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There are precious metals dealers, and then there are institutions. USAGOLD — formally incorporated as Centennial Precious Metals, Inc. — sits closer to the latter. Founded in Denver in 1973 by Michael J. Kosares, a gold author and market commentator whose book became a foundational text for generations of precious metals investors, the company has operated continuously for over fifty years across multiple economic crises, bull and bear markets, and a generational ownership transition.
Michael Kosares died in September 2023 after a long battle with cancer. His son Jonathan, who joined USAGOLD in 2002 and became COO and co-owner in 2016, has since taken over as owner and operator of the firm. This wasn’t a sale or a restructuring, but a generational transition to someone who had spent decades working inside the business.
That continuity is significant. For investors considering USAGOLD, the real question isn’t legitimacy — that’s well established. What matters more is whether the company’s approach aligns with your needs: a focus limited to gold and silver, a relatively tight product selection, an emphasis on historic coins alongside IRA bullion, and a high-touch, white-glove style of service.
If you are still early in your research, you may also want to read our guides to precious metals investing, Gold IRA rollover pros and cons, and where Gold IRA metals should be stored, so you can judge USAGOLD in the right context.
First, Get Noble Gold’s Free 2026 Guide
Before evaluating any precious metals dealer, ground yourself in how Gold IRAs are structured. Noble Gold’s free guide covers the rollover process, where fees tend to appear, and the questions every investor should ask before moving retirement money into physical metals.
Quick Company Snapshot
| Company | USAGOLD (Centennial Precious Metals, Inc.) |
| Phone | (800) 869-5115 |
| Address | PO Box 460009, Denver, CO 80246 |
| admin@usagold.com | |
| Website | www.usagold.com |
| Founded | 1973 by Michael J. Kosares |
| Current Owner | Jonathan Kosares (son of founder; owner since 2023) |
| BBB Rating | A+ |
| Custodian | Equity Trust Company |
| Metals Offered | Gold and silver only — no platinum or palladium |
| Unique Offering | Historic pre-1933 U.S. gold coins and collectibles alongside IRA bullion |
From Michael to Jonathan: A Family Business Built on Gold’s Long History
The roots of USAGOLD date back to 1973, a year after President Nixon made the fateful decision of closing the gold window and thus shutting down the Bretton Woods system, leaving behind fiat currency as we know it today. It is this very timing that led to the creation of the company by Michael J. Kosares who viewed gold in its most pure light as an insurance mechanism against financial risks. In his books, including The ABCs of Gold Investing: How to Protect and Build Your Wealth with Gold (1996), Kosares explained his approach in several editions and translations.
His son, Jonathan Kosares, started working at USAGOLD in 2002 straight out of the University of Notre Dame, where he received his degrees in Finance and Computer Applications. During his time with the company, he helped many clients, authored numerous market analyses, built up wholesale relations and headed the brokerage department until he was promoted to become the COO and co-owner in 2016. Following his father’s death in September 2023, he took the reigns and became the new majority owner of the company.
Jake Farlow currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer. He is responsible not only for managing technology-related matters but also for providing daily market reports. This combination of extensive experience in the precious metals market and active involvement in the business’s technological side is rather rare for a company like USAGOLD.
During more than five decades in business, USAGOLD managed to build a robust editorship going far beyond what can be expected from a traditional gold seller. Notably, the company’s “Gold News” section can be characterized as a “website within a website.” It features daily updates, a monthly newsletter, learning resources and a huge library with research material. Most of that has been put together by Michael Kosares and continues developing under the supervision of his son, Jonathan.
Quick Verdict
Recommended for: investors valuing credibility, wanting access to both IRA bullion and historic gold coins, preferring advisory assistance, and appreciating custodian services and storage setup.
Not recommended for: those interested in platinum and palladium, needing flexibility in product choice, looking for online transactions only, dealing with small accounts.
Conclusion: USAGOLD stands as one of the more credible players on the market. Its limitations include two-metal limitation, a narrow product range, no acceptance of cryptocurrency payments, and relatively low number of online reviews.
What’s in the Catalog: Two Metals, Done Well
IRA-Eligible Gold
- Gold American Eagle
- Gold American Buffalo
- Gold Canadian Maple Leaf
- Gold Austrian Philharmonic
- Gold Australian Kangaroo
- Gold bars (including 1 kilogram bar)
IRA-Eligible Silver
- Silver American Eagle
- Silver Austrian Philharmonic
- Silver Canadian Maple Leaf
- Silver bars
Additional Catalog Categories (Non-IRA)
- Historic fractional gold coins: Pre-1933 U.S. and European gold coins. A specialist category requiring direct consultation.
- Historic U.S. gold coins: Pre-1933 American gold. Not IRA-eligible but available for direct ownership.
- Collectible coins: Available through the company’s monthly special offers program, curated by Jonathan Kosares.
