Chards Review 2026: UK's Longest-Standing Bullion & Coin Dealer Tested

Who is Chards?

Chards trades as Chard (1964) Limited (Companies House No. 01378220), incorporated on 12 July 1978 and headquartered at 32–36 Harrowside, Blackpool, FY4 1RJ. The business itself dates back to 1964, making it one of the longest-continuously-trading bullion and coin dealers in the UK - over 60 years and still family-run.

The company became a full member of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) on 30 January 2024, the international body that sets standards for the global precious metals market. Prior to that, Chards was a member of the British Numismatic Trade Association (BNTA) from 1973 to 2008.

Chards’ roots are in numismatics - the study and collection of coins - and this heritage distinguishes them from most online bullion dealers. While they sell a full range of standard investment bullion, their expertise in rare, historic, and collectible coins is what sets them apart. They were named the UK’s best bullion dealer four times between 2015 and 2018.

Our website walkthrough

The Chards website at chards.co.uk makes a professional first impression, though the sheer density of information can be overwhelming for newcomers. This is a site built by people who know coins inside out - and it shows.

The homepage features live gold and silver prices in GBP, updated throughout the trading day, alongside featured products and current promotions. Navigation runs across the top with categories for gold coins, gold bars, silver coins, silver bars, platinum, palladium, and a dedicated section for rare and collectible coins.

Where Chards really stands apart is the depth of their product catalogue. Each coin type often has its own dedicated page with detailed historical background, specifications, mintage figures, and pricing. The educational content is excellent - you can learn as much about the history of the Sovereign or the Krugerrand here as you can on Wikipedia, and arguably more about what makes one year or mint mark more desirable than another.

The flip side of this depth is that the site can feel cluttered. First-time bullion buyers looking for a simple “buy a 1oz gold bar” experience may find themselves lost in pages about coin grading, mintage variations, and numismatic history. For experienced buyers and collectors, this is a feature, not a bug.

Pricing is displayed live and updates with the spot price. Product pages show clear specifications, weights, and purity alongside high-quality images. The site also includes strong educational content about coin collecting, grading, and precious metals investing.

Gold range and pricing

Chards offers a comprehensive gold range that spans standard investment bullion through to rare numismatic pieces:

• Gold coins - Britannias (1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz), Sovereigns (full, half, double, quarter), Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, American Eagles, Australian Kangaroos, Chinese Pandas
• Gold bars - From 1g to 1kg, sourced from LBMA-approved refiners including PAMP Suisse, Metalor, Umicore, and Heraeus
• Numismatic gold coins - Historic Sovereigns by year, rare gold coins, proof sets, limited editions, and collector pieces with detailed provenance and grading information

Pricing is live and competitive with other major UK dealers. As a rough guide, premiums over spot at the time of our review were:

Product	Typical premium
Gold bars (100g+)	2–3%
Gold bars (1g–50g)	3–5%
1oz Britannia / Sovereign	3–5%
Fractional coins (1/4oz, 1/10oz)	5–8%
Numismatic / rare coins	Varies widely by rarity and condition

The numismatic premium range is intentionally broad - a common-date Sovereign may trade at 5–10% over melt value, while a rare date or mint mark can command multiples of its gold content. Chards’ expertise in pricing these pieces fairly is one of their core strengths.

Silver range and pricing

Chards carries a full silver range alongside their gold offering:

• Silver coins - Britannias (including CGT-free options as UK legal tender), Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, American Eagles, and a variety of other world silver coins
• Silver bars - From 1oz to 1kg, from recognised refiners
• Collectible silver - Proof sets, limited editions, and numismatic silver coins

Key things to note about silver at Chards:

• CGT-free silver coins - Silver Britannias and other UK legal tender silver coins are exempt from Capital Gains Tax
• VAT applies to most silver products at 20%, as is standard across all UK dealers
• Numismatic silver is available alongside standard bullion, allowing collectors to find pieces that may appreciate beyond their metal content

Rare and collectible coins

This is where Chards truly differentiates itself from most online bullion dealers. Their rare and collectible coin section goes well beyond the proof sets and limited editions that other dealers offer.

Chards’ numismatic catalogue includes:

• Historic British gold coins - Guineas, early Sovereigns, Gothic Crowns, and other pieces with significant historical and numismatic value
• World gold coins - Rare issues from mints around the world, including historic European gold
• Graded coins - Professionally graded pieces with condition assessments that affect their collector premium
• Year-specific Sovereigns - Individual years and mint marks, with pricing that reflects rarity rather than just gold weight
• Commemorative and proof issues - From The Royal Mint and international mints

The educational content supporting this section is exceptional. Chards provides detailed information about what makes a coin rare, how grading works, and why certain dates or mint marks are more valuable. This is backed by over 60 years of direct experience in the numismatic trade.

