The Complete Handbook of Bullion
A practical reference for professionals, businesses, and serious collectors who buy, sell, or hold physical precious metals
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The definitive practical reference on physical bullion—specifications, valuation, handling, and trading. No hype, just usable knowledge.
About this book
Physical bullion—gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in bar, coin, and round form—remains a cornerstone of institutional portfolios, industrial supply chains, and private wealth preservation. Yet the gap between the theoretical value of a precious metal and the price you actually pay is a minefield of premiums, tolerances, and dealer markups. This handbook closes that gap, providing a single, authoritative reference for anyone who needs to understand bullion as a physical commodity, not just an abstract price ticker.
From the exact metallurgical specifications of a 400 oz London Good Delivery gold bar to the practical security considerations of storing 1 oz silver eagles, this book covers the realities of the trade. You will learn how refiner markings guarantee purity, how to calculate the true cost-per-ounce including premiums, and how to diagnose common problems like milk spots or counterfeit inserts. The text is built on concrete examples and plain language, steering clear of speculative market predictions and sales tactics.
Reader Reviews
Jacob White
★★★★★I'm a small-scale investor who's done a lot of reading online, but this is the first book that made the real costs and mechanics click. The chapter on understanding bullion doesn't just say 'buy gold,' it explains why a cast bar is different from a minted one and how the premium is calculated. It's dense but clear. I only wish there were more photos of specific products to reference while reading, but as a text reference, it's a solid step up from forum threads.