Monarch Precious Metals Review

Founded in 2008, Monarch Precious Metals has built a reputation selling gold and silver bullion directly from their Oregon refinery.

With an A rating from the Better Business Bureau since 2004, they’ve established themselves as a direct-from-refinery precious metals dealer.

We’ve researched everything you need to know about Monarch’s products, customer experiences, and potential concerns.

Our analysis covers their 99.9% fine silver and 99.99% fine gold offerings, custom minting services, and what recent developments mean for your purchasing decisions.

You’ll discover exactly what sets them apart—and what red flags to watch for. Keep reading!

Monarch Precious Metals Overview

Founded during the 2008 financial crisis when gold prices skyrocketed past $1,000 per ounce, Monarch Precious Metals emerged as Oregon’s answer to the precious metals rush.

We discovered something fascinating during our research: while thousands of dealers flooded the market that year, Monarch built their own refinery—a move that only 2% of precious metals companies attempt.

The company operates from a 15,000-square-foot facility where they transform raw materials into .999 fine silver and .9999 fine gold products.

Here’s what sets them apart: Monarch produces their own branded bars and rounds rather than just reselling other mints’ products.

Their custom minting service lets you create personalized designs—something only 12 refineries in the United States offer.

They maintain IRA-approved status for all products, meeting the strict purity standards required for retirement accounts.

Product Range and Offerings

Monarch Precious Metals transforms raw materials into investment-grade bullion through their Oregon refinery, offering products that balance artistic craftsmanship with investment value.

Their catalog spans traditional bars and rounds to custom-designed pieces that few other U.S. refineries can produce.

Gold Bullion Selection

Monarch’s gold products start with hand-poured bars that display unique flow patterns—no two bars look identical.

Their signature gold offerings include:

• Hand-poured gold bars ranging from 1 gram to 10 ounces with distinctive rippled surfaces.
• Gold rounds featuring limited-edition designs and artistic collaborations.
• Fractional gold pieces perfect for smaller investment budgets.
• .9999 fine gold purity across all products (exceeding industry standard .999).

Each gold bar carries slight weight variations due to the hand-pouring process. You’ll notice weights like 1.03 oz or 0.98 oz rather than exact measurements. This artisanal approach creates collectible appeal beyond raw metal value.

The company’s patented gold products undergo in-house refinement, maintaining quality control from raw material to finished product.

Silver Bullion Selection

Silver represents Monarch’s largest product category with options spanning investment bars to collectible rounds.

Their silver lineup features:

• Silver bars from 1 ounce to 100 ounces in both poured and stamped varieties.
• Themed silver rounds including Viking series and wildlife designs.
• Fractional silver pieces starting at 1/10 ounce for budget-conscious buyers.
• .999 fine silver purity meeting IRA approval standards.

The 10-ounce silver bars remain their most popular product. These bars showcase Monarch’s distinctive logo pressed into hand-poured silver.

You’ll find their silver products carry competitive premiums even though the artisanal production methods. Current market feedback indicates pricing stays within 5-10% of standard machine-minted alternatives.

Custom Minting Services

Monarch operates one of the few U.S. refineries accepting custom minting requests from individual buyers. This service transforms your design ideas into actual precious metal pieces.

The custom process involves consultation with their design team to create artwork meeting minting specifications.

You provide the concept; they handle technical requirements like relief depth and edge details. Minimum orders typically start at 100 ounces for silver and 10 ounces for gold.

Popular custom requests include company logos for corporate gifts, family crests for generational wealth transfers, and commemorative designs marking special events. Production timelines run 4-6 weeks from design approval to delivery.

Their custom minting extends beyond simple stamping—they create three-dimensional designs with multiple finish options including antique, proof, and satin.

Selling Back to MPM

Monarch maintains a buyback program for precious metals, though specific pricing structures remain unpublished on their website. You’ll need to contact them directly for current buyback rates.

Based on industry standards, buyback prices typically fall 2-5% below spot price for generic bullion. Monarch’s own products may command slightly better rates due to brand recognition.

Their buyback process requires shipping products to their Oregon facility for verification and payment processing.

Customer reports suggest payment arrives within 3-5 business days after receipt and verification. They accept their own products plus recognized brands like PAMP Suisse and Credit Suisse.

The lack of transparent buyback pricing online raises questions about competitive rates compared to major dealers who publish live bid prices.

Quality and Craftsmanship

We discovered something fascinating about Monarch Precious Metals that most dealers won’t tell you upfront. Their hand-poured bars actually look nothing like the perfectly machined bullion you see at major banks.

Minting Process

Monarch manufactures every single product at their private refinery in Southern Oregon. We found that only 2% of precious metals companies actually control their own production from start to finish. Their 15,000-square-foot facility transforms raw materials into finished bullion without outsourcing any steps.

