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Should I sell my gold now? It is a question many Burbank families are asking this fall, and the honest answer depends on your situation. Gold set an all-time high in late January 2026 and has since slid by more than a fifth, according to MoneyMagpie’s October 2026 gold price outlook. At the end of September, spot gold was still trading at roughly $4,180 to $4,270 per ounce, which is far above where it stood just a few years ago. That is why an unworn chain, a broken bracelet or an inherited coin collection deserves a second look.

What Has Happened to Gold Prices in 2026

Gold had a spectacular 2025 and a bumpy 2026. After the late January peak, which sources place somewhere between about $5,420 and $5,595 per ounce, the metal has fallen more than 20 percent, and a dealer-site roundup cited in the same outlook described the second quarter as gold’s worst since 2013. Forecasters are split on what comes next. Year-end targets from major banks cluster between roughly $4,450 and $5,100 per ounce, and the Federal Reserve’s October 27–28 meeting is widely watched as a possible swing factor. In short, the experts do not agree, and nobody can reliably call the bottom or the top.

Should I Sell My Gold Now or Wait?

Because no one can time the market, the better question is whether selling gold now fits your own plans. Consider these points:

• Do you need the money? Medical bills, a move, a home repair or settling an estate are good reasons to sell gold now rather than wait for a price you cannot predict.
• Do you still wear it? Jewelry that sits in a drawer earns nothing, while its melt value moves with today’s market.
• Is it sentimental? Some pieces are worth more to your family than any dealer’s offer. Those are worth keeping.
• Was it meant as a long-term holding? If so, a price dip is not automatically a reason to sell, and a tax professional can explain how a sale may be treated.
• Is an estate involved? Waiting can delay closing accounts or dividing belongings among heirs.

This article is general information, not financial or tax advice, and the decision is yours. The benefit of asking a dealer is that a quote costs nothing and commits you to nothing.

Why Selling Gold Now Still Makes Sense for Many People

Even after the pullback, gold sits far higher than it did a few years ago, which means the same ring or chain is worth considerably more in dollars today. Waiting for a return to the January peak is a bet, not a plan, and the price could just as easily slip further. Sellers who value certainty often turn unworn pieces into cash at a known price and keep anything they love. Others prefer to hold, and that is a reasonable choice too.

How to Estimate What Your Gold Is Worth

Gold is priced by weight and purity, not by how a piece looks. To estimate the value of gold jewelry, check the karat stamp, weigh the piece in grams and multiply. Here is an illustration using a round number of $4,200 per troy ounce, which works out to about $135 per gram of pure gold. A 5-gram 14K ring is 58.5 percent pure gold, or about 2.9 grams of pure gold. At roughly $135 per gram, that is about $395 in pure-gold value.

Real offers will differ, because dealers pay a share of that figure to cover refining and overhead, and stones and settings are handled separately. That is why it pays to compare. Ask each buyer how the offer is calculated and whether you are free to walk away.

Watch: Where to Sell Gold and How to Get the Most for It

This short video covers where to sell gold and how to make sure you are getting a fair deal. Think of it as a helpful overview, and remember that a local dealer can give you a firm answer on your own pieces.

Gather Everything Before You Sell

If you are sorting a parent’s belongings or preparing for an estate sale, collect all the fine jewelry, precious metals and coins in one place first. Broken chains, single earrings and dented bracelets still carry value because gold is priced by weight. Old coins can be worth more than their metal content, so avoid cleaning them. Silver flatware, platinum rings and foreign coins tucked into the same box deserve a look too. A dealer can sort out what is scrap and what is collectible in a single visit.

Why Choose a Burbank Precious Metal Dealer Over a Pawn Shop

If you have typed “pawn shop near me” into your phone while wondering how to turn old gold into cash, it helps to know the difference. A pawn shop’s business revolves around loans and general merchandise, so jewelry and coins are just one line among many. Paul Albanian and Associates LLC is a dedicated precious metal dealer in Burbank that has served the San Fernando Valley for more than 30 years, buying gold, silver, platinum, coins and jewelry from individuals and families. As both a gold dealer and a coin dealer in Burbank, the team handles precious metals every day, so you get a straight answer about what you have and what it is worth.

So, should I sell my gold now? If you need the cash or the pieces are gathering dust, finding out what they are worth today is a smart first step, and selling is always optional. Bring in a single ring, a parent’s jewelry box or a whole coin collection, and Paul Albanian and Associates LLC will give you an honest, no-obligation look.