For buyers interested in coins as both investments and collectible objects, Chards offers a level of expertise and selection that purely volume-focused dealers like BullionByPost cannot match.

Delivery and packaging

Chards offers reliable delivery with full insurance:

• Orders are dispatched via Royal Mail Special Delivery or secure courier depending on value
• Most UK orders arrive within 1–2 working days of dispatch
• Fully insured from warehouse to your door
• Discreet packaging with no external branding indicating contents
• A signature is required on receipt
• Coins are supplied in capsules or tubes; bars arrive in sealed assay cards where applicable
• International shipping is available - a differentiator from some UK-only dealers

Once you sign for the delivery, the bullion becomes your responsibility. Arrange your storage in advance.

What other customers say

Chards has a strong and consistent review profile built over decades of trading:

• Trustpilot: 4.8/5 from approximately 7,000 reviews - rated “Excellent”

Common themes in positive reviews include expert knowledge (particularly for numismatic queries), fair pricing, careful packaging, and reliable delivery. Customers frequently comment on the helpfulness of Chards’ staff when advising on rare or collectible coins - a level of expertise that is hard to find at larger, more automated dealers.

The most common concerns relate to the website being information-dense and sometimes difficult to navigate, and occasional longer dispatch times during busy periods. These are relatively minor given the overall consistency of positive feedback.

Being named UK’s best bullion dealer four times (2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018) at the Bullion Dealer of the Year Awards further validates their standing in the industry.

Is Chards safe and legit?

Yes. Chards is one of the most established and verifiable bullion and coin dealers in the UK:

• Companies House: Registered as Chard (1964) Limited, Company No. 01378220, incorporated 12 July 1978, status Active
• LBMA: Full member of the London Bullion Market Association (joined 30 January 2024)
• BNTA: Former member of the British Numismatic Trade Association (1973–2008)
• Address: 32–36 Harrowside, Blackpool, FY4 1RJ
• Track record: Over 60 years of continuous trading since 1964
• Awards: Named UK’s best bullion dealer four times (2015–2018)

All deliveries are fully insured. The combination of LBMA membership, a Companies House record stretching back to 1978, and over six decades of family-run trading makes Chards one of the most demonstrably trustworthy dealers in the UK market.

Who is Chards best for?

Chards is the best choice if you:

• Want numismatic expertise alongside standard bullion - rare coins, historic pieces, graded coins
• Value a family-run dealer with 60+ years of heritage and deep knowledge
• Are a coin collector as well as an investor
• Want access to year-specific Sovereigns and coins priced by rarity, not just weight
• Appreciate educational content and want to learn about what you are buying
• Need international shipping

It may not be the best fit if you:

• Want the widest standard bullion range with free delivery - try BullionByPost instead
• Are looking for the lowest premiums on pre-owned bullion - try Atkinsons instead
• Want a London showroom you can visit in person - try Hatton Garden Metals instead
• Prefer a vaulted/digital platform with low ongoing fees - try BullionVault instead

How Chards compares

Feature	Chards	BullionByPost	Atkinsons
Founded	1964	2008	2013
Coin premium (1oz Britannia)	3–5%	3–5%	3–5% (new), 2–4% (pre-owned)
Bar premium (100g)	2–3%	2–3%	2–3%
Free delivery	Not advertised	All orders	Over £500
Rare / numismatic coins	Extensive	Limited	Limited
Pre-owned range	Some	No	Yes (extensive)
Storage	No	Optional (£10/mo)	Optional (Vaultor)
Trustpilot	4.8/5 (7,000)	4.8/5 (17,900)	4.9/5 (22,800)
International shipping	Yes	Limited	Limited
CGT-free options	Yes	Yes	Yes
Best for	Numismatics, rare coins	Widest range, delivery	Pre-owned, value

For a full ranking of UK gold dealers, see our Best UK Gold Dealers 2026 comparison.

Final verdict

Chards occupies a unique position in the UK bullion market. While BullionByPost wins on range and delivery convenience, and Atkinsons wins on pre-owned value, Chards wins on heritage, knowledge, and numismatic depth. No other major UK online dealer can match their 60+ years of family-run expertise in both investment bullion and rare coins.

For the standard bullion buyer who wants a 1oz Britannia at the best price with free next-day delivery, BullionByPost or Atkinsons may edge ahead. But for buyers who care about the coin as much as the metal - who want a specific-year Sovereign, a graded proof piece, or expert guidance on building a numismatic collection - Chards is the outstanding choice. Their LBMA membership, four-time dealer of the year awards, and decades of customer trust make them one of the safest and most respected names in UK bullion.