News

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    Washington State No Longer Tax Free for Gold & Silver

    ByVictoria
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    January 1, 2026, a significant regulatory shift took hold in Washington State, fundamentally altering the landscape for physical metal investors. The implementation of Engrossed Senate Substitute Bill (ESSB) 5794 officially repealed the state’s long-standing sales tax exemption on precious metal bullion and monetized coins. For the first time since 1985, residents in the Evergreen State must now pay a statewide 6.5% sales tax—plus local surtaxes that can push the total levy as high as 10.6%—on every ounce of gold or silver they acquire.

    The most immediate losers of this policy shift are the brick-and-mortar dealers within Washington State. Historically, these businesses drew customers from across the Pacific Northwest, but they now face a stark competitive disadvantage against neighboring Oregon, which has no sales tax, and Idaho, which maintains its bullion exemption.

    Source – Financial Content

    Devastating to learn that Washington’s 40 years of no tax on gold and silver has taken effect this year. We are in March now since this has started but what a shame for this to have happened. I hope all businesses stay strong and speak to those who can help change this tax law back to the way it was. Good luck!

    -V.

  • Bullion & Coin Exchange (Mesa, AZ)

    ByVictoria
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    Founding Member Spotlight: Bullion & Coin Exchange

    We’re proud to welcome Bullion & Coin Exchange as a Founding Member of the Victorias Coin-National Gold & Silver Dealer Directory.
    Serving Arizona for decades, Bullion & Coin Exchange has built a reputation for honest pricing, exceptional customer service, and deep industry knowledge. Their team is committed to helping customers buy and sell gold, silver, and rare coins with confidence.
    One of their strongest distinctions is their Recommendation from the U.S. Mint, a rare and respected endorsement that reflects their integrity, professionalism, and long‑standing commitment to the precious metals community.
    What They Offer

    • Gold & silver bullion
    • Rare coins
    • Transparent pricing
    • Friendly, knowledgeable service
    • Guidance for both new and experienced buyers
      📍 Arizona
      ✔️ Verified March 2026
      🏛️ Recommended by the U.S. Mint
      🪙 Trusted Local Bullion Dealer
      Bullion & Coin Exchange continues to be a reliable resource for collectors and investors throughout Arizona, and we’re honored to feature them as a Founding Member.

    Check out this business if you’re in the Mesa area of Arizona. Here is their listing on the Arizona page to get more info.

    -V.

  • Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. (Chicago, IL)

    ByVictoria
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    Founding Member Spotlight: Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
    I’m excited to feature Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. of Chicago as a Founding Member of the Victorias Coin National Gold & Silver Dealer Directory.
    With more than 50 years of expertise, HJB offers a full range of numismatic services, including:

    • Library & Research Center
    • Consultation and curator services
    • Professional auction representation
    • Personal catalog building
      Their team of experts brings decades of experience to collectors, investors, and institutions.
      📍 Chicago, Illinois
      ✔️ Verified March 2026
      🏛️ Trusted industry authority
      🪙 Specialists in ancient and rare coins
      Visit their Chicago location or explore their auctions online.

    If you’d like to visit their listing please visit the Illinois page and give them a call today or if you’re in the area head on over and meet the team.

    -V.

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    Mitsubishi Materials considering partial shutdown

    ByVictoria
    0 Comments

    Japan’s Mitsubishi Materials is considering scaling back copper concentrate processing at its Onahama Smelter & Refinery as falling treatment and processing charges (TC/RCs) weigh on earnings, it said on Monday.

    Mitsubishi Materials said the worsening TC/RCs from miners were expected to further erode smelting margins.

    “To maintain and improve profitability, we need to raise the ratio of recycled raw materials and accelerate the shift to feedstock less vulnerable to TC/RC fluctuations,” the company said in a statement.

    It is now considering the possibility of a partial shutdown of production facilities and a reduction in copper concentrate processing at Onahama, after planned maintenance from October to November this year, Mitsubishi Materials said.

    Source – Reuters

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    Gold boosts South African rand

    ByVictoria
    0 Comments

    South Africa’s commodity-backed currency edged up on Monday, helped by higher gold prices, as investors digested last week’s unexpectedly weak U.S. jobs data and awaited tariff updates ahead of the United States’ August 8 deadline.

    The bourse was boosted by South African miners, including Gold Fields , up 8%, AngloGold Ashanti (AU.N), at 6%, and Harmony Gold , which rose 7%.

    “Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries. We will continue to engage the U.S. in an attempt to preserve market access for our products,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a newsletter on Monday

    Source – Reuters

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    Gold lost .2%, Silver up, Platinum fell

    ByVictoria
    0 Comments

    Gold eased on Monday due to slightly firmer U.S. Treasury yields and profit-taking following last week’s sharp rally driven by weak U.S. jobs data.

    Spot gold lost 0.2% to $3,356.91 per ounce, as of 1051 GMT, after rising more than 2% on Friday.

    “The market will remain range bound with today’s pullback being in line with some the reversals seen across markets following Friday’s big moves, especially yields which are a tad firmer and stocks which have seen a rebound,” Saxo Bank’s head of commodity strategy, Ole Hansen, said.

    Spot silver rose 0.3% to $37.14 per ounce, platinum fell 0.3% to $1,311.38 and palladium was down 0.8% at $1,199.08.

    Source – Reuters

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    Copper mine collapse, 1 killed 5 trapped

    ByVictoria
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    A collapse at a copper mine in Chile killed one worker and left five trapped underground, authorities said on Friday, forcing Chile’s state mining company to suspend operations in the affected area of the world’s largest underground copper deposit.

    Nine other mine workers suffered injuries, said Chile’s National Copper Corporation, known as Codelco, describing the incident as the result of “a seismic event.”

    The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 5 earthquake in an area of central Chile where Codelco’s El Teniente mine is located, at 5:34 p.m. local time on Thursday. Authorities said they’re still investigating whether it was a naturally occurring earthquake or whether mining activity at El Teniente caused the quake.

    “We are making every effort to try to rescue these five miners,” said Andrés Music, general manager of El Teniente. “The next 48 hours are crucial.”

    Source – The Associated Press

    Praying for these people to be rescued. -Victoria

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    Gold and gold futures up, Silver down 0.7%

    ByVictoria
    0 Comments

    Gold prices rose on Friday as investors turned to the safe-haven asset after United States President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs on a broad range of countries, while the market’s focus shifted to the U.S. non-farm payrolls report.

    Spot gold was up 0.3% at $3,299.54 per ounce, as of 1119 GMT. However, bullion is down 1.4% so far this week.

    U.S. gold futures rose 0.1% to $3,351.40.

    “The incoming US jobs report may also trigger another big move for gold. Another demonstration of resilience by the U.S. jobs market could send gold southbound towards $3,200,” Han Tan, chief market analyst at Nemo.Money.

    Spot silver fell 0.7% to $36.49 per ounce, platinum lost 1.6% at $1,269.27 and palladium was down 1.7% at $1,170.35.

    Source – Reuters