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How much is 14K gold worth? It is one of the most common questions we hear at Paul Albanian and Associates LLC, and the answer is more straightforward than most people expect. If you have a drawer full of tangled chains, a single earring, a broken bracelet or a parent’s old class ring, you are probably holding more value than you realize. For more than 30 years, we have helped Burbank and San Fernando Valley families figure out what their gold is really worth. This guide walks you through the same math we use.

Gold Is Still Valuable Today

On October 5, 2026, Kitco’s live gold chart showed gold at $4,128 per troy ounce, which works out to roughly $132.72 per gram of pure gold. Prices are down from the record high gold reached in January, but they remain historically strong, and they change throughout the day. That is why an old gold chain that sat in a jewelry box for years can bring a meaningful amount of money today.

What Karat Means for the Value of Your Gold

Karat measures how much of a piece is pure gold, counted out of 24 parts. The rest of the piece is made up of other metals such as copper, silver or zinc, which add strength and color. Here is what each common karat contains:

• 24K: 99.9 percent pure gold, usually bullion or traditional jewelry
• 18K: 75 percent gold, common in fine jewelry (stamped 750)
• 14K: about 58 percent gold, the most common karat in American jewelry (stamped 585 or 14K)
• 10K: about 42 percent gold, often found in class rings and budget pieces (stamped 417 or 10K)

Two chains can weigh exactly the same and be worth very different amounts, because a gram of 18K gold contains more actual gold than a gram of 10K.

The Simple Formula for Scrap Gold Value

The value of gold jewelry as scrap comes down to weight, purity and the spot price. At the Kitco price above, the pure gold value of each karat per gram is approximately:

• 24K: about $133 per gram
• 18K: about $100 per gram
• 14K: about $77 per gram
• 10K: about $55 per gram

As an example, a 12-gram 14K gold chain contains about seven grams of pure gold, which comes to roughly $929 in melt value at today’s price. Keep in mind that this is the value of the metal in the piece, not a quote. Gold must be refined before it can be resold, and that process has a cost, so any dealer’s offer will be somewhat below the full melt value. A trustworthy dealer will show you how the number was calculated.

How to Find the Karat of Your Jewelry

Look for a small stamp on the clasp, inside the band or on the back of a pendant. You may see 10K, 14K, 18K, or the numbers 417, 585 or 750. A few points can help:

• No stamp does not mean no gold. Stamps wear off, and some older or handmade pieces were never marked.
• Watch for plated and filled pieces. Marks such as GF (gold filled) or GP (gold plated) mean a thin layer of gold over another metal, and they are worth much less.
• Do not test it yourself. Scratching or applying acid at home can damage a piece. A dealer can test it in seconds.

Watch This Short Guide to Gold Purities

This video explains the difference between 10K, 14K, 18K and 24K gold and how purity affects value.

Jewelry You May Not Think to Sell

Many people only think about intact, wearable pieces. In practice, broken and unwanted jewelry holds just as much gold. Here are items worth gathering before an estate sale or a spring cleaning:

• Broken or tangled chains and bracelets
• Single earrings and mismatched sets
• Class rings, wedding bands and charms
• Gold dental work and old pocket watch cases
• Pieces with missing or damaged stones, which can be evaluated separately

If gemstones are involved, a diamond or colored stone may be worth more than the gold around it. Ask a dealer to look at both parts, rather than selling by weight alone.

Why a Precious Metal Dealer Beats a Pawn Shop

A search for pawn shop near me is a natural starting point when you need cash. But pawn shops are built around short-term loans and general merchandise, and gold is only a small part of what they handle. A dedicated gold dealer in Burbank spends the whole day evaluating metals, stones and coins. That experience shows in how clearly an offer is explained and how carefully each piece is weighed and tested.

Paul Albanian and Associates LLC has served the San Fernando Valley from Burbank for more than three decades. Owner Paul Albanian and the team evaluate gold, silver, platinum, coins and fine jewelry every day, and you are always free to walk away if you do not like the offer.

Tips for a Fair Offer

• Gather all your gold first, so everything can be evaluated in one visit.
• Note any stamps you can see, and do not clean or repair the pieces.
• Check the current spot price so you know where the market stands.
• Ask how the offer was calculated, including weight and karat.
• Bring a valid photo ID, which licensed dealers generally require.

