations that can be used for estate planning, probate, and insurance purposes. Call 404.815.8893 to schedule a private evaluation.

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