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Gold buyers and coin shops in Tucson: what the data shows
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By GoldGuy. First published Oct 24, 2026; text updated Oct 25, 2026. Census data retrieved Oct 24, 2026; state tax rules checked Oct 24, 2026; melt values refresh with every price update.
Pima County is strong on jewelry stores for Arizona. It had 64 of them in 2023, or 5.9 per 100,000 residents against 4.7 for the state, plus 18 precious-metal wholesalers (Census CBP 2023). Tucson's median household income, $60,483, is well below Arizona's $81,486. 22.4% of households have retirement income. As of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET, 18k gold melts at $93.47 per gram.
Key facts
- Jewelry stores, Pima County: 64 (Census CBP 2023)
- Precious-metal wholesalers, Pima County: 18 (CBP 2023)
- Tucson median household income: $60,483 (ACS 2024)
- Arizona bullion sales tax: State TPT excludes bullion and monetized bullion; city tax can apply to coins sold for numismatic value (checked Oct 24, 2026)
- 14k gold melt: $72.70/g (Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET)
Pima County jewelry stores, 2019 to 2023
| Year | Jewelry stores, Pima County | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 54 | 344 |
| 2022 | 61 | 299 |
| 2023 | 64 | 316 |
| Area | Jewelry stores (2023) | Per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| Pima County | 64 | 5.9 |
| Arizona | 356 | 4.7 |
| United States | 19,897 | 5.9 |
Source: Census CBP 2019, 2022 and 2023, NAICS 448310 (jewelry stores); per-100,000 rates use ACS 2024 population. Notes.
Precious-metal wholesalers in Pima County
| Area | Precious-metal wholesalers (2023) | Per 100,000 residents | Change since 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pima County | 18 | 1.7 | +2 |
| Arizona | 88 | 1.2 | +4 |
| United States | 6,949 | 2.0 | - |
Source: Census CBP 2019 and 2023, NAICS 423940 (jewelry, watch, precious stone and precious metal merchant wholesalers), 83 employees locally in 2023. These are business-to-business firms, not a count of shops that buy from the public. Notes.
What it means for selling gold in Tucson
Jewelry stores in Pima County rose from 54 in 2019 to 64 in 2023 (+19%). Wholesalers edged up from 16 to 18. Pima has 18% of Arizona's jewelry stores and 14% of its people. On the official counts, Tucson is better served than the state average.
16.8% of Tucson residents are 65 or older, below Arizona's 19.7%. The state's retiree image comes from other places. These numbers are context only. They do not predict what any buyer will offer.
Many coin shops also buy scrap jewelry, and many jewelers buy coins. But Census files coin dealers with collectibles and used goods, so there is no official coin-shop count for Tucson. Use the jewelry and wholesaler counts as a rough guide to how many buyers you can compare.
Arizona tax on bullion and coins
State TPT excludes bullion and monetized bullion; city tax can apply to coins sold for numismatic value. Arizona's state transaction privilege tax does not apply to precious metal bullion or bullion coins (A.R.S. §42-5061(A)(21)). Coins sold to be made into jewelry or art are taxed. Cities follow the Model City Tax Code, which also leaves out bullion and bullion coins, with one exception: coins sold mainly for numismatic value. The code defines those as coins priced at least twice their metal value (and at least twice face value).
Sources: Arizona Dept. of Revenue, Model City Tax Code §460; Arizona DOR, Model City Tax Code §460.50; A.R.S. §42-5061. Checked Oct 24, 2026. These rules cover buying; they are general information, not tax advice. Selling gold can raise a federal capital-gains question instead: see how to sell silver and gold.
The Arizona 'twice melt' coin rule
Arizona's Model City Tax Code treats a coin as sold for numismatic value when its price is at least twice its metal value and twice its face value. City tax can apply to those coins, even though bullion and plain bullion coins are left out. With gold at $3,876.40/troy oz as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET, a 1 oz gold coin would need to sell for about $7,753 or more to cross that line on metal value. Source: Arizona Department of Revenue, Model City Tax Code §460.50.
Tucson residents (ACS 2024)
| Measure (ACS 2024) | Tucson | Arizona | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 554,011 | 7,582,384 | 340,110,990 |
| Median household income | $60,483 | $81,486 | $81,604 |
| Residents age 65+ | 16.8% | 19.7% | 18.0% |
| Households with retirement income | 22.4% | 26.7% | 24.4% |
| Median home value | $299,700 | n/a | n/a |
Source: Census ACS 2024 1-year estimates (tables B01003, B19013, B19059, B25077, S0101), city limits of Tucson. Notes.
Today's melt values for Tucson sellers
Gold is worth the same in Tucson as anywhere else: weight times purity times the spot price. As of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET, gold spot is $3,876.40/troy oz. Online dealers' published buy prices for bullion: 1 oz American Gold Eagle 98.9% of melt (Hero Bullion); 1 oz Gold Krugerrand 97.7% of melt (Hero Bullion); 1 oz gold bar (.9999) 97.9% of melt (Hero Bullion). Checked Oct 31, 2026 2:32 AM ET.
| Karat | Melt per gram | Melt per pennyweight |
|---|---|---|
| 24k | $124.50 | $193.63 |
| 22k | $114.24 | $177.67 |
| 21k | $109.05 | $169.59 |
| 18k | $93.47 | $145.36 |
| 14k | $72.70 | $113.06 |
| 10k | $51.93 | $80.76 |
Plug in your own weight with the pawn shop gold price calculator, which also shows what share of melt an offer is.
Melt = grams × purity × spot ÷ 31.1035 (spot: gold-api.com). Local offers for jewelry and scrap are below melt; the gap depends on the buyer.
Frequently asked questions
How many coin shops are in Tucson, Arizona?
No official count exists. Census counted 64 jewelry stores and 18 precious-metal wholesalers in Pima County in 2023. Coin dealers are filed with other collectibles and used-goods stores.
Who buys gold in Tucson?
Coin shops, jewelers that buy gold, pawn shops and online dealer buyback programs. We do not list or rank local businesses. Get written offers per gram and compare them with melt: 18k is $93.47 per gram as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET.
Where can I sell gold in Tucson?
Start with several written quotes. Pima County had 64 jewelry stores in 2023, up from 54 in 2019 (Census CBP), so there are plenty to ask. For coins and bars, also check the online buy prices on our sell-gold page.
Tucson selling checklist
- Weigh and sort by karat. 6 g of 18k melts at $560.83 as of Oct 31, 2026 2:24 AM ET.
- Ask for written quotes per gram and check them with the calculator.
- For collectible coins, ask about numismatic value separately. Arizona's city tax treats coins priced at twice melt or more differently.
More local gold-selling data
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All city pages · Pawn shop gold price calculator · Gold jewelry value by karat · 14k gold price per gram · How to sell gold step by step
Bullion Price Check publishes price data and does not buy, sell or lend on gold. No business on this page is listed, rated or endorsed. General information, not financial or tax advice.
Notes: establishment counts are from the U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 (the latest year published; NAICS 2017 codes 448310 jewelry stores and 423940 jewelry, watch, precious stone and precious metal merchant wholesalers), county level, retrieved Oct 24, 2026. Population, income, age and retirement-income figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, retrieved Oct 24, 2026. Per-100,000 rates divide 2023 business counts by 2024 population, so they mix years and are approximate. Census does not count pawnshops, coin shops or gold buyers as such: a jewelry-store count includes stores that never buy gold, and pawnshops are filed under a broader lending code that we do not use. ACS figures are survey estimates with margins of error.