> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.storehouses.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Metals & Bullion

> Complete guide to tracking precious and industrial metals including gold, silver, copper, and more in your Storehouses portfolio

## 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.

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

## Supported Metals

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

### Precious Metals

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Gold (Au)" icon="coins">
    Most popular precious metal investment. Tracked in troy ounces with spot pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Silver (Ag)" icon="coins">
    Affordable precious metal with industrial applications. Real-time spot pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Platinum (Pt)" icon="coins">
    Rarer than gold with industrial uses. Automatic spot price valuation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Palladium (Pd)" icon="coins">
    Industrial precious metal used in catalytic converters. Live spot pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rhodium (Rh)" icon="coins">
    Rarest and often most valuable precious metal. Real-time pricing.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Industrial Metals

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Copper (Cu)" icon="industry">
    Essential industrial metal used in construction, electronics, and infrastructure. Tracked with live spot pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Aluminum (Al)" icon="industry">
    Lightweight metal used in aerospace, packaging, and construction. Real-time market pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Nickel (Ni)" icon="industry">
    Key metal for stainless steel and EV batteries. Automatic spot price valuation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Zinc (Zn)" icon="industry">
    Essential for galvanizing steel and die-casting. Live spot pricing.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tin (Sn)" icon="industry">
    Used in solder, coatings, and alloys. Real-time market pricing.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  **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.
</Note>

