Where to buy, how to check a dealer, how prices are set and how to sell bullion without losing the spread twice.

How gold bars are sold in France: VAT, bar sizes, premiums, written buy-back prices, identification, storage and selling, for English-speaking buyers.

The main ways to store gold and silver bars, what each costs in convenience and risk, how insurance fits in and the habits that keep a holding easy to sell.

A step-by-step walk-through for buying gold bars: who makes them, how to vet a dealer, which brand and size to pick, and how the price of a bar is built.

Silver bar characteristics, practical authenticity checks from weight to XRF, the VAT question in Europe, where to buy and how much room silver takes up.

What a genuine gold bar listing must state, the warning signs of a bad offer, marketplaces versus dealers, and how delivery and insurance should work.

The selling side of bullion: who buys gold back, how the bid price is set, the paperwork and ID to expect, getting quotes, and planning your exit in advance.

Which bullion formats tend to suit a starter amount, a mid-size holding and a large holding, plus general tips that apply whatever the size.

Why people hold physical gold and silver, from counterparty risk to diversification, and the honest counterweights: no yield, costs, spreads and volatility.

An overview of the four investment metals, what drives demand for each, the product forms they come in, and the advantages and drawbacks of holding metal.

Metal at home, allocated vaults, unallocated accounts, metal-backed funds, mining shares, futures and options: how they work and who carries which risk.

Mint shops, online dealers, local coin shops, banks, auctions and private sellers: what each channel offers and the factors worth weighing before you buy.