Live spot from London markets · 7 trusted UK dealers · All prices in GBP
Au
Gold (XAU)
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per troy oz · GBP
Au
Gold per gram
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per gram · GBP
Ag
Silver (XAG)
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per troy oz · GBP
Ag
Silver per gram
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per gram · GBP
Pt
Platinum (XPT)
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per troy oz · GBP
categoryMetal
straightenWeight
infoGold: VAT-exempt in UK. British legal tender gold coins (Britannia, Sovereign) are also CGT-free. Gold bars subject to CGT above £3,000 annual allowance.
tollChoose a Gold Product
calculateSpot price at current weight sizes
Select a product above
Prices live from spot
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Select a product above to compare dealer prices
shieldBuying safely
Only buy from LBMA or BNTA members. Avoid social media sellers or anyone offering below spot — it's always a scam. All dealers listed are established UK businesses.
savingsCoins vs Bars
Bullion coins carry 3–8% premiums but offer liquidity and CGT exemption (UK coins). Bars carry 1–4% premiums but face CGT. Avoid proof coins for investment.
trending_upUnderstanding premiums
Premium = price above spot. A 3% premium on a £2,500 coin = £75 extra. Premiums are higher during strong demand. Always compare premium %, not just price.
warningVAT on silver
Silver in the UK carries 20% VAT. This significantly affects returns. UK Silver Britannias are CGT-free but VAT still applies at purchase.
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Nisab & Zakat Calculator
Live thresholds based on today's gold & silver spot prices
tollGold Nisab (87.48g)
87.48 grams of 24ct gold
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Today's GBP equivalent
tollSilver Nisab (612.36g)
612.36 grams of silver
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Today's GBP equivalent (recommended)
calculateZakat Calculator — 2.5% of eligible wealth
Net zakatable wealth
£0
Nisab threshold
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Zakat due (2.5%)
£0.00
closeZakat not yet due
About Nisab: Set by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ at 87.48g of gold or 612.36g of silver. Most scholars today recommend using the silver nisab as it is lower, bringing more Muslims into the obligation and benefiting more people in need. If your net zakatable wealth equals or exceeds the nisab and has been held for one full lunar year (hawl), Zakat of 2.5% is due.
Scholarly difference: The gold nisab is typically £5,000–£6,000+; the silver nisab is typically £400–£700 (both vary daily with spot prices). If your wealth falls between the two thresholds, consult a scholar — using the lower (silver) threshold is the more cautious and charitable position. This calculator is a guide only — always verify with a qualified Islamic scholar or organisation such as NZF.org.uk or Islamic Relief UK.
starGold & Zakat
If gold is your primary asset, use the gold nisab. If your wealth includes mixed assets (cash, investments), most scholars recommend the silver nisab. Gold held as jewellery for personal use has different rulings — consult a scholar.
scheduleThe Hawl (lunar year)
Wealth must be held above the nisab for a complete lunar year. If it dips below during the year but recovers by your anniversary date, Zakat is still due. Track your "seed date" — when wealth first exceeded nisab.
currency_bitcoinCrypto & Zakat
Many scholars consider cryptocurrency as a zakatable asset if held as an investment. Calculate at market value on your zakat date. Crypto gold tokens (XAUT, PAXG) should be included at their GBP equivalent value.
volunteer_activismWhere to give
Zakat must reach one of eight eligible categories. Islamic Relief, NZF, Muslim Aid, Human Appeal are established UK organisations that distribute Zakat properly. Always confirm an organisation's Zakat eligibility before donating.
Tokenised Gold & Silver
Gold on the blockchain — compared
Physical gold backed by cryptographic ownership. Compare tokens, blockchains, custody models and exchange availability.
Au
Gold Spot
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per troy oz · GBP
Ag
Silver Spot
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per troy oz · GBP
tokenGold-backed Tokens
Where to buy XAUT & PAXG — Exchange Comparison
Exchange
Pairs
Typical spread
KYC required
Self-custody withdrawal
UK accessible
Binance
XAUT/USDT, PAXG/USDT, PAXG/BTC
0.1–0.3%
Yes
Yes ✓
Yes
Kraken
PAXG/USD, PAXG/EUR, XAUT/USD
0.16–0.4%
Yes
Yes ✓
Yes
Coinbase
PAXG/USD, PAXG/GBP
0.5–1.0%
Yes
Yes ✓
Yes
OKX
XAUT/USDT, XAUT/BTC
0.1–0.25%
Yes
Yes ✓
Yes
Bybit
XAUT/USDT
0.1–0.2%
Yes
Yes ✓
Yes
Kinesis Exchange
KAU/USD, KAG/USD, KAU/BTC
0.45%
Yes
Partial
Yes
Uniswap (DEX)
PAXG/WETH, XAUT/USDC
0.3–1.5%
No KYC
Native ✓
Yes
compare_arrowsPhysical Gold vs Tokenised Gold
Feature
Physical Gold
XAUT (Tether Gold)
PAXG (Paxos Gold)
KAU (Kinesis)
Backing
Direct ownership
1 oz Swiss vault
1 oz London vault
1g allocated
Regulation
N/A (physical)
Tether (minimal)
NYDFS regulated
Kinesis Ltd
Self-custody
Yes (physical)
Yes — ERC-20/TRC-20
Yes — ERC-20
Partial
Yield
None
None direct
Via DeFi lending
2–5% via fees
Min. purchase
~1g (~£90+)
0.000001 oz
0.01 PAXG
Any amount
Redeem for physical
Already physical
Yes (Switzerland)
Yes (London)
Yes (multiple)
Storage cost
Vault fee / home
~0.1% p.a.