Find Out What Your Gold Is Worth

If you are wondering how much your 14K gold is worth, or you are sorting through a family estate, Paul Albanian and Associates LLC is happy to take a look. Call 818-200-8816 to ask about selling gold, silver, platinum, coins or fine jewelry in Burbank. Gold prices change every day, so the best time to find out what your jewelry is worth is now.

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If you have been thinking about trying to sell silver in Burbank, this may be the best moment in years to go through the drawers, jars and boxes at home. Silver is trading near $61 an ounce, which means the old coins, sterling flatware and silver jewelry that have sat untouched for decades could be worth far more than you expect. At Paul Albanian and Associates LLC, we have been helping Burbank and San Fernando Valley families turn forgotten silver into cash for more than 30 years. Here is how to figure out what you have and what it might bring.

Why Silver Is Getting So Much Attention

Silver has had a dramatic year. It climbed above $120 an ounce in late January before pulling back, and on the morning of October 2 it was trading around $61.50, according to Fortune’s daily silver price report. That is still roughly 30 percent higher than a year ago. Gold, meanwhile, is holding above $4,100 an ounce. Prices move every day, so no article can promise what your silver will be worth tomorrow, but the bigger point stands: when metal prices are elevated, old silver is no longer just sentimental clutter. It is a real asset, and a good reason to find a trustworthy silver buyer in Burbank.

Start With the Coins in Your Coin Jar

The silver people most often overlook is hiding in coin jars, dresser drawers and inherited collections. U.S. dimes, quarters and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90 percent silver, and so are silver dollars such as Morgan and Peace dollars. Half dollars from 1965 through 1970 contain 40 percent silver. Anything newer has no silver at all.

You can sort most coins without any tools. Check the date first, then look at the edge. Modern coins show a copper-colored stripe around the rim, while a 90 percent silver coin has a solid, uniform silver-gray edge. If you want to sell silver coins, that quick check will tell you which ones are worth bringing in.

What Silver Coins Are Worth at Today’s Prices

Common-date silver coins are usually priced by their silver content, often called melt value. Every $1 of face value in 90 percent silver coins holds about 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver. At roughly $61 an ounce, here is what that looks like:

• Silver dime (1964 or earlier): about 0.0723 oz of silver, or roughly $4.40
• Silver quarter (1964 or earlier): about 0.1808 oz, or roughly $11
• Silver half dollar (1964 or earlier): about 0.3617 oz, or roughly $22
• Morgan or Peace silver dollar: about 0.7734 oz, or roughly $47
• Kennedy half dollar (1965 to 1970, 40 percent silver): about 0.1479 oz, or roughly $9
• $1 face value of 90 percent silver coins: about 0.7234 oz, or roughly $44

These are melt-value estimates, not offers. What a dealer actually pays depends on condition, quantity and the market that day. Still, a roll of 40 silver quarters carries about $440 worth of silver, which is a long way from the $10 printed on the coins.

Sterling Silver Flatware, Jewelry and Hollowware

Coins are only part of the story. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure and is usually stamped “925” or “Sterling.” Flatware, candlesticks, tea sets, serving trays, bracelets and charms can all carry real silver value, and a dealer prices most of them by weight. As a rough example, 100 grams of sterling holds nearly three troy ounces of pure silver, which is about $180 at today’s prices. If you want to sell sterling silver from a parents’ or grandparents’ estate, bring the whole set, including the odd serving pieces.

Be careful with items marked “silver plate” or EPNS. They have only a thin coating of silver and very little scrap value. And if a piece comes from a well-known maker or a sought-after pattern, it may be worth more intact than melted, so have it looked at before assuming it is scrap.

Don’t Melt a Treasure: When Coins Are Worth More Than Their Silver

Not every old coin should be priced by weight. Mercury dimes, Walking Liberty half dollars, Morgan dollars and certain key dates and mint marks can bring a premium over melt value, sometimes a large one. A buyer who simply puts everything on a scale may pay you for the metal and miss the collectible. An experienced coin dealer checks dates, mint marks and condition first. Please do not clean or polish old coins before selling them, since cleaning can reduce collector value.

Watch: How Junk Silver Value Is Calculated

For a quick visual walk-through, this video explains how silver dimes, quarters and half dollars are valued and how spot price, premiums and demand fit together.

Sell Silver in Burbank to a Dealer, Not a Pawn Shop

When people search for a “pawn shop near me,” they are often really looking for fast cash. But a pawn shop’s business is built around loans and general merchandise, so knowledge of metals and coins can vary widely from one counter to the next. A dedicated precious metal dealer buys silver, gold and platinum as its core business and understands both melt value and collector value.

