Alabama Gold Refinery

What this desk does

On its site, Alabama Gold Refinery (Birmingham, AL) talks about numismatic / collector-grade coins, gold and silver bullion, and scrap gold and silver. They list Numismatic expertise, Bullion buying/selling, Scrap gold buying, Numismatic, and Gold Buying as services. Worth a phone call to confirm walk-in vs appointment policy, what payment method they use (cash / check / wire), and whether they're currently buying the specific category you have (raw coins vs graded slabs, gold vs silver, single pieces vs estate lots).

Capability signals

The signals below are flagged when at least two of three sources — the public listing, the dealer's website, and customer review excerpts — corroborate the capability. We do not weight signals; presence or absence is the only state we record.

• Numismatic — with high confidence
• Bullion — with high confidence
• Scrap gold — with high confidence

How this desk compares to the alternatives

The table below is a generic comparison for the kinds of choices a seller faces, not a ranking. The "this dealer" column is filled in based on signals on file; other columns describe typical channel behavior.

	This dealer	Major auction house	Pawn shop	Online marketplace
Speed	Same-day appraisal + cash/check	8–16 weeks (consign + auction + payout)	Same-day cash, no appraisal	2–6 weeks (list + sell + ship)
Net price	Fair for bullion, mid for raw	Highest for rarities $25k+	Low (30–50% of melt)	Variable; high effort per piece
Best for	Bullion, scrap, mid-tier raw, estates	Single rarities, large estates	Emergency cash only	Common slabbed coins, niche collectors
Fees you owe	Nothing — they buy outright	5–20% seller fee + buyer's premium	Nothing	10–13% platform fee + shipping

What to bring with you

1. Photo ID. Federal anti-money-laundering rules require it for any precious-metal transaction.
2. Original packaging. US Mint sets, proof boxes, certificates — they raise the offer even if the coin itself is the same piece.
3. Grading slabs. PCGS / NGC / ANACS / ICG slabs trade at known levels; bring all of them, even cracked-out cases.
4. Provenance docs. Probate paperwork, original purchase receipts, prior insurance schedules.
5. An inventory list. For mixed lots over a few hundred dollars, a written inventory keeps both sides honest.
6. A second opinion. If a single piece is potentially worth four figures, get two written offers before you sell.

Frequently asked at the counter

Will they appraise without obligation?

Most coin and bullion dealers will give a verbal appraisal for free if you might be selling — that's the standard. A written appraisal for insurance or estate purposes usually costs $50-200 or 1-2% of value because it requires more documentation.

How do I know the offer is fair?

For bullion, check the day's spot price (kitco.com or APMEX) — fair offers are 92-96% of spot. For numismatics, look up the coin on the PCGS Price Guide or NGC for retail comparables. If the offer is way below those marks without a clear reason, get a second opinion.

Should I clean my coins before bringing them in?

No. Cleaning a coin almost always reduces its value, sometimes by 50% or more — graders mark cleaned coins as damaged. Even a soft cloth can leave hairlines visible under magnification.

Cash, check, or wire — and is there a max payout?

Smaller transactions are usually cash or check on the spot. Anything over $10,000 in cash triggers federal IRS Form 8300 reporting. Many dealers cap same-day cash at $5,000-10,000 and pay the rest by check or wire — ask before driving over with high-value items.

What the rules say in Alabama

Many states regulate precious-metals dealers more loosely than others, but federal anti-money-laundering rules still apply: photo ID for every transaction, written record of buys above a small threshold, and IRS reporting on certain large or repeated cash sales.

Editorial note. We are an independent directory and do not buy or sell coins. Information here is sourced from public listings, the dealer's own website, and customer reviews. Prices are indicative only. We do not provide investment advice; consult a licensed financial advisor before making decisions about precious metals as part of a portfolio.