## 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
```

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

## Adding Metals

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to Add Item">
    Click "Add Item" from your dashboard or go to [storehouses.app/add](https://storehouses.app/add)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Metals & Bullion">
    Choose "Metals & Bullion" as the category
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in Required Fields">
    Complete the metals-specific fields (see below)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Optional Details">
    Include purchase price, seller, location, and photos
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click "Save Item" to add to your portfolio
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Metals Fields

### Required Fields

<ParamField path="metal_type" type="select" required>
  Type of metal

  **Precious Metals:**

  * Gold
  * Silver
  * Platinum
  * Palladium
  * Rhodium

  **Industrial Metals:**

  * Copper
  * Aluminum
  * Nickel
  * Zinc
  * Tin
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="weight" type="number" required>
  Weight in troy ounces

  **Examples:**

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

  <Tip>
    Troy ounces are the standard for precious metals. 1 troy oz = 31.1035 grams
  </Tip>
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="purity" type="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)

  <Note>
    Enter purity as a decimal. For example, .999 fine = 0.999, 24 karat = 1.0, 22 karat = 0.9167
  </Note>
</ParamField>

### Optional Fields

<ParamField path="product_name" type="string">
  Specific product or coin name

  **Examples:**

  * "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
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="premium_value" type="currency">
  Additional value above spot price

  **Use 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
</ParamField>

## Common Precious Metal Forms

### Gold

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Government Mint Coins" icon="landmark">
    **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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Gold Bars" icon="square">
    **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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Gold Rounds" icon="circle">
    Privately minted coins, usually .9999 fine gold

    * Lower premiums than government coins
    * 1 oz is most common size
    * Various designs and themes
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Silver

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Government Mint Coins" icon="landmark">
    **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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Silver Bars" icon="square">
    **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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Silver Rounds" icon="circle">
    * Privately minted, usually 1 oz
    * .999 or .9999 fine silver
    * Lower premiums than government coins
    * Various designs
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Junk Silver" icon="coins">
    Pre-1965 US coins containing 90% silver:

    * Dimes, quarters, half dollars
    * Purity: 0.900
    * Sold by face value (\$1 face = 0.715 oz silver)
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Platinum" icon="gem">
    **Common forms:**

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

    **Purity:** Usually .9995 or 1.0000
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Palladium" icon="gem">
    **Common forms:**

    * Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf
    * Palladium bars

    **Purity:** Usually .9995 or 1.0000
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rhodium" icon="gem">
    **Forms:**

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

    **Purity:** Usually 1.0000 (pure)

    <Warning>
      Rhodium is extremely rare and volatile. Prices can fluctuate dramatically.
    </Warning>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Industrial Metals

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Copper" icon="industry">
    **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 fine

    **Use cases:**

    * Diversification from precious metals
    * Industrial exposure
    * Lower price point entry to metals investing
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Aluminum" icon="industry">
    **Common forms:**

    * Aluminum bars
    * Aluminum ingots
    * Industrial-grade bullion

    **Purity:** Various grades available

    **Note:** Less common in retail bullion market than copper
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Nickel" icon="industry">
    **Common forms:**

    * Nickel bars
    * Nickel rounds
    * Industrial ingots

    **Purity:** Usually .999 fine

    **Market drivers:** EV battery demand, stainless steel production
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Zinc" icon="industry">
    **Common forms:**

    * Zinc bars
    * Zinc ingots
    * Industrial-grade bullion

    **Purity:** Various grades (usually 99%+)

    **Use:** Galvanizing, die-casting, brass production
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Tin" icon="industry">
    **Common forms:**

    * Tin bars
    * Tin ingots

    **Purity:** Usually 99.9%+

    **Use:** Solder, tin plating, alloys
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## 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

<ParamField path="title" type="string">
  2024 American Gold Eagle 1 oz
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="metal_type" type="select">
  Gold
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="weight" type="number">
  1.0
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="purity" type="number">
  0.9167
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="product_name" type="string">
  American Gold Eagle
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="purchase_price" type="currency">
  \$2,050.00
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="premium_value" type="currency">
  \$0 (or add numismatic premium if applicable)
</ParamField>

***

### Example 2: 100 oz Silver Bar

<ParamField path="title" type="string">
  100 oz Silver Bar - Sunshine Mint
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="metal_type" type="select">
  Silver
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="weight" type="number">
  100.0
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="purity" type="number">
  0.999
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="product_name" type="string">
  100 oz Silver Bar - Sunshine Mint
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="purchase_price" type="currency">
  \$2,450.00
</ParamField>

***

### 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

<Tip>
  For multiple identical coins, use the "Quantity" field instead of creating separate entries
</Tip>

## Best Practices

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Always Record Exact Weight" icon="weight-scale">
    * 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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Enter Accurate Purity" icon="certificate">
    * Check product specifications
    * Use decimal format (0.999, not 999)
    * Common purities: .9999, .999, .9167, .900
    * Purity affects spot value calculation
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Include Product Names" icon="tag">
    **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"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Track Premiums Separately" icon="dollar-sign">
    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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Document Purchase Details" icon="receipt">
    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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Photograph Your Metals" icon="camera">
    Take photos showing:

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

    <Warning>
      Store photos securely - they contain valuable information
    </Warning>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Track Storage Locations" icon="vault">
    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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Organize with Collections" icon="folder">
    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")
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## 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

<Card title="Automatic Updates" icon="arrows-rotate">
  * 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
</Card>

### 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:

1. **Numismatic coins** - Rare or collectible coins worth more than melt value
2. **Proof coins** - Special finish coins with collector premiums
3. **Low mintage** - Limited edition releases
4. **Graded coins** - Certified coins with premium grades
5. **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

<Note>
  Precious metals may have tax implications. Consult a tax professional for your situation.
</Note>

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

<Tip>
  Export your precious metals inventory regularly for insurance and estate planning purposes
</Tip>

### 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 →](/advanced/heir-access)

## Common Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How often do spot prices update?" icon="clock">
    Spot prices update automatically throughout the trading day based on market data. Your portfolio value reflects current market prices in real-time.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I track numismatic coins?" icon="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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What about 90% silver coins (junk silver)?" icon="coins">
    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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I use quantity or separate entries?" icon="hashtag">
    **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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I convert grams to troy ounces?" icon="calculator">
    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
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my coin has numismatic value?" icon="star">
    For coins worth more than melt value:

    1. Enter weight and purity for automatic spot calculation
    2. Add the numismatic premium in the `premium_value` field
    3. Total value = spot value + premium value

    This keeps melt and collector value separated.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Add Metals" icon="plus" href="https://storehouses.app/add">
    Start tracking your bullion
  </Card>

  <Card title="View Dashboard" icon="chart-line" href="/features/dashboard">
    Monitor your metals portfolio
  </Card>

  <Card title="Set Price Alerts" icon="bell" href="/advanced/price-alerts">
    Get notified of price changes
  </Card>

  <Card title="Export Reports" icon="file-export" href="/portfolio/export-reporting">
    Generate inventory reports
  </Card>
</CardGroup>