Paul Albanian and Associates LLC has operated in Burbank for more than 30 years, buying gold, silver, platinum, coins and jewelry from people across the San Fernando Valley. Whether you are the owner of a small coin collection or the person responsible for a loved one’s estate, a local Burbank silver dealer can look at everything in one visit and give you a clear, straightforward offer.

Tips Before You Sell Your Silver

• Sort by type: coins, sterling flatware and serving pieces, and silver jewelry.
• Check coin dates and look for hallmarks such as “925” or “Sterling” on other items.
• Do not clean, polish or separate coins from their original rolls, folders or albums.
• Bring everything you are unsure about, including items that look worn, tarnished or damaged.
• If you are handling an estate, check every room, closet and safe-deposit box for silver, jewelry and coins.

Whether you inherited your parents’ coin collection, are clearing out a home after an estate sale, or simply found an old jar of dimes, now is a great time to find out what you really have. If you are ready to sell silver in Burbank, stop by Paul Albanian and Associates LLC and talk to a buyer who has been doing this for more than three decades.

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If you need to sell gold and coins in Burbank, the hardest part is often knowing where to begin. Maybe you are settling a parent’s estate, clearing out a house before an estate sale, or finally sorting through a drawer of jewelry nobody wears. Whatever the reason, items that look like clutter can be worth real money, and how you handle them in the first few weeks can affect what they bring.

This guide explains what to gather, what to leave alone, how gold and silver are valued, and what to expect when you work with a local precious metal dealer. It is written for first-time sellers, so every term is explained along the way.

Why Gold and Silver Deserve a Closer Look Right Now

Precious metals have been trading at historically high levels. As of 9:00 a.m. Eastern on October 1, 2026, CNBC reported gold’s spot price at $4,180.59 per ounce, slightly below the $4,207.81 it showed at the same hour the day before. Spot prices move throughout the day, so the number you see this morning may not match the number you see this afternoon.

For anyone holding old jewelry or coins, those figures mean even small pieces can carry meaningful metal value. Here is a simple, rounded illustration. A troy ounce is about 31.1 grams, so at roughly $4,180 an ounce, a gram of pure gold is worth about $134. Because 14K gold is 58.5 percent pure, a gram of 14K jewelry contains about $78 worth of gold at that price. A 10-gram 14K chain would hold roughly $785 in gold content.

That is the raw metal value, sometimes called melt value. A dealer’s offer will be lower than the full spot value, because the dealer takes on costs and market risk. Stones, clasps, and solder also affect the final number. The point is not to calculate an exact price at home. It is to understand that a “junk drawer” can be worth far more than it looks, which is why it pays to sell gold and coins in Burbank to a buyer who weighs and tests every piece.

Step One: Secure and Collect Everything Before the Estate Sale

Valuables are most at risk of being undervalued when a household is being emptied quickly. If an estate sale is on the calendar, set aside the fine jewelry, precious metals, and coins first, before anything is priced and put on a table. Estate sale shoppers are looking for bargains, and an item worth hundreds of dollars in metal can easily be tagged for a fraction of that.

Check the usual hiding places and a few unusual ones:

• Jewelry boxes, dresser drawers, and nightstands
• Safe deposit boxes and home safes
• Coin albums, folders, rolls, and sets tucked in closets or desks
• Coffee cans, cigar boxes, and old purses
• Silverware chests, tea sets, and fine watches

Keep what you find together in a secure place, and avoid mixing items from different sources if you can. Before you sell anything from an estate, confirm who has the legal authority to do so. If you are not sure, the estate’s attorney or executor can tell you.

What Counts as a Precious Metal?

Many people are surprised by how much of what they own is worth buying. Here is what a precious metal dealer typically looks for:

• Gold jewelry. Look for small stamps such as 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K, or numbers like 417, 585, 750, and 999. Broken chains, single earrings, and bent or outdated rings are all valued by their gold content.
• Silver. Sterling flatware, tea sets, bowls, and jewelry are often stamped “sterling” or 925.
• Platinum. Look for stamps such as PLAT, Pt, or 950, often on rings and wedding bands.
• Silver coins. U.S. dimes, quarters, and half dollars dated 1964 or earlier are 90 percent silver. Half dollars from 1965 through 1970 contain 40 percent silver.
• Silver dollars. Morgan and Peace dollars are popular with collectors and also contain silver.
• Gold coins and bullion. Older U.S. gold pieces, such as the $20 Saint-Gaudens, as well as gold bars and rounds, can be especially valuable.
• Watches. Fine watches with gold cases may be worth more than their working parts suggest.

