Learn How to Buy Gold Coins As an Investment
Knowing how to buy gold coins can provide you with
diversification in your investment portfolio and the ability to build a
collection of gold coins that you can enjoy. There are many different
ways to own gold and it can get quite confusing. This article will help
you understand the variety of options that are available and different
ways of how you can buy gold coins. I am not an investment advisor, but
this article will answer your questions on how to buy gold coins.
Gold Bullion Bars and Ingots
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When
most people think of gold, they think of large gold bars stored in
vaults deep below the surface of the earth. In fact, gold bars come in
many different shapes and sizes in order to meet the needs of different
investors. Gold bullion
bars are sold by the troy ounce and are sold in common sizes of one
troy ounce, 10 troy ounces, 100 troy ounces or larger sized gold bars.
Most gold dealers will sell these bars for a percentage over the spot
price of gold. The smaller the bar the larger the percentage (or
premium) you will pay. This form of gold is usually purchased by people
or corporations looking to make large investments in gold.
is at risk.
Bullion Gold Coins
Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com
Countries and private entities also produce gold bullion
in a round shape that resembles a coin. Some of them look like coins,
but they are not coins since they do not carry a monetary value. Others
are considered coins, but derive their value from their precious metal
content and are not intended for common circulation with in a country's
economy. Gold bullion coins come in sizes starting as small as 1/25 troy
ounce, 1/10 troy ounce, one quarter troy ounce, half a troy ounce, one
troy ounce and as large as five troy ounce sizes. Some gigantic novelty gold coins have been made that weigh up to one troy ton of gold.
For the small investor that is not looking to purchase gold that has numismatic value, gold bullion coins issued by a predominant country or respected private entity would be the ideal choice. These include: U.S. Gold Eagles, U.S. Gold Buffaloes, South African Krugerrands, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs and Austrian Philharmonic gold bullion coins. There are variety of sizes that can be purchased for a reasonable premium over the spot price of gold.
For the small investor that is not looking to purchase gold that has numismatic value, gold bullion coins issued by a predominant country or respected private entity would be the ideal choice. These include: U.S. Gold Eagles, U.S. Gold Buffaloes, South African Krugerrands, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs and Austrian Philharmonic gold bullion coins. There are variety of sizes that can be purchased for a reasonable premium over the spot price of gold.
Common U.S. Gold Coins (Pre-1933)
Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com
Another
way to invest in gold is to buy United States gold coins that were
minted in 1933 or before. Up until 1933, gold coins circulated freely in
the U.S. economy until President Franklin D. Roosevelt
recalled all gold coins except those with numismatic value.
Fortunately, many people did not turn in their gold coins and they are
available today to collectors for not much more money than their gold
content.
For example, an 1879 $20 Liberty gold coin minted in Philadelphia has 0.9675 Troy ounces of pure gold or AGW. If gold is $1,800 per troy ounce than there is $1,741.50 worth of pure gold and it. As of this writing, an average circulated example is currently selling for approximately $1,865. This is a premium of $123.50 (or approximately 6.6%) over the spot price of gold. You can buy common U.S. gold coins that have a face value of $1, $2.50, $3.00, $5.00, $10.00 and $20.00.
For example, an 1879 $20 Liberty gold coin minted in Philadelphia has 0.9675 Troy ounces of pure gold or AGW. If gold is $1,800 per troy ounce than there is $1,741.50 worth of pure gold and it. As of this writing, an average circulated example is currently selling for approximately $1,865. This is a premium of $123.50 (or approximately 6.6%) over the spot price of gold. You can buy common U.S. gold coins that have a face value of $1, $2.50, $3.00, $5.00, $10.00 and $20.00.
Modern U.S. Commemorative Gold Coins
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In
1982 the U.S. mint resumed its commemorative coin program. In 1984 a
gold coin that commemorated the Games of the XXIII Olympiad in Los
Angeles was minted. This was first U.S. gold coin minted in the United
States since 1933. Unlike the common U.S. gold coins described above,
these are not intended for circulation and carry a high numismatic
premium. In other words, expect to pay a high premium over the spot
price of gold that is contained within the coin. The United States mint
continues to make commemorative gold coins and you can purchase them
directly from The United States Mint.
Foreign Gold Coins
Photo courtesy of Don’s World Coin Gallery, www.worldcoingallery.com
Knowing
how to buy gold coins can also turn up some unexpected values. There
are many gold coins that also circulated in foreign countries over the
years. Depending upon the gold content of the coin, available supply and
collector demand, prices can vary dramatically. Examples of these coins
include: Mexico 2 Pesos, Mexico 50 Pesos, Switzerland 20 Francs,
Britain 5 Pound and Austria 100 Corona. Before you buy these coins
consult a book on foreign coins to determine the gold content and
current market values.
Rare U.S. Gold Coins
Image Courtesy of: Heritage Auction Galleries, Ha.com
If you are unsure of how to buy gold coins, this is one area where you do not
want to begin. Quite a few U.S. gold coins have very low mintages and
high collector demand. This leads to very high numismatic premiums over
and above the intrinsic value of gold contained within the coin. For
example, the same 1879 $20 liberty gold coin (mentioned above) minted in
New Orleans (1879-O) has a market value of over $23,000 in average
circulated condition. And has the same 0.9675 troy ounces of gold as the
one minted in Philadelphia.
Selecting a Coin Dealer
(c) 2011 James Bucki and GDK Coins www.GDKcoins.com
If you have decided to buy gold coins you now need to choose a coin dealer to purchase your coins from. Finding an honest coin dealer
is as simple as looking for five key traits: experience, size,
reputation, ethics and guaranty. Also, ask about any restrictions such
as minimum amounts, accepted forms of payment (cash, bank wire transfer,
cashier's checks, personal check, company check, credit card, etc.) and
when you will take possession of your gold coins.
Quick Links:
Types of Dealers to Stay Away from
There are many untrustworthy individuals that will give you advice on how to buy gold coins and sell them to you at the same time. Stay away from the following types of coin dealers;
- Online dealers selling at big discounts
- Jewelry stores
- Television advertisements
- Pawnshops
- Craigslist ads
- Any dealer that only has an e-mail address and no physical store
- Any online dealer wants cash or bank wire transfers only.
Price of Gold
The price of gold changes by the minute and is influenced by many factors that are well beyond the scope of this article. Gold is priced internationally in U.S. dollars per troy ounce (which equals approximately 31.1035 grams). The current spot price of gold is available on the Internet through many websites.Spot Price of Gold:
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