For the benefit of those who whish to either buy or sell, the following is a brief overview on the safest means of shipping gold bullion.

For discrete, insured delivery of gold bullion, it is recommended to transport your precious metal via Registered Mail (not certified mail) with the United States Postal Service. The USPS insures each individual package for up to $25 thousand, and is used by reputable precious metals exchanges nationwide. Registered Mail is a priority service which usually takes two to five days for delivery, and each package receives its’ own tracking numbers, so individuals can effectively monitor the whereabouts of their shipment. However, registered mail packages that do not have priority service attached may take up to 15 days to reach their respective destinations. Private parcel services like Federal Express, and UPS aren’t insured for bullion or coin transport, so shipping gold bullion through these delivery services isn’t recommended.

Investors who are purchasing gold bullion from a reputable precious metals exchange receive their USPS tracking numbers the day their metal is shipped, and take delivery of their package within the aforementioned time frame. Those who are selling their bullion are advised to securely package their bars and/or coins with bubble wrap or the like, and to use only non-glossed tape to seal their box. The Postal Service uses ink-stamped cancellation marks on their registered packages, so paper-packaging tape is recommended so as not to distort these official markings.

Those with questions on shipping gold bullion are encouraged to contact one of our friendly specialists, who not only offer expert consultation on gold investing, but who also offer institutional discounts on bullion bars and coins to household investors like you.

Jonathan Monroe