Since the beginning of recorded history, gold has been a universal symbol of wealth. Because of its beauty and scarcity, ancient civilizations coveted the precious metal as a manifestation of status and power. Ornaments, jewelry, and early forms of money were all crafted from gold.
Over the intervening millennia, the fascination with gold has hardly diminished. While most monetary systems are no longer tied to a gold standard, the metal is still considered insurance against fiat currencies that rely on faithto sustain their relative values. Gold has maintained its intrinsic value because, unlike other currencies, there isa limited supply of it that can’t be artificially increased.
The allure of gold has made it a desirable alternative for those seeking diversificationand spreading of their risk. There are many ways to buy gold, both for decoration and as an investment. To many, it’s also a hedge against economic upheaval, war, inflation, and global uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Investing in gold can be a nice addition to a portfolio; it can be owned by accumulating gold coins, bullion, and jewelry, among other ways.
- You can also get indirect access to gold investments via gold mining stocks or mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the price of gold.
- Gold has maintained intrinsic value because, unlike other currencies, there isa limited supply of it and it cannot be artificially increased.
Gold As an Investment
Before buying gold, it’s important to understand some of the factors that make gold unique:
- Newly minted coins are typically 90% to 99% gold.
- Jewelry is typically 14-karat (58.3%) in the United States or 18-karat(75%) internationally, but other karat values can be found, all the way up to pure 24-karat(99.99%).
- Gold provides no income stream unless you own stocks or mutual funds that pay dividends.
- Owning gold stocks does not entitle you to possession of the metal.
- You may incur a cost to store physical gold.
- While the current supply is limited, as the price rises, it makes more mining economically feasible, which could increase the gold supply.
- Demand isn’t a function of the trueneed for the metal, because much of it isn’t used for any commercial purposeother than making jewelry.
- Gold holdings are heavily concentrated among a limited number of governments and central banks, exposing gold to extreme price fluctuationsas these institutions buy and sell.
Gold Coins
Uncirculated gold coins are being minted by several countries. While they are all legal tender, they have a meltdown value thatfar exceedstheirface value. Many numismatic (collectible) coins have market values that are even higher. Collectors are attracted by the potential for rising values, based on the rarity of and demand for the coins they buy.
Newly minted coins are easy to buy, and their purity is guaranteed by the government mints that produce them. Some popular choices are the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, South African Krugerrand, Vienna Philharmonic, Mexican Gold 50 Pesos, British Sovereign, Australian Kangaroo, and U.S. Mint 24K Gold Buffalo. Some of these coins are available in multiple sizes to accommodate both large and small investors. For example, the American Eagle is minted in weights ranging from 1/10 ounce up to 1 ounce.
Liberty coins minted prior to 1933 were the only coins produced at all seven of the U.S. Mints that were in operationat that time. The minting of these coins ceased that year;in response to gold hoarding during the Great Depression,then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order calling in gold held by Americans, exempting only coins of recognized numismatic value.
Many American investors prefer old coins because they fear another government confiscation of gold and assume that collectible coins may again be exempt. The $5 Half Eagle and $10 Eagle are popular U.S. coins that are readily available from coin dealers. The $20 Double Eagle is probably the most recognizable and desirable of the early gold coins. One of the most striking is the Saint-Gaudens, commissioned by then-President Theodore Roosevelt, and designed by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Old coins minted by other countries, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, China, Spain, and Mexico, are also attractive collectibles.
Gold Bullion or Bars
While many people think of bullion as the large bars held in Fort Knox, Kentucky, bullion actually refers to the stamped weight and fineness of gold. It can be in bar form, round like a coin, or in any other shape representing a tradable and practical size and form.
The price of bullion typically includes the cost of the metal, plus the costs related to refining andshipping, as well as the dealer’s premium.
