The price comparison of a 1 Oz Gold American Eagle
When buying physical gold or silver, every bullion product is priced using two components: the spot price and the premium. The spot price refers to the current market value of the metal, which changes by the second. The premium refers to the amount above spot, which typically includes costs like manufacturing, logistics, marketing, the dealer's profit, and any other consideration that goes into the product beyond the spot price. In some cases, premiums can even turn negative when supply outweighs demand for certain products. As of June 20th, 2025, for example, 90% junk silver half dollars are trading at roughly $0.80 per ounce below spot. This isn’t typical, but it illustrates how supply and demand dynamics can influence pricing in the bullion market, just as they do in other commodity sectors. On the surface, spot pricing and premiums seem simple. But too many precious metals dealers and eCommerce retailers use a pricing tactic that distorts the actual cost you’re paying. Instead of charging higher premiums openly, some dealers quietly inflate the spot price they show on their website. This makes the listed premium appear smaller, even though the total cost to the buyer is higher.
Let’s say the real-time spot price of gold is $3,000 at this very moment, and Bullion Standard’s 1 Oz Gold American Eagle is priced at $3,030. That’s a $30, or 1% premium over spot in this specific example.
Let’s examine a competitor selling the same coin for $3,060 but showing a spot price of $3,030, instead of the true $3,000. On paper, they also claim a $30, or 1% premium. In reality, the premium is $60, or 2% over spot. The higher spot price masks a larger markup. That extra $30 is added profit for the dealer disguised as a competitive premium. This pricing tactic is not limited to gold. It’s used across all precious metals spot prices, including silver, platinum, palladium, and sometimes rhodium.
Take silver as another example. Let’s say Bullion Standard’s live silver spot price is $30 at this very moment. A competing dealer may display a higher spot price of $30.50. Both advertise a Silver American Eagle with a $3 premium. Our total price is $33. The competitor’s is $33.50, a 50-cent or 1.5% difference. That might not seem significant, but if you’re buying a monster box or placing a $20,000 order, you’re paying hundreds more for the exact same product, solely because the spot price is artificially manipulated by the dealer. This type of pricing model creates confusion for buyers trying to calculate true bullion premiums. It also distorts comparisons when using tools like “price per ounce” filters on gold and silver price comparison sites. Now scale this across the dealer’s entire sales volume for the year. If the dealer sells $100,000,000 worth of metal that year (which isn’t a lot in the bullion industry), they’ve quietly added on an extra 1%, or an extra $1,000,000 in profit that its customers unknowingly paid for. That’s not good for anyone, except the dealer.
We don’t believe in inflating spot prices to manipulate perceived value. At Bullion Standard, spot pricing is pulled from a real-time composite of trusted sources, including COMEX, the New York futures market, the London Bullion Market, and wholesale market makers. These are the same sources used by institutional buyers, and are the real market spot prices. Our individual product prices update every five seconds, reflecting live wholesale conditions, not artificially padded dealer numbers. This is how we maintain accuracy and trust for every order, no matter the size. When customers ask about the premium on a product to make a comparison, our answer is simple: look at the live product price. That’s the only number that matters when comparing your bullion and precious metals purchase to other dealers and retailers.
To evaluate gold premiums or silver premiums, don’t rely on the spot price displayed on a dealer’s website. Instead, compare the actual product price of the same coin or bar from multiple dealers at the same moment. For example, open Bullion Standard’s 1 Oz Silver American Eagle product page. Then, open the same product page from another dealer. Skip the claimed premium and look at the live product price. That is the only honest price comparison you can make, as the premium is only as reliable as everyone using the same spot price. If the dealer doesn’t show real-time pricing that updates with the market every few seconds, chances are you're dealing with a predatory or bait-and-switch company.
Many precious metals dealers and eCommerce retailers inflate spot prices to make their premiums appear smaller. This is entirely to their benefit, and to your detriment. This creates a false sense of value and leads to buyers overpaying without realizing it. Bullion Standard avoids this practice entirely. Our prices are market-driven and reflect actual, live conditions. If you're looking to buy gold coins, silver bars, or any form of physical bullion, always compare full product prices in real time. That’s how you protect your investments. The entire concept of owning precious metals shouldn't be immediately forfeited to an unscrupulous dealer, many of which are hiding in plain sight. If everyone used the same spot price, buyers could actually see what they’re paying for, and dealers wouldn’t be able to quietly squeeze extra profit out of every transaction.
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