There are many ways you can invest your money, from stocks and bonds to gold coins and cryptocurrency. Many investors choose to diversify their portfolios with a collection of gold coins.
These investments can be a great way to learn about American history and even potentially turn a profit. If you’ve recently become interested in gold or just aren’t sure where to purchase gold coins, you’re not alone.
Due to their unique nature, gold coins require a bit of research to invest in before you slap down any cash. Our guide will introduce you to legitimate sources you can contact to buy gold coins and increase your assets.
We’ll also discuss why buying gold coins online can be better than purchasing them in person. Gold coins don’t have to be displayed in your home or even kept in your house. Instead, many of the resources below offer some sort of storage option to keep your investments safe.
Are you ready to see where the best places to buy gold coins are? Let’s get started!
Why Buy Gold Coins Online
Is gold a good investment? There are several reasons why you might consider buying gold coins online:
- Convenience: Online shopping allows you to purchase gold coins from the comfort of your own home, at any time of day. Plus, you can take your time perusing without the pressure of a salesperson nearby.
- Greater selection: Online retailers often have a wider variety of gold coins available for purchase than physical stores. If you’re not sure which type of gold coin you want to purchase, this is a great place to start.
- Competitive pricing: Online retailers may offer competitive pricing on gold coins due to lower overhead costs. These retailers often pass those savings on to you with discounts or shipping deals, so you can easily pick up a few gold pieces as a small investment.
- Easy price comparison: It is easy to compare prices from different online retailers to get the best deal on gold coins. While gold prices themselves may fluctuate, you can lock in a price for a short amount of time to ensure you’re getting the most for your investment.
- Secure transactions: Reputable online retailers offer secure transactions to protect your personal and financial information. This is true as long as you investigate each site thoroughly to ensure it’s legitimate.
Taking the time to go through each website selling gold coins and determining if it’s legitimate hardly seems like a fun pastime. Instead, check out our list below of the best places you can buy gold coins.
8 Best Places to Buy Gold Coins
This list of the best places to buy gold coins should help you locate various pieces of gold to invest in.
That being said, some of these businesses are also great places to sell if you need to sell your golden assets at some point.
1. Augusta Precious Metals
Opening a self-directed gold IRA is easy with Augusta Precious Metals. This gold company will help you with the process, including offering their own selection of gold to fund the account. The gold you purchase will be stored securely in an IRS-approved depository. When you withdraw it, you can choose to be paid out in cash or have the gold coins shipped directly to you.
Though Augusta Precious Metals doesn’t advertise its prices online, they do require a $50,000 investment minimum. This may price some investors out, but it can be a great way to opt for a tax-deferred investment. Augusta also offers a free one-on-one web conference to teach you about the gold market and the risks you’re taking on by investing in such a precious metal. In this Augusta Precious Metals review, we dive into the company’s history, pricing, fees, online reputation and more.
2. APMEX
The American Precious Metals Exchange offers the best selection when it comes to gold coins, bullion, and jewelry. This gold dealer offers free shipping on orders over $199 and carries other metals such as silver, platinum, and palladium as well. There are no hidden fees when you purchase gold coins from APMEX, though you do have 15 minutes to lock in the current gold price when you create an order.
APMEX offers a seven-day return policy in addition to a $50/10% restocking fee. If you’re not comfortable storing your gold coins at home, APMEX does offer storage options through Citadel Global Depository Services. If you purchase $25,000 or more in gold, you’ll need to pay your invoice within three days. All other orders must be paid within five days. Purchases can be made with a credit card, PayPal account, bank transfer, or even cryptocurrency.
While APMEX may not have the lowest prices on the market, they do offer an Auto Invest program, which allows you to set up recurring purchases for a more balanced purchase price.
3. GoldSilver
As the name reveals, GoldSilver sells both popular types of precious metals. The selection of both silver and gold pales in comparison to some other websites, but GoldSilver does offer discounts and international storage options. The website also boasts they match competitor prices as well. If you’re looking to invest in IRA-approved options, GoldSilver has you covered there, too.
When you make a purchase on GoldSilver, you can pay either via PayPal or credit card for a fee, or pay by wire, check, or Bitcoin for a discount of up to 4%. You can also earn discounts by becoming an Insider, though that requires purchasing at least 10 ounces of gold and 500 ounces of silver. Meeting these requirements, however, also earns you access to exclusive investment research.
If you’re not looking to spend too much on gold, you can search the Deals section on GoldSilver’s website. This company has access to several storage vaults around the world that buyers can take advantage of for as low as 0.06% of the asset value or a minimum of $4 per month. GoldSilver offers free shipping on purchases of $499 or more, which is a great way to start your long-term investment if you want to purchase gold coins.
4. JM Bullion
Combining the best selection and pricing for gold coins, JM Bullion offers gold coins, collectibles, and IRA-approved gold. This gold supplier works only inside the United States and carries silver, platinum, copper, and palladium as well. Founded in 2011, JM Bullion is known for its superb customer service, user-friendly website, and transparent fees.