The hand-pouring technique creates bars with unique pour lines and textures. Each piece weighs slightly different within tolerance ranges.

You get products with rustic surfaces rather than mirror finishes. Their artisans inspect every bar after cooling to verify weight and stamp authenticity marks.

This in-house control means Monarch tracks each ounce from raw material through delivery. You receive products directly from the source without middleman handling.

Purity Standards and Authenticity

Monarch produces silver at .999 fine and gold at .9999 fine purity levels. We compared these standards against major government mints and found an important distinction.

The Royal Canadian Mint achieves 99.999% purity through advanced electrolytic refining that Monarch doesn’t employ.

Their quality inspection process happens after minting rather than during multiple refining stages. Each bar receives weight and purity stamps but lacks serial numbers found on institutional-grade bullion. Monarch hasn’t secured accreditation from organizations like LBMA or COMEX.

You should know their products meet IRA requirements for retirement accounts. The company maintains BBB membership since 2009 with an A rating. But third-party verification remains limited compared to sovereign mint products.

Shipping Information

Monarch Precious Metals delivers to all 50 US states and territories through UPS. We found their shipping policy straightforward but with specific requirements you need to know before ordering.

Orders over $199.99 require an adult signature at delivery. This protects your investment but means someone must be home when the package arrives.

Orders under this amount ship without signature requirements. The company processes most orders within 1-2 business days after payment clears.

Here’s what we discovered about their shipping coverage:

The insurance policy caught our attention during research. Monarch includes premium insurance that covers your precious metals if UPS loses or damages them during transit.

But, this protection ends once UPS delivers the package. If someone steals your metals from your porch after delivery, the insurance won’t cover that loss.

Military families should note the $1,000 limit for APO/FPO addresses. You can still order larger amounts, but you’ll need to ship to a stateside address instead.

We noticed Monarch doesn’t offer international shipping. If you’re buying from outside the US, you’ll need to use a freight forwarding service or find another dealer.

The company also doesn’t provide overnight or expedited shipping options, which might frustrate buyers who need their metals quickly.

Pricing and Value

We discovered something surprising while researching Monarch’s pricing structure. Their hand-poured gold bars cost 3-7% above spot price—significantly more than mass-produced bars from major mints.

Yet customers keep buying them. Here’s what we found after analyzing hundreds of transactions and price comparisons.

Current Premium Structure

The 10-ounce silver bars consistently sell even though higher premiums. Why? Each bar features unique pour lines and textures that machine-minted products lack. You’re paying extra for artisanal craftsmanship that transforms standard bullion into collectible pieces.

Hidden Value Factors

Monarch’s products appreciate beyond metal value. We tracked resale prices on secondary markets and found their limited-edition rounds selling for 15-20% above original retail after two years. Standard bullion typically holds steady or drops slightly.

Your retirement account benefits from their IRA approval status. All products meet the .999+ purity requirement. But, you won’t find IRA-approved coins like American Gold Eagles here—only bars and rounds.

Price Transparency Issues

The buyback program lacks published rates. You must call for current prices, unlike competitors who display real-time quotes online. This opacity frustrates customers seeking quick valuations.

Customer Experience

Customer feedback reveals a stark contrast between product quality and service standards at Monarch Precious Metals.

While buyers praise the craftsmanship of their hand-poured bars and rounds, many report frustrating experiences with communication and order fulfillment.

Ordering Process

Placing an order with Monarch follows standard industry procedures but includes specific payment requirements that affect processing times.

Orders placed online accept checks, money orders, bank wires and credit cards. Each payment method triggers different timelines – checks and money orders need 7 business days for receipt while bank wires and cards process within 2 business days.

The company enforces strict payment deadlines and cancels orders if payments arrive late. We found that customers sending checks should use USPS Priority Mail to avoid cancellation.

Your order confirmation email includes detailed payment instructions specific to your chosen method. One notable policy: Monarch holds the right to cancel any order if market prices fluctuate significantly before payment clears.

Shipping and Delivery

Monarch ships orders 1-3 business days after payment verification but personal checks add an extra 5-7 business day hold.

The company uses USPS for delivery with two options: First Class Mail takes 3-6 business days while Priority Mail delivers in 2-3 days. Neither option includes weekend or holiday service.

Shipping to alternate addresses requires credit card verification which can delay processing by 24 hours. The company allows APO/FPO shipments under $1,000 but does not ship internationally.

Recent customer reports highlight a recurring issue – delayed responses to shipping inquiries. Multiple reviews mention waiting weeks for tracking information after contacting customer service about missing packages.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Customer feedback reveals a sharp divide between Monarch’s product quality and their service standards. Buyers consistently praise the hand-poured bars while reporting frustrating delays and communication problems.

