Scotland
Where to Sell Gold in Scotland: Edinburgh, Glasgow & the Castle Hallmark
Selling gold in Scotland works much like the rest of the UK, with a few local details worth knowing — and one hallmark that's uniquely Scottish. Here's the practical guide the big sites skip.
The Edinburgh castle mark
If your piece was assayed in Scotland it may carry the Edinburgh Assay Office town mark: a three-towered castle. It's one of the UK's four assay offices (alongside London's leopard's head, Birmingham's anchor and Sheffield's rose) and confirms your item was independently tested for purity — which makes it quick and easy for any buyer to value. Learn to read the full mark on our hallmark decoder.
Dealer licensing is different in Scotland
A factual point worth noting: the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 that governs metal dealers in England & Wales does not apply in Scotland. North of the border, metal-dealer licensing sits under the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015, administered by local councils. It doesn't change what your gold is worth, but a licensed, above-board buyer is always the safer choice. (Context only, not legal advice.)
Your options in Edinburgh, Glasgow & beyond
- High-street "cash for gold" & pawnbrokers (common on Princes Street, Argyle Street): fast, convenient, but usually the lowest payout (often 50–65% of melt).
- Jewellers & antique dealers: better for hallmarked or collectable pieces than pure scrap.
- Online postal refiners: frequently pay the most (85%+), with insured freepost. Distance from a big city stops mattering — a Highlands or islands seller gets the same rate as one in the city centre.
Get the number first — wherever you sell
The one habit that protects you anywhere in Scotland: know your melt value and realistic payout before you hand anything over. Enter your pieces on the gold calculator, note both figures, then judge every offer against them. A quote from a licensed postal refiner is easy to compare with a walk-in shop when you have the real number in hand.
See also: what dealers actually pay and our full UK selling guide.
All figures are estimates of melt value, never offers. Not financial or tax advice.