Metals & Bullion - Storehouses

Overview

Metals & Bullion is one of the most popular asset categories in Storehouses, offering automatic spot price valuation and real-time portfolio tracking for both precious metals and industrial metals.

All metals automatically calculate their value based on weight, purity, and current spot prices. Values update daily as market prices change.

Supported Metals

Storehouses tracks both precious metals and industrial metals with automatic spot pricing.

Precious Metals

Gold (Au)

Most popular precious metal investment. Tracked in troy ounces with spot pricing.

Silver (Ag)

Affordable precious metal with industrial applications. Real-time spot pricing.

Platinum (Pt)

Rarer than gold with industrial uses. Automatic spot price valuation.

Palladium (Pd)

Industrial precious metal used in catalytic converters. Live spot pricing.

Rhodium (Rh)

Rarest and often most valuable precious metal. Real-time pricing.

Industrial Metals

Copper (Cu)

Essential industrial metal used in construction, electronics, and infrastructure. Tracked with live spot pricing.

Aluminum (Al)

Lightweight metal used in aerospace, packaging, and construction. Real-time market pricing.

Nickel (Ni)

Key metal for stainless steel and EV batteries. Automatic spot price valuation.

Zinc (Zn)

Essential for galvanizing steel and die-casting. Live spot pricing.

Tin (Sn)

Used in solder, coatings, and alloys. Real-time market pricing.

Price Unit Difference: Precious metals are priced per troy ounce, while industrial metals are priced per regular ounce. Storehouses automatically handles the conversion - all weights are stored in troy ounces for consistency. 1 troy oz = 1.09714 regular oz.

How Automatic Valuation Works

Precious metals in Storehouses use automatic spot price valuation:

Spot Value = Weight (troy oz) × Purity × Current Spot Price
Total Value = Spot Value + Premium Value (optional)

Example Calculation

1 oz American Gold Eagle:

Weight: 1.0 troy oz
Purity: 0.9167 (22 karat)
Spot price: $2,000/oz
Premium value: $50

Spot Value = 1.0 × 0.9167 × $2,000 = $1,833.40
Total Value = $1,833.40 + $50 = $1,883.40

Spot prices are updated automatically from reliable market data providers. Your portfolio value updates in real-time as prices change.

Adding Metals

Navigate to Add Item

Click “Add Item” from your dashboard or go to storehouses.app/add

Select Metals & Bullion

Choose “Metals & Bullion” as the category

Fill in Required Fields

Complete the metals-specific fields (see below)

Add Optional Details

Include purchase price, seller, location, and photos

Save

Click “Save Item” to add to your portfolio

Metals Fields

Required Fields

select

required

Type of metalPrecious Metals:

Gold
Silver
Platinum
Palladium
Rhodium

Industrial Metals:

Copper
Aluminum
Nickel
Zinc
Tin

number

required

Weight in troy ouncesExamples:

1.0 (one troy ounce)
0.5 (half ounce)
10.0 (ten ounces)
0.1 (one-tenth ounce)

Troy ounces are the standard for precious metals. 1 troy oz = 31.1035 grams

number

required

Metal purity as a decimal (0-1)Common purities:

0.999 or 0.9999 (fine gold/silver)
0.9167 (22 karat gold - American Eagle)
0.917 (22 karat gold - British Sovereign)
0.750 (18 karat gold)
1.000 (pure rhodium, platinum, or palladium)

Enter purity as a decimal. For example, .999 fine = 0.999, 24 karat = 1.0, 22 karat = 0.9167

Optional Fields

string

Specific product or coin nameExamples:

“American Gold Eagle”
“Canadian Maple Leaf”
“10 oz Silver Bar - PAMP Suisse”
“1 oz Gold Buffalo”
“100 oz Silver Bar - Sunshine Mint”
“1/4 oz Platinum Eagle”

Use: Helps identify specific products for resale and insurance

currency

Additional value above spot priceUse cases:

Numismatic or collector value
Rare coins with premium over melt value
Limited edition pieces
Proof or special finish coins