The bars are available in various weights, starting at 1 gram. Heavy bars are best suited for large investors because they can be efficiently stored in an insured facility that specializes in precious metals. You also save on the add-on costswhen you buy the heavier bars. The disadvantage is that the large bars are more difficult and costly to sell, and may be difficult to use as part of abarter.
Bars are produced by several government mints, as well as private companies such as JM Bullion, Sunshine Minting, Valcambi Suisse, All Engelhard, and Produits Artistiques Métaux Précieux (PAMP).
Gold Stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
The primary advantages of stocks and ETFs are that you don’t have to store the metal, and there is potential for earning dividends. Besides individual mining stocks, there are also mutual funds available that invest partially, or exclusively, in mining companies. These can provide diversification into other precious metals, such as platinum, palladium, and silver. You can also purchase options on gold futures contractsat an established strike price.
ETFs hold bullion on your behalf. The symbol for the SPDR Gold Shares ETF is GLD. The ETF trades intraday, like stocks, and benefits from relatively low expense ratios.
Gold stocks don’t necessarily move in concert with bullion prices, because mining companies succeed or fail based on their individual operating performance. You don’t have the security of physical possession of the metalif the companies you buy are unsuccessful.
Gold Jewelry
Jewelry allows theinvestor in gold to alsoexperience the enjoyment of wearing it. Gold is often combinedwith other precious gems and metals to enhance the overall value and appearance of the jewelry. Pieces are often passed down to the next generationas family heirlooms, adding sentimental value beyond that of the piece itself.
Jewelry isn’t the best option if it’s strictly an investment, because the price will usually far exceed the meltdown value. This is due to the workmanship involved and the retail markup. Always determine the purity of thegold before buying jewelry, so that you don’t pay for 18 karatswhen you are only getting a 14-karat piece. Jewelry is covered by most homeowners insurance policies, which is an advantageif your jewelry is lost or stolen, though you might consider buying a jewelry floater to supplement your homeowners insurance coverage.
What Are Some Ways to Buy Gold?
You can buy gold in coins, bullion or bars, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and gold funds, as well as in the form of jewelry. Newly minted coins are easy to buy. Uncirculated gold coins are currently being minted by several countries, and their purity is guaranteed by the government mints that produce them. Bullion can be in bar form, round, or any other shape representing a tradable and practical size and form. Or you can buy gold stocks from individual mining companies. You can also invest in mutual funds that invest partially, or exclusively, in mining companies.
Where Can I Buy Gold?
Gold is also available from private dealers, jewelry stores, coin shops, private mints, and government mints. It’s best to buy from a reputable source to ensure that you are buying precisely what is represented. You also can purchase physical gold from online gold dealers. They sell high-quality physical gold and ship it to your home or store in a secured vault. Investopedia has identified online gold dealers that have proven track records, competitive and transparent prices, clearly defined buyback policies, and more.
If I Buy Gold, Do I Have to Store It?
To have physical possession of gold, you can buy gold coins, bullion or bars, and jewelry. If you do not want physical possession of it, there are ways to invest in gold without holding it. For example, you can buy vaulted gold or minted coins and receive an electronic tradable receipt (ETR) that proves your ownership.If you buy gold stocks and ETFs, you don’t store the metal—the issuers do.
The Bottom Line
Gold is available from private dealers, online dealers, jewelry stores, coin shops, private mints, government mints, and even vending machines. It’s best to buy from a reputable source in order to ensure thatyou are buying precisely what is represented.
While the saying that “Gold has never been worth zero” is true, there is risk associated with every investment. Do your own research and prepare yourself for the price volatility of the commodities markets. Unless you’re an experienced trader, gold should be viewed as a long-term investment and a safe haven for the future.
Rising demand and limited supply both contribute to higher prices. However, with the exception of some industrial uses, such as in electronic components, most gold sales are driven by jewelry production and investment demand. For most people, gold should be viewed as a way to achieve portfolio diversification and balance the risk of investing inequities and other currency-based investments.
