Chards Coin and Bullion Dealer

Chards, a Blackpool bullion dealer with more than six decades in the trade

Chard (1964) Ltd, trading as Chards Coin and Bullion Dealer, operates from 32-36 Harrowside in Blackpool, Lancashire. The company presents itself as a family business with over sixty years of experience in precious metals, a figure its own site rounds up to "over 62 years in the trade". Its activity centres on buying and selling gold, silver and other precious metals, aimed at both private investors and collectors.

The firm states that it is a full member of the LBMA, the body that governs the London Bullion Market, and that it commits to secure and ethical transactions through that membership. It also mentions regular auditing and verification of its financials and vaulted assets.

Gold and silver coins and bars

The catalogue is organised around two large blocks, gold and silver, each divided into coins and bars. Within gold coins, the range covers bullion and proof pieces, including Britannias, Sovereigns and Double Sovereigns, Krugerrands, Lunar series, Pandas, Queen's Beast and Tudor Beast issues, Kangaroo Nuggets, Maples, Eagles and Philharmonics, alongside proof coins and coin sets. Gold bars are listed by weight, from 10 grams up to 1 kilogram, with products from The Royal Mint, Metalor, The Perth Mint, PAMP and Heraeus.

The silver section follows a similar structure: Britannias, Kangaroos, Lunar, Panda, Queen's Beast and Tudor Beast coins, Maples, Eagles and Philharmonics, plus pre-owned and second-hand silver coins and proof sets. Silver bars range from 1 ounce to 15 kilograms, again including Royal Mint, Metalor, PAMP and Argor Heraeus products. A separate accessories line covers coin capsules, pouches, tubes, monster boxes, magnification tools, gift boxes, books and magazines, and vaulted storage.

Buying, selling and metal services

Beyond retail bullion, the site lists a "Sell To Us" channel for customers wishing to sell precious metals, together with services such as Digital Gold, Digital Silver, vaulted storage and an investment calculator. It also publishes guides and information, among them a beginners' guide to gold, a complete gold guide and material on Gold SIPP/SSAS pensions. Live metal prices for gold, silver, platinum and palladium are displayed on the site.

Showrooms and insured delivery

Chards describes two UK showrooms, one in London's Hatton Garden and another in Blackpool's South Shore, where it offers face-to-face consultations by appointment. Orders and deliveries are covered, according to the company, by specialist insurance arranged through Lloyd's of London, an arrangement it extends to its vaulting service.

Customer feedback and regulatory position

The site displayed a rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 11,310 reviews at the time of writing this profile, with individual comments praising pricing, delivery speed and ease of ordering. The company also states clearly that precious metal investments are not regulated in the UK, that Chard (1964) Ltd is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide investment or tax advice, and that bullion investments are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service.