Gold Coins: The Two Main Types And Tips For Purchasing The Right Ones
Investing in gold is a great idea for anyone that is looking for a safe, solid investment. While it is not a good idea to place all your money in gold, experts recommend having around 5% to 15% of gold in your portfolio. Diversification is always an important strategy in investing, but you may wonder what types of gold to purchase. If you have an interest in gold coins, you may want to start there, but you should know the differences in the types of gold coins available for purchase.
The Two Main Types of Gold Coins
When it comes to gold coins, there are many different ones to choose from, but they generally fall into one of two categories:
- Gold bullion – Coins that are considered gold bullion coins are bought and sold for their value based on the content of gold they contain. These coins are not old or rare, and they are often produced in large quantities. Purchasing gold bullion coins is a similar option to purchasing gold bars, except that the amount of gold the coins contain is generally lower because coins are smaller.
- Numismatic gold coins – The other option you could choose is called numismatic gold coins. These coins are not purchased strictly for the content of gold they contain. Numismatic coins are considered collectors' coins because of their age and rarity.
There is a third option too, but this option is less popular. It is called semi-numismatic coins, and these are a mixture of the main two options. People often purchase them not only for the content of gold, but also because they are rare and collectible.
Any of these types can be a good investment; however, it is always important to buy gold coins from a reputable dealer. This assures you that you are getting what you expect, and it also helps avoid gold coin scams that can occur with some non-reputable dealers.
Tips For Choosing the Right Coins For You
As you think about these options, you may decide to buy some of each type. Here are some tips to help you make the decision if you are unsure which type to buy.
You may want to choose gold bullion coins if you:
- Strictly want to make money – Gold bullion coins are available in different weights, but the price of gold goes up and down based on the market value.
- Don't care about the rarity or appeal of the coins – Gold bullion coins still look nice; they just are not unusual or hard to find.
- Want the ability to sell the gold whenever you choose – If you have bullion coins that you want to sell, you can easily do this whenever you wish.
On the other hand, you may want to buy numismatic coins if you:
- Enjoy old, rare coins – This includes coins such as peace silver dollars or pre-1933 eagle coins.
- Have a coin collection – If you are currently a coin collector, you may want to look for certain coins simply to make your collection complete.
- Prefer appeal of coins over the value – While numismatic coins can often be worth more than bullion coins, many people purchase them because of the aesthetical appeal rather than just for the value.
- Do not plan on needing to sell them quickly – Selling rare coins can be more difficult in some cases because it may require finding the right buyer.
Investing in gold is always a good idea because gold has always been worth money. To learn more about either type of gold, visit a related site or contact a reputable company that buys and sells gold.