~0%
~0%
CGT (UK)
Yes (non-UK coins)
Yes (crypto rules)
Yes (crypto rules)
Yes (crypto rules)
UK Zakat applicable
Yes
Yes (at market value)
Yes (at market value)
Yes (at market value)
Halal status
Generally accepted
Scholars differ
Scholars differ
Scholars differ
securitySelf-custody explained
XAUT and PAXG are ERC-20 tokens — you can withdraw them to any compatible Ethereum wallet (Ledger, MetaMask, Trust Wallet). Not your keys, not your gold. Always withdraw to self-custody for long-term holding.
hubBlockchain types
Ethereum: Public, decentralised, widely auditable. Tron: Public but more centralised. Kinesis: Private permissioned blockchain with a public audit trail. Public chains offer stronger sovereignty guarantees.
warningRisks to know
Tokenised gold depends on the issuer maintaining backing. Smart contract bugs, exchange hacks, and regulatory actions are real risks. Treat tokenised gold as a complement to physical gold, not a full substitute.
mosqueIslamic considerations
Scholars debate whether tokenised gold meets the conditions of qabd (possession). AAOIFI guidance suggests allocated, redeemable tokens are closer to acceptable. Consult a qualified Islamic finance scholar before treating as Shariah-compliant.
Community & Direct Trading
Buy & sell peer to peer — cut out the middleman
Forums, coin fairs, in-person dealers and Bitcoin payments. Often 1–3% cheaper than retail. Know the risks before you trade.
The world's largest independent precious metals forum with 700+ premium members and over 1.5 million posts. The Marketplace section handles over £2.2 million of estimated UK trades per month. Separate sections for UK, EU, USA and international trades. Members buy, sell and swap bullion, coins and accessories.
Payment acceptedBank transfer · PayPal F&F · ₿ Bitcoin · Cash (in person)
Typical premium1–3% over spot (gold) · 2–5% over spot (silver)
Membership neededFree to browse · Premium £10–£24/mo for marketplace access
Trust systemFeedback score · Post count · Premium membership status
UK & internationalUK, EU, USA, Australia sections with separate listings
Established UK forum covering gold, silver and platinum. Active buy/sell/swap sections for bullion and numismatics. Smaller community than TSF but knowledgeable members and good prices.
Reddit's precious metals communities. r/Silverbugs has a dedicated buy/sell/trade section (BST). Primarily US-focused but UK sellers active. r/Gold covers investment discussion. r/PreciousMetals is the broader community.
Account age req.Usually 90+ days account, positive karma for BST access
currency_bitcoinUK & European Dealers Accepting Bitcoin
info
These are established bullion dealers — not peer-to-peer — but they accept Bitcoin directly, giving you the privacy and sovereignty benefits of Bitcoin settlement with the security of a regulated business. No forum reputation risk.
Several established dealers have physical showrooms where you can buy and sell over the counter — often with cash payment available:
Chards — Blackpool & Hatton Garden, London (appointment recommended)
Hatton Garden Metals — London EC1 walk-in
ATS Bullion — Savoy Court, London WC2 (central London)
Baird & Co — Hatton Garden, London EC1
BullionByPost — Birmingham (by appointment)
Sharps Pixley — St James's Street, London (accepts crypto in person)
Cash payments accepted up to HMRC reporting thresholds. Dealers must comply with AML regulations and will require ID for larger transactions. Bring valid photo ID.
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Coin Fairs & Numismatic Shows
UK coin fairs are excellent for buying bullion coins at competitive prices. Dealers buy as well as sell, and you can handle coins before buying:
Midland Coin Fair — Birmingham, monthly. M42 J6, ample free parking. Hundreds of dealers, gold and silver bullion widely available
London Coin Fair — Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, monthly
York Coin Fair — Racecourse, York, periodic
Coinex — Major annual show, London
BNTA Fairs — Various locations throughout the year
Cash is king at coin fairs. Prices are often negotiable. Bring a loupe and test kit if buying significant quantities. Confirm any Sovereigns or Britannias with a Sigma verifier or acid test if uncertain.