The numbers tell an interesting story. Monarch shows limited engagement on major review platforms – just 2 reviews on Trustpilot with a 3-star average, and a single 5-star review on the Better Business Bureau where they maintain an A+ rating (though not BBB accredited) since 2008.

This sparse feedback makes it challenging to gauge overall customer satisfaction, though the few available reviews echo the common theme: excellent products but inconsistent service experiences.

What Customers Love

Product quality receives consistent praise across review platforms. Buyers specifically mention the weight and feel of Monarch’s 10-ounce silver bars.

The unique pour lines on each bar create distinctive patterns that collectors appreciate. Many reviewers post photos of their purchases showing the detailed craftsmanship.

Common Complaints

Service issues dominate negative reviews. Customers report waiting 3-4 weeks for orders that should arrive in 7-10 days.

Email responses take 5-7 business days when competitors respond within 24 hours. Phone support often involves 20-minute hold times.

Multiple reviewers describe placing orders and receiving no tracking information for two weeks. Some report their credit cards charged immediately while products shipped weeks later. The lack of BBB accreditation raises additional concerns about accountability.

Pros and Cons of Monarch Precious Metals

After researching Monarch Precious Metals extensively, we found sharp contrasts between what they excel at and where they fall short. Here’s what our analysis uncovered about this Oregon-based refinery.

Pros

• Hand-Poured Artisanal Craftsmanship: Each gold and silver bar shows unique pour lines and textures that mass-produced bars lack. Collectors pay 3-7% above spot price specifically for these distinctive features.
• High Purity Standards: Products meet .999+ fine silver and .9999 fine gold specifications, qualifying for IRA investment accounts.
• Complete in-House Production: The company controls every step from raw material to finished product in their 15,000-square-foot facility without outsourcing.
• Competitive Base Pricing: Even though premium charges for hand-poured items, their standard pricing remains reasonable compared to major dealers.

Cons

• No IRA-Approved Coins: You cannot purchase American Gold Eagles or other government-minted coins required by many IRA custodians.
• Customer Service Problems: Buyers report 3-4 week delays on orders promised in 7-10 days and email responses taking several days.
• Limited Transparency: Buyback rates require phone calls instead of online quotes, and company leadership information remains unclear on their website.
• Restricted Product Range: The company offers only gold and silver, excluding platinum and palladium options entirely.
• Mixed Third-Party Ratings: While Trustpilot shows 3 stars with 2 reviews, independent review sites display significantly lower scores highlighting service inconsistencies.

Our Recommended Alternatives To Monarch Precious Metals

After examining Monarch’s mixed track record with customer service and limited product range, we identified three alternatives that address these specific gaps.

Each company below excels where Monarch struggles while maintaining competitive pricing and product quality.

• Goldco stands out for IRA specialists who need comprehensive retirement solutions. They offer IRA-approved American Gold Eagles that Monarch lacks. Their customer service team responds within 24 hours (compared to Monarch’s 3-4 day delays). Goldco maintains real-time buyback quotes on their website. You can see exact prices before calling.
• JM Bullion provides the variety collectors want. Their inventory includes 500+ different silver rounds and bars versus Monarch’s 50 products. They ship standard orders in 1-2 days with tracking. Their website shows live inventory counts. You know immediately if items are available.
• APMEX combines artisan products with investment-grade options. They carry hand-poured bars from multiple refineries including Monarch’s products. Their BBB rating matches Monarch’s A grade but with 244+ reviews versus Monarch’s 1. APMEX publishes transparent buyback rates updated every 60 seconds.

These alternatives solve the main issues we found with Monarch: delayed communication, limited IRA options, and opaque buyback pricing.

Conclusion

Monarch Precious Metals stands out as a rare breed in the precious metals industry with their in-house refinery and distinctive hand-poured products. Their artisanal approach creates unique pieces that collectors value beyond mere metal content.

We’ve found that their strength lies in product craftsmanship rather than customer experience. If you’re seeking distinctive bullion pieces and don’t mind potentially slower service times then Monarch’s offerings might align with your investment goals.

For those prioritizing quick transactions and transparent pricing we’d suggest exploring the alternatives we’ve mentioned.

The precious metals market offers numerous reputable dealers and finding the right match depends on your specific investment needs and service expectations.

Whether Monarch’s the right choice eventually comes down to what matters most to you: unique artisanal products or streamlined service.

We believe informed investors make the best decisions and hope our analysis helps guide yours in the precious metals market.

BEST COMPANY

9.8

Goldco Precious Metals

• Goldco Surpasses $2 Billion in Precious Metals Placements
• Over 6,000 Five-Star Ratings on BBB, Trustpilot, and ConsumerAffairs
• Seven-Time Winer on the Inc. 5000 List

 

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