I am looking to buy some American Eagles or Buffalos to hedge against inflation. The dealer premiums seem very high right now. How do I know how much extra I am paying over the metal value?
Premiums vary by dealer, but the base is always the spot price. You should compare the dealer's ask price against the spot gold price today usa (https://goldpricespot.com/). If the difference is more than 5-7% for standard bullion, keep looking. I always keep a tab open with the charts to check the spread instantly.