Example: A

1,900 spot value Gold Eagle might have a

100 premium value for total $2,000 value

Common Precious Metal Forms

Gold

Government Mint Coins

Popular options:

American Gold Eagle (22K, 0.9167 purity)
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (24K, 0.9999 purity)
Austrian Philharmonic (24K, 0.9999 purity)
South African Krugerrand (22K, 0.9167 purity)
Australian Kangaroo (24K, 0.9999 purity)
British Britannia (24K, 0.9999 purity)

Weights: 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz

Gold Bars

Common sizes:

1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bars
1 kilo (32.15 oz)
100 gram (3.215 oz)

Popular refiners:

PAMP Suisse
Credit Suisse
Valcambi
Perth Mint
Royal Canadian Mint

Gold Rounds

Privately minted coins, usually .9999 fine gold

Lower premiums than government coins
1 oz is most common size
Various designs and themes

Silver

Government Mint Coins

Popular options:

American Silver Eagle (0.999 purity)
Canadian Silver Maple Leaf (0.9999 purity)
Austrian Silver Philharmonic (0.9999 purity)
Australian Kangaroo (0.9999 purity)
British Britannia (0.999 purity)

Standard weight: 1 troy oz

Silver Bars

Common sizes:

1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bars
100 oz bars (most common for investors)
1 kilo bars (32.15 oz)
1000 oz commercial bars

Purity: Usually .999 or .9999 fine

Silver Rounds

Privately minted, usually 1 oz
.999 or .9999 fine silver
Lower premiums than government coins
Various designs

Junk Silver

Pre-1965 US coins containing 90% silver:

Dimes, quarters, half dollars
Purity: 0.900
Sold by face value ($1 face = 0.715 oz silver)

Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium

Platinum

Common forms:

American Platinum Eagle (1 oz)
Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf
Platinum bars (various sizes)

Purity: Usually .9995 or 1.0000

Palladium

Common forms:

Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf
Palladium bars

Purity: Usually .9995 or 1.0000

Rhodium

Forms:

Primarily bars (1 oz most common)
Very few coins available

Purity: Usually 1.0000 (pure)

Rhodium is extremely rare and volatile. Prices can fluctuate dramatically.

Industrial Metals

Copper

Common forms:

Copper bars (1 oz, 10 oz, 1 lb, 1 kilo)
Copper rounds (1 oz most common)
Copper bullion coins
Copper ingots

Purity: Usually .999 or .9999 fineUse cases:

Diversification from precious metals
Industrial exposure
Lower price point entry to metals investing

Aluminum

Common forms:

Aluminum bars
Aluminum ingots
Industrial-grade bullion

Purity: Various grades availableNote: Less common in retail bullion market than copper

Nickel

Common forms:

Nickel bars
Nickel rounds
Industrial ingots

Purity: Usually .999 fineMarket drivers: EV battery demand, stainless steel production

Zinc

Common forms:

Zinc bars
Zinc ingots
Industrial-grade bullion

Purity: Various grades (usually 99%+)Use: Galvanizing, die-casting, brass production

Tin

Common forms:

Tin bars
Tin ingots

Purity: Usually 99.9%+Use: Solder, tin plating, alloys

Understanding Purity Formats

Precious metals purity can be expressed in different ways. Here’s how to convert to Storehouses format:

Fineness (.999, .9999)

Most common for bullion:

.999 fine = 0.999 purity (99.9% pure)
.9999 fine = 0.9999 purity (99.99% pure)
.995 fine = 0.995 purity (99.5% pure)

Enter directly as the decimal value

Karat (Gold)

Gold jewelry and some coins use karat:

24 karat = 1.0000 purity (100% gold)
22 karat = 0.9167 purity (91.67% gold)
18 karat = 0.750 purity (75% gold)
14 karat = 0.5833 purity (58.33% gold)

Sterling (Silver)

Sterling silver = 0.925 purity (92.5% silver)
Coin silver = 0.900 purity (90% silver)

