Long time ago, when only the government would buy gold from mining etc, The US mint would buy it, but this is a very long time ago, there may have been stores set up in the 30s when the gold was taken away from the public. But I thought they just used banks?
Today it goes though variouse refiners.
Getting spot for gold is not a problem if you have enough. As well buying gold for spot is easy if your buying enough.
I prefer to get gold for under spot and sell it for over spot. But who dosnt.