The National Inflation Association in its update of 'Gold and Silver Seller Reviews' launched in January has decided to award the 'NIA 2010 Best Bullion Award' to Gainesville Coins.

Gainesville Coins is the highest rated company in our review with prices for precious metals that are the lowest out of all the companies in our review. Gainesville Coins had already earned a perfect 5 stars in all categories in our original review, but they have somehow managed to improve their site by adding precious metal spot prices as well as new Deals of the Week, Featured, New Arrivals, and Top Sellers features, according to NIA.

NIA has added three new companies to its review: Austin Rare Coins, Monarch Precious Metals, and Northwest Territorial Mint. NIA has also updated the reviews of previously reviewed companies. NIA's next update to its review will be released later this summer.

First Majestic has become the most improved company in NIA review. NIA upgraded First Majestic's shipping/processing rating by 3 stars to 4 stars because the company has improved their shipping times with orders now typically shipping within 2 to 3 business days following the receipt of payment. NIA upgraded First Majestic's customer experience rating by 2 stars to 4 stars because they have greatly improved their ordering system with a new high tech shopping cart that automatically calculates shipping costs and accepts credit cards for payment. Similarly, it upgraded First Majestic's overall rating by 1 1/2 stars to 4 stars.

Blanchard's was downgraded for it spricing rating by 1/2 star to 2 1/2 stars because their price difference over Gainesville Coins rose by $16.04 for a gold Canadian Maple Leaf and $13.82 for a gold South African Kruggerand. Blanchard was downgraded on customer experience rating by 1/2 star to 1 1/2 stars because NIA received complaints from its members about the company.

An upgrade was given to Golden Eagle Coins' selection rating by 1 star to 4 stars because the company now has a bigger selection of coins for sale and a larger percentage of their products are now in stock.An upgraded was given to Gold Eagle Coins' overall rating by 1/2 star to 4 stars.

NIA upgraded Goldline's pricing rating by 1 star to 2 stars because their price of a gold American Eagle is now $72.10 higher than Gainesville Coins, down from being $150 more than Gainesville Coins at the time of the original review.

NIA downgraded Kitco's pricing rating by 1 star to 2 1/2 stars because their price difference over Gainesville Coins rose by $8.29 for a gold American Eagle, $11.27 for a gold Canadian Maple Leaf and $8.08 for a gold South African Kruggerand. NIA downgraded Kitco's overall rating by 1/2 star to 3 1/2 stars.

A downgrade was given to Lear Capital's pricing rating by 1/2 star to 4 stars because they no longer have the lowest prices for a gold Canadian Maple Leaf or a gold South African Kruggerand. Lear Capital's prices are now $15.81 higher than Gainesville Coins for both a gold Canadian Maple Leaf and a gold South African Kruggerand.

NIA downgraded Rosland Capital's pricing rating by 1/2 star to 3 1/2 stars because their price difference over Gainesville Coins rose by $15.49 for a gold Canadian Maple Leaf and $15.32 for a gold South African Kruggerand. An upgrade was given to Rosland Capital's selection rating by 1 star to 2 stars because they now offer a gold American Eagle coin. Rosland Capital' got an upgrade for shipping/processing rating by 1 1/2 stars to 2 1/2 stars and their customer experience rating by 1 star to 2 stars because they now clearly state their order policy and how payment may be made only by cheque. Rosland Capital's overall rating rose by 1 1/2 stars to 2 1/2 stars.

NIA said that its 'Gold and Silver Seller Reviews' feature have become widely recognized in the industry as the premiere spot for precious metals investors to become educated about how online gold and silver coin and bullion dealers are rated in the categories of pricing, selection, shipping/processing, customer experience, and overall.

Gold Silver Inflation