If you are unsure whether something qualifies, bring it in and ask. A knowledgeable dealer can usually tell you quickly.

Do Not Clean It and Do Not Rearrange It

The most common mistake people make with an inherited collection is trying to improve it. Polishing a coin can strip away its natural surface and reduce what a collector will pay, and grading services are generally reluctant to accept coins that show signs of cleaning. Leave coins in their original albums, holders, and envelopes, and handle them by the edges. If you must move them, do it gently and keep the original order.

The same restraint applies to jewelry. Leave the stamps alone, and do not try to test pieces with acids or scratch kits. Take clear photos instead, and write down where each item came from. Those notes can matter later, both for the estate and for answering a dealer’s questions.

Melt Value Versus Collector Value

Not every coin is valued by its metal alone. A common silver dime is worth mostly its silver content. A coin with a scarce date, a rare mint mark, or excellent condition can be worth many times its melt value. That difference is called a numismatic premium, and it is the reason the buyer you choose matters so much.

If you sell an entire inherited collection by weight, you may lose the premium on the best pieces. A coin dealer in Burbank who looks at each piece, rather than simply weighing the pile, can separate the coins worth a closer look from the ones that are best valued as metal. That is fair to the seller, and it helps explain why experience counts.

A Precious Metal Dealer Versus a Pawn Shop

Many people start their search by typing “pawn shop near me” because they want quick cash. It helps to understand the difference in what you are getting. A pawn shop’s core business is making loans secured by personal property. You hand over an item, receive a loan, and can reclaim the item by repaying it. Pawn shops also buy and sell merchandise, but they handle everything from tools to electronics, so precious metals are only one small part of what they look at.

A dedicated precious metal dealer works differently. The business is built around valuing gold, silver, platinum, coins, and jewelry, and the transaction is a straightforward purchase. You do not have to worry about a loan term or a redemption date. If you simply want to turn unwanted items into cash, a specialist is often the more natural fit.

Paul Albarian and Associates LLC has served the San Fernando Valley from Burbank, California, for more than 30 years, buying gold, silver, platinum, coins, and jewelry from local families. For people settling an estate or selling a parent’s coin collection, that long local track record is worth asking about, and it is a good reason to consider a Burbank gold buyer before you consider a general-purpose shop.

How to Prepare for Your Visit

A little preparation makes the process smoother and helps you feel confident about the offer you receive:

• Bring photo identification. Reputable dealers will ask for it.
• Bring an inventory. A simple list of what you have, with photos, saves time.
• Keep items organized. Separate gold, silver, platinum, and coins into labeled bags or boxes.
• Decide on keepsakes first. Set aside pieces with sentimental value before you sell the rest.
• Ask questions. How is the price calculated? Can you see the weight and the test? Is the offer for the whole group or for each piece?
• Do not feel rushed. A good dealer will let you think it over, and you are free to get a second opinion.

Selling in stages is also an option. You might start with the jewelry and silver, then return with the coins once you have had a chance to organize them.

Ask a Professional About Taxes and Paperwork

Inherited property can carry tax and estate implications, and the rules depend on your situation. Before selling anything of significant value, speak with the estate’s attorney, a CPA, or another tax professional. Keep a record of what you sold, when you sold it, and what you received. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Watch: A Short Walkthrough for Inherited Coins

If you have inherited a coin collection and feel overwhelmed, this short video offers a calm starting point for your first steps:

Sell Gold and Coins in Burbank With Confidence

The right approach to an estate or an inherited collection is patient, organized, and informed. Collect valuables before the estate sale, sort them by type, avoid cleaning anything, learn the difference between melt value and collector value, and ask a dealer to explain every number. With gold trading above $4,100 an ounce, it is worth taking the time to do it well.

If you are ready to sell gold and coins in Burbank, or you simply want to find out what a drawer of old jewelry or a parent’s coin collection might be worth, Paul Albarian and Associates LLC is a local, long-established option for those in the San Fernando Valley who want a buyer that specializes in precious metals instead of a generic pawn shop. Bring in what you have, ask your questions, and make your decision at your own pace.

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