Important: USAGOLD does not carry platinum or palladium. This is a confirmed limitation, not a temporary stock issue. Investors who want all four metals from a single dealer will need to look elsewhere.
To learn more about how precious metals fit in a portfolio, read our articles on the role of commodities in portfolio allocation, inflation risk, and inflation hedges.
What Fifty Years of Operation Actually Delivers
👍 Legacy of credibility
A firm established way back in 1973 and still operating under the ownership of the same family has endured economic downturns, bear market periods in gold prices, the 2008 crisis, coronavirus pandemic times, and the death of its founder. Mr. Kosares did not purchase the brand but entered the business he was engaged in for over two decades. In the industry where such longevity is rare, this means something.
👍 Unique knowledge base
At USAGOLD, you can get an extensive reference library that differs considerably from what you usually encounter at other dealers. It includes daily news updates, historical reports, regular newsletters, a guide for newcomers, and decades’ worth of writings by Michael Kosares that form a valuable knowledge resource.
👍 Availability of rare coins
By using monthly offers carefully chosen by Jonathan Kosares, you will be able to get access to unique gold coins issued before 1933 in the USA and Europe. Collectible coins can help diversify an IRA holding standard bullion.
👍 Personalized approach
USAGOLD’s business model rests entirely upon the personalized approach where your relationship with your own financial adviser takes precedence. Reviews are full of testimonials where customers feel treated like important clients with Jonathan Kosares personally handling their issues.
Where the Drawbacks Lie
👎 Exclusive dealing with gold and silver
If you wish to hold all four IRS-sanctioned precious metals in one account, USAGOLD will be insufficient since it deals exclusively with gold and silver. To get the rest two – platinum and palladium – you’ll have to open accounts with different providers.
👎 Small number of third-party reviews
Only a few reviews can be found on Trustpilot; all of them leave nothing but praise for the services provided. The company also lacks other online review sources – except the BBB site where it got an excellent A+ rating. Overall, third-party feedback is scarce.
👎 High threshold for selling back
With the buyback program available, there must always be 20 oz of gold or 1,000 oz of silver in order to sell it back. The process is settled in 5-7 working days. Clearly, small positions will hardly benefit from this program.
👎 Lack of cryptocurrency payments
You cannot make deposits via crypto. Payments should be made via money orders or wire transfers.
How USAGOLD Fits Into a Comparison Shortlist
USAGOLD’s closest peers are dealers with similar service philosophies and long track records, not those competing on catalog breadth or aggressive marketing. For comparison purposes:
- Augusta Precious Metals — premium positioning; exceptional structured education program
- Goldco — high brand recognition; guided rollover experience; broader catalog
- American Hartford Gold — competitive promotional offers; full-service IRA model
- Noble Gold Investments — our #1 rated company for 2026; strong rollover support; free guide
- SchiffGold — similar vintage bullion-only philosophy; adds platinum and palladium; international storage
Before You Decide, Compare With Our #1 Rated Company
USAGOLD is a credible, well-established dealer. Noble Gold Investments is our top-rated company for 2026 and offers a free guide that covers the full IRA setup process, storage costs, and a framework for comparing dealers on a level playing field.
Final Verdict
USAGOLD carries more institutional credibility than most precious metals dealers will accumulate in their lifetimes. Fifty years of operation, a named custodian and storage partner with published cost guidance, an A+ BBB rating, and a generational family ownership transition that reflects genuine commitment to the business — these are not things that can be replicated with marketing spend.
Its limitations are equally real. Two metals only. A focused catalog. High minimum sell-back thresholds. Limited online review volume. An annual carrying cost that makes smaller IRAs less economical. These are not dealbreakers for the right investor — they are simply parameters that define who USAGOLD serves best.
Where it lands: USAGOLD belongs on the shortlist of any serious retirement investor focused on gold and silver. Get the all-in cost breakdown in writing, confirm the carrying cost is proportionate to your account size, and compare against at least two competitors before deciding. If platinum or palladium are part of your plan, you will need a different dealer for those.
Before you decide, get the guide and compare intelligently
A Gold IRA can be useful, but only if you understand the structure, the fees, and the role gold should actually play in your retirement plan. Noble Gold’s free 2026 guide is a solid first step before you speak with any rep.
USAGOLD was established in 1973, and is located in Denver, Colorado. This precious metals investment firm offers a selection of IRA-eligible gold and silver bullion, plus collectible and historic fractional and historic American gold coins. Secure storage is provided by the world-renowned Delaware Depository. USAGOLD has partnered with Equity Trust Company for custodial services. The company does not offer any platinum or palladium products.
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Mohammed Saqib is a finance professional and CFA Level II Candidate with a Master of Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University. He specializes in financial content covering equities, alternative assets, precious metals, and capital markets.
