Whether you're selling platinum coins, jewelry, or bars, it's critical to find a good buyer. There are a ton of businesses that trade in platinum, and they're definitely not all created equally.
Frequently the value of a platinum item is at least partially subjective, with things like rarity, craftsmanship, and other factors heavily influencing the value. It's important to go into any potential selling situation well informed to help you get the best price!
Whether you decide to go with a national service where your items are mailed in and appraised, or a dealer local to California, research is key. Know who you're dealing with by checking with organizaions like the BBB, and know the value of your items by checking spot prices and getting competing offers.
Selling platinum can be intimidating at first for a new-comer, but it doesn't have to be! As with all things in life, preperation is the key to success.
Platinum owned through a commodities exchange, or "on paper" is no substitute for physical bars, coins, or jewelry. Exchanges are heavily leveraged, which means if everyone tried to "cash out" at once, there isn't enough physical metal to go around.
Moreover, precious metals are typically meant as a hedge against the complete collapse of the traditional banking infrastructure. If you wind up needing it, you'll want to have it close at hand!
Governments around the world have seized noble metals from time to time, so keeping your entire stash locally could be a bad idea depending on where you live.
Safe jurisdictions like Switzerland should be considered when you get to the point of holding a significant (tens of thousands of dollars worth generally) amount.
Physical precious metals like platinum are a hedge to the traditional banking system. In a crisis, if the system collapses, it may very well take your property down with it (if it can).
If there is a run on the banks, having your platinum under your direct control means they can't confiscate it, block access to it, or have loaned it out in a leveraged fashion.
The Swiss government is unique, in that it's highly decentralized. They simply don't have the structure that would allow for a central authority to come in and confiscate property.
Because of this, they've long been considered a safe haven for metals like platinum, and the reason we recommend considering sending some there once you've accumulated a large amount.