Tracking Examples

Example 1: American Gold Eagle

string

2024 American Gold Eagle 1 oz

select

Gold

number

1.0

number

0.9167

string

American Gold Eagle

currency

$2,050.00

currency

$0 (or add numismatic premium if applicable)

Example 2: 100 oz Silver Bar

string

100 oz Silver Bar - Sunshine Mint

select

Silver

number

100.0

number

0.999

string

100 oz Silver Bar - Sunshine Mint

currency

$2,450.00

Example 3: Canadian Maple Leaf (Mixed Sizes)

For multiple coins of different sizes, create separate entries: 1 oz Maple Leaf:

Weight: 1.0
Purity: 0.9999

1/2 oz Maple Leaf:

Weight: 0.5
Purity: 0.9999

1/4 oz Maple Leaf:

Weight: 0.25
Purity: 0.9999

For multiple identical coins, use the “Quantity” field instead of creating separate entries

Best Practices

Always Record Exact Weight

Use troy ounces (not regular ounces)
Include fractional weights (0.5, 0.25, 0.1)
Verify weight on product documentation
1 troy oz = 31.1035 grams

Enter Accurate Purity

Check product specifications
Use decimal format (0.999, not 999)
Common purities: .9999, .999, .9167, .900
Purity affects spot value calculation

Include Product Names

Benefits:

Easier identification for insurance
Helps determine premiums when selling
Useful for inventory tracking
Better for estate documentation

Good examples:

“American Silver Eagle”
“10 oz PAMP Suisse Gold Bar”
“Canadian Maple Leaf 1 oz”

Track Premiums Separately

Use the premium_value field for:

Numismatic value (rare coins)
Collectible editions
Proof coins
Limited mintages
Special packaging (First Strike, etc.)

This separates melt value from collector value

Document Purchase Details

Always record:

Purchase price (for cost basis)
Purchase date
Dealer/seller name
Upload receipts as photos

Important for:

Tax reporting (capital gains)
Insurance claims
Resale documentation

Photograph Your Metals

Take photos showing:

Front and back of coins
Packaging and certificates
Serial numbers on bars
Mint marks
Overall condition

Store photos securely - they contain valuable information

Track Storage Locations

Use the location field to record:

Home safe
Bank safe deposit box
Third-party vault storage
Multiple locations for diversification

Benefits:

Quick retrieval when needed
Insurance documentation
Estate planning

Organize with Collections

Create collections for:

By metal type (“Gold Coins”, “Silver Bars”)
By purpose (“Long-term Hold”, “Trading Stack”)
By storage (“Home Safe”, “Bank Vault”)
By purchase year (“2024 Purchases”)

Understanding Spot Prices

What Are Spot Prices?

Spot prices represent the current market price for immediate delivery of precious metals. Storehouses uses these prices to automatically value your holdings.

Price Updates

Automatic Updates

Spot prices update automatically throughout the trading day
Your portfolio value adjusts in real-time
No manual updates needed
Prices from reliable market data sources

Spot Price vs. Purchase Price

Spot value: Current market value based on weight and purity
Purchase price: What you actually paid
Premium: Difference between purchase price and spot value at time of purchase

Track all three for complete records and to calculate gains/losses.

Premium Tracking

When to Use Premium Value

Use the premium_value field for:

Numismatic coins - Rare or collectible coins worth more than melt value
Proof coins - Special finish coins with collector premiums
Low mintage - Limited edition releases
Graded coins - Certified coins with premium grades
Historical pieces - Coins with historical significance

Premium vs. Purchase Premium

Premium Value (in Storehouses):

Current premium above spot for collector/numismatic value
Updates separately from spot price
Adds to total item value

Purchase Premium:

What you paid over spot when buying
Recorded in purchase price vs. spot value at purchase
For reference/tax purposes

Tax Considerations

Precious metals may have tax implications. Consult a tax professional for your situation.

Track these fields for tax purposes:

Purchase price (cost basis)
Purchase date (holding period)
Seller information
Current market value (for reporting)

Storehouses helps you track this information but does not provide tax advice.