That is to say, JM Bullion doesn’t charge a commission. In fact, you can earn a 4% discount if you pay by paper check or wire transfer. JM Bullion also accepts payment via credit card, e-check, PayPal, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. Qualified purchasers can take advantage of the military discount and bulk purchase pricing as well. If you purchase over $199 worth of gold, you can also enjoy free shipping. Otherwise, it’s a simple $7.99 fee.
Like many other gold suppliers on our list, JM Bullion offers a five-day return policy. In addition, you’ll pay for any market loss, but the company doesn’t buy anything back under $1,000. Gold can be stored through TDS Vaults if you so choose. You can also pick from collectible or themed coins as well. JM Bullion also offers an automated savings plan and support via chat or phone.
5. Kitco
The minimum order from Kitco is $2,000 worth of gold coins and other precious metals, such as silver, rhodium, platinum, and palladium. Kitco, therefore, is best for larger investments, though they do offer fractional quantities of gold bullion as well. If you spend over $5,000, your order qualifies for free shipping.
Kitco brings investors the unique opportunity to purchase digital gold as well. The Kitco Vaultchain account gives you access to trading gold held at the Royal Canadian Mint for an annual prorated fee. However, you’ll get unlimited transactions and storage if you choose this option.
6. SD Bullion
Some of the lowest prices can be found on SD Bullion’s website, which also contains a low-price guarantee. If you find a deal lower than their pricing, they’ll match it. In addition to IRA-approved silver, gold, and platinum, SD Bullion offers pre-1933 gold coins and foreign coins from Australia, China, and Great Britain, to name a few.
SD Bullion offers free shipping over $199 and gold storage at $10 per month. Purchases are protected by a three-day return policy, albeit with a 5% restocking fee if you pay with PayPal or a credit card or a 3% restocking fee otherwise. You’ll also pay the cost of market loss, but you can find some good prices on the Doc’s Deals page. Deposits are insured through Lloyd’s of London. You can reach customer service through chat, email, and by phone.
7. The U.S. Mint
Purchasing direct from the U.S. Mint is often how investors like to buy gold coins. This option is best if you purchase a lot of gold frequently as you can receive free shipping if you order regularly. This trusted American institution does offer a limited selection compared to other online suppliers on our list, but you’ll only pay shipping on the first three orders you place. After that, shipping is free. Purchasing gold coins from the U.S. Mint can be a great way to take advantage of small investment opportunities.
8. Vaulted
Sometimes the buying process can be more difficult than owning gold. That’s not the case with Vaulted. This website is the best for small investors looking for fractional shares or even an automatic gold savings plan. Vaulted holdings are stored at the Royal Canadian Mint and you can easily access your account through their mobile app.
Unfortunately, Vaulted doesn’t sell gold coins specifically. However, you can purchase 99.99% pure gold kilo bars that are certified Conflict-Free. Vaulted charges $50 for shipping plus $2 per bar, in addition to an annual 0.4% maintenance fee and a 1.8% transaction fee. Setting up an account with Vaulted, however, takes only a few minutes.
Why are Gold Coins a Good Investment
Gold coins can be a good investment for several reasons:
- Hedge against inflation: Gold is considered a hedge against inflation because its price tends to rise when the value of paper currencies falls.
- Diversification: Adding gold coins to your investment portfolio can help to diversify your assets, which can reduce the overall risk of your portfolio.
- Liquidity: Gold coins can be easily bought and sold, making them a liquid asset. This can be particularly useful in times of economic uncertainty when you may have a hard time getting funds out of other investments.
- Tangible asset: Gold coins are a tangible asset that you can hold in your hand, which can be appealing to some investors who want to see their investments at work.
Gold carries some inherent risk and may not be suitable for everyone as an investment. It’s always a good idea to diversify and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
All That Glitters is Gold Coins
Buying gold can help any investment portfolio, especially when it comes to diversifying and hedging against inflation. Finding a secure and legitimate source of gold, including gold coins, can be tricky if you’re not sure where to look.
We hope this guide has helped you find a new source for gold coins to add to your collection. There’s a lot of interesting history in gold coins, something you might consider looking into to better enjoy your assets. In the age of digital currency, who’s to say gold coins may not soon become even rarer?
FAQ
The cheapest way to buy gold coins is to purchase them in bulk. However, you can also purchase fractional shares of gold if you’re not able to afford more of an investment.
Most gold banks do not carry gold coins. Instead, you should contact the bank first before making the trip. That way, you can schedule a meeting with a gold coins expert or representative to make the most of your time.
The answer to that question depends on how much you want to invest and what your portfolio looks like. It also depends on your risk appetite and what sort of investments you want to make. Not every investor will hold gold coins in their portfolio, though it can be a good way to hedge against market downturns.
