First published by Money Metals here: https://www.moneymetals.com/news/2019/01/21/find-the-cheapest-precious-metals-products-001699

Privately made bars and rounds, as opposed to government issue coins, are hard to beat when it comes to low premiums. About the only way to lower costs even further is to make some compromises when it comes to condition. It is possible to buy scratched, dented, and/or tarnished items at a discount. Investors who don’t care much about aesthetics, or don’t mind cleaning tarnished items, can get more precious metal for their dollars.