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Forum Meetups & Local Trades
The Silver Forum and other communities facilitate in-person meetups between members in the same city or region. This removes postage risk entirely:
Agree price based on live spot at time of trade
Meet in a public place — coffee shop, bank lobby, post office
Bring a Sigma Metalytics verifier or XRF tester for larger amounts
Accept cash, Bitcoin Lightning, or bank transfer on the spot
Leave feedback on the forum after the trade
TSF members are generally trustworthy but always verify metal, especially for silver (tungsten-filled fakes exist for gold bars). Never meet at your home or a seller's home for a first trade.
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Bitcoin & Lightning Payments
Bitcoin is increasingly used for P2P precious metal trades, especially in the stacker community:
On-chain Bitcoin — irreversible, confirmed in ~10 mins. Use for larger trades (£500+). Both parties can verify on block explorer
Lightning Network — instant, near-zero fees. Ideal for trades under £1,000. Wallets: Phoenix, Wallet of Satoshi, Strike, Mutiny
Lightning address — e.g. — easy to share like an email
No chargebacks — seller has full protection unlike PayPal
Convert to GBP spot value at time of trade, agree upfront
Bitcoin payments are irreversible — verify the metal before paying. For large trades, consider a partial payment upfront and the remainder on delivery confirmation. CGT may apply to Bitcoin used as payment.
securityP2P Safety Guide
✅
Good practices
Check seller's feedback score and post count — 100+ posts and 50+ positive trades is a good sign
Start with a small test trade before a large one
For silver by post — use Royal Mail Special Delivery (insured to £2,500)
Photograph everything before posting — coin, packaging, label
Use PayPal Goods & Services for buyer protection (seller pays the fee)
Verify coins with a Sigma Metalytics, XRF tester or at minimum a known-weight check
For Bitcoin trades — agree the GBP-equivalent in advance and use a fixed rate at the time of agreement
Leave honest feedback after every trade — it protects the whole community
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Red flags — avoid
New accounts with zero feedback wanting to sell large quantities immediately
Prices more than 5% below typical forum prices — if it's too good to be true, it is
Sellers who won't accept PayPal G&S and insist on Friends & Family only (no buyer protection)
Pressure to complete quickly or "another buyer is waiting"
Photos that look like dealer/stock images rather than the actual coin
No clear photos of edge, weight or hallmarks on request
Anyone asking you to meet at their home, a car park, or an isolated location
Gold bars without assay cards from unknown small refiners
Heavily cleaned or polished silver coins (may be hiding damage or fake)
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Verifying authenticity
Sigma Metalytics — the gold standard for verification. Tests through packaging. ~£400 device, available at many dealers and some TSF members
Fisch coin tester — precise weight/diameter gauge for major bullion coins. Cheap and reliable for sovereigns, Britannias, Krugerrands
Ping test — genuine silver rings for ~2 seconds; fakes ring differently. Free app: Bullion Test
Magnet test — gold and silver are non-magnetic. Neodymium magnet reacts to fakes
Weight & dimensions — check against published mint specifications. A 1oz Britannia should weigh exactly 31.21g
Acid test — affordable, works for gold. Destructive to coin surfaces so test the edge only
infoVAT tip on P2P silver: Second-hand silver sold privately between individuals is often exempt from VAT (the VAT was paid at original retail). This is one reason forum silver can be noticeably cheaper than dealer silver — you're buying pre-owned metal without paying 20% VAT again. Always clarify VAT status with the seller before agreeing a price.
gavelHMRC & cash trades
Cash transactions for gold are legal in the UK but dealers must report large cash payments under AML rules. Private P2P trades have no specific reporting limit, but CGT rules still apply on profits. Keep records of what you paid and when.
savingsWhen P2P is worth it
P2P is best for: buying common bullion coins (Sovereigns, Britannias, Maples), pre-owned silver, and situations where you want to pay with Bitcoin. For large bars or unusual products, stick to established dealers for authentication confidence.
sellSelling your stack
Forum buyers typically pay closer to spot than dealers — 98–99% of spot vs 92–95% at buyback. For common coins like Sovereigns this can mean £20–£40 extra per coin. List on TSF with clear photos and wait — patience pays.
mosqueIslamic perspective on P2P
P2P gold trades — especially in-person or via immediate delivery — can align better with the Islamic concept of qabd (immediate possession). Cash or Bitcoin Lightning payment satisfies the hand-to-hand exchange principle that scholars require for gold transactions.