Insurance and Estate Planning

Insurance Documentation

Your precious metals records in Storehouses can serve as:

Insurance inventory
Proof of ownership
Valuation documentation
Purchase history

Export your precious metals inventory regularly for insurance and estate planning purposes

Heir Access

Consider using Storehouses’ Heir Access feature (Pro) to provide:

Emergency access for beneficiaries
Complete inventory for estate settlement
Purchase documentation
Storage location information

Learn more about Heir Access →

Common Questions

How often do spot prices update?

Spot prices update automatically throughout the trading day based on market data. Your portfolio value reflects current market prices in real-time.

Can I track numismatic coins?

Yes! Use the premium_value field to add numismatic or collector value above the spot (melt) value. This gives you total value = spot value + premium value.

What about 90% silver coins (junk silver)?

Track junk silver using:

Metal type: Silver
Purity: 0.900
Weight: Calculate total silver weight (face value × 0.715)

Example: $10 face value = 7.15 troy oz, so enter 7.15 as weight

Should I use quantity or separate entries?

Use Quantity for:

Identical coins/bars (same weight, purity, product)
Bulk purchases of same item

Use Separate Entries for:

Different sizes (1 oz vs 1/2 oz)
Different products (Eagles vs Maple Leafs)
Different purchase dates/prices
Items you might sell individually

How do I convert grams to troy ounces?

Divide grams by 31.1035:

31.1035 grams = 1 troy oz
15.55 grams = 0.5 troy oz
10 grams = 0.3215 troy oz
100 grams = 3.215 troy oz
1000 grams (1 kilo) = 32.15 troy oz

What if my coin has numismatic value?

For coins worth more than melt value:

Enter weight and purity for automatic spot calculation
Add the numismatic premium in the premium_value field
Total value = spot value + premium value

This keeps melt and collector value separated.

Next Steps

Add Metals

Start tracking your bullion

View Dashboard

Monitor your metals portfolio

Set Price Alerts

Get notified of price changes

Export Reports

Generate inventory reports

​Overview

​Supported Metals

​Precious Metals

Gold (Au)

Silver (Ag)

Platinum (Pt)

Palladium (Pd)

Rhodium (Rh)

​Industrial Metals

Copper (Cu)

Aluminum (Al)

Nickel (Ni)

Zinc (Zn)

Tin (Sn)

​How Automatic Valuation Works

​Example Calculation

​Adding Metals

​Metals Fields

​Required Fields

​Optional Fields

​Common Precious Metal Forms

​Gold

​Silver

​Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium

​Industrial Metals

​Understanding Purity Formats

​Fineness (.999, .9999)

​Karat (Gold)

​Sterling (Silver)

​Tracking Examples

​Example 1: American Gold Eagle

​Example 2: 100 oz Silver Bar

​Example 3: Canadian Maple Leaf (Mixed Sizes)

​Best Practices

​Understanding Spot Prices

​What Are Spot Prices?

​Price Updates

Automatic Updates

​Spot Price vs. Purchase Price

​Premium Tracking

​When to Use Premium Value

​Premium vs. Purchase Premium

​Tax Considerations

​Insurance and Estate Planning

​Insurance Documentation

​Heir Access

​Common Questions

​Next Steps

Add Metals

View Dashboard

Set Price Alerts

Export Reports

Overview

Supported Metals

Precious Metals

Industrial Metals

How Automatic Valuation Works

Example Calculation

Adding Metals

Metals Fields

Required Fields

Optional Fields

Common Precious Metal Forms

Gold

Silver

Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium

Industrial Metals

Understanding Purity Formats

Fineness (.999, .9999)

Karat (Gold)

Sterling (Silver)

Tracking Examples

Example 1: American Gold Eagle

Example 2: 100 oz Silver Bar

Example 3: Canadian Maple Leaf (Mixed Sizes)

Best Practices

Understanding Spot Prices

What Are Spot Prices?

Price Updates

Spot Price vs. Purchase Price

Premium Tracking

When to Use Premium Value

Premium vs. Purchase Premium

Tax Considerations

Insurance and Estate Planning

Insurance Documentation

Heir Access

Common Questions

Next Steps