Have you ever considered investing in gold coins or bars? Gold has been a cherished commodity since ancient times, thanks to its intrinsic value and limited supply. The precious metal is often touted as an inflation hedge and a safe haven during times of economic uncertainty. Historically, precious metals like gold and silver have not only retained their value, but often increased in price during times of recession.
Investing in gold is a great way to diversify your portfolio, as it tends to react differently to market changes than stocks and bonds. In other words: if one asset class is performing poorly, your gold may perform well and provide a hedge to your portfolio.
Liquidity
Gold and silver bullion are highly liquid and easy to sell. Bullion products have a global appeal and can be easily traded internationally, providing a level of liquidity that is not always offered by other investments. This can be especially helpful in times of crisis, when other assets may be difficult to sell.
Risks and Rewards
Like any investment, precious metals come with their own risks and drawbacks. All commodities are subject to price fluctuations, and precious metals are no exception. It’s also worth noting that gold and silver do not offer dividends or interest payments like stocks or bonds.
Keep in mind that storage and insurance expenses will also factor into the overall cost of owning gold. It’s important to designate a secure place to store your bullion before purchasing.
If investing in gold aligns with your goals and risk tolerance, you can choose from a wide variety of bullion products including coins and bars. Here’s a quick rundown on the pros and cons of each!
Buying Gold Bars
Bullion bars are typically made of gold or silver and are essentially pure precious metal. Most reputable producers make bars of 99.99% purity. Gold bars come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 gram (smaller than a thumbtack) to 1 kilo (about the size of an iPhone). Among today’s most popular gold bars are the Perth Mint 1-oz bar and the Valcambi Suisse.
If you’re simply looking to get the most bang for your buck, bars are the way to go. Gold bars generally have lower premiums than gold coins of the same weight and fineness. This is partially because of production costs: bars have less intricate designs than coins, requiring lower labor and equipment costs. Plus, coins have a strong collector market and often hold additional worth beyond their precious metal value.
Numismatics and Gold Coins
A coin’s numismatic value refers to extra value in addition to the metal content. Numismatic value is determined by a coin’s rarity, condition and demand. Many coins have unique designs or commemorations, boosting their overall appeal. Rare coins are highly coveted by collectors (aka numismatics), which adds a significant premium to the price.
The 1933 Double Eagle gold coin, for example, is the most valuable coin in history. Only a few Double Eagles remain today, and one of them auctioned for $18.9 million in 2021!
If you’re interested in gold coins from a numismatic standpoint, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) has a variety of educational resources on their website.
Investing in Bullion Coins
Coins offer great diversity in terms of metal type and designs. Although gold and silver are most popular, you can also purchase platinum and palladium coins. One troy ounce is the most popular size for coins, but they’re also available in smaller denominations such as 0.50-oz, 0.25-oz, 0.10-oz, and 0.05-oz. Purchasing a 0.05-oz gold coin, for example, is a great way to start investing in gold without breaking the bank.
Is It Too Late to Invest in Gold?
Gold prices have been soaring in 2025, hitting an all-time record high of $3,433 this past April. But that doesn’t mean it’s too late to invest in gold and turn a profit. In fact, Goldman Sachs forecasts gold reaching $3,700 per ounce by the end of 2025, possibly even hitting $4,000 by mid-2026.
All in all, market analysts aren’t predicting significant price drops any time soon, and the price of gold generally increases over time. That said, price appreciation doesn’t occur in a straight line; occasional pullbacks are inevitable. But history has proven that gold is a smart long-term investment. The key to investing in gold is going in with a long-term mindset. You may not see dramatic returns right away – but in the long run, gold pays off.
Selling Your Gold Bullion
When gold prices climb, many people look to sell their bullion for a profit. When to sell your gold is a personal choice that depends on things like how much it’s gained in value, whether you need quick cash, and if it has sentimental meaning.
When selling gold, key factors include the type of item and how quickly you want to sell. If, for example, you have a highly sought-after rare coin and are in no rush to sell, you could list it online and wait to see who makes the highest bid. But if you’re selling a standard gold bar with no collector value, a reputable refinery like Garfield Refining is your best bet to get paid for its melt value – based on weight, purity, and current spot prices. We process electronic payments in just 1-3 days!
Buy and Sell Gold with Garfield Refining
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell gold, Garfield can help you get maximum value. We purchase gold, silver, platinum and palladium scrap, and we sell a wide variety of precious metal coins and bars.
Garfield has been servicing dentists, jewelers, pawnbrokers and individual sellers for over 130 years. We’re trusted by millions of clients throughout the U.S., Canada and Australia for providing the industry’s highest payments and best customer service. In fact, we’ve been named ‘Best Refiner’ by Dentaltown Magazine for 14 years straight!
Call us at 888-677-3781 to learn more about our bullion services.
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Written by
Allie BowmanAllie Bowman is the Content Lead at Garfield Refining, where she translates more than 130 years of precious metals expertise into clear, accurate, and practical content for individual sellers, dental professionals, jewelers, and collectors. A Dean's List graduate of the University of Delaware's Media Communication program, Allie has built her career around making complex subjects accessible to a broad audience. Her experience spans nutrition science, lifestyle magazine publishing, and precious metals refining, giving her a unique ability to transform technical information into engaging, trustworthy content. At Garfield, Allie brings editorial rigor and subject-matter expertise to every piece she produces. She works closely with Garfield's refining specialists and senior leadership to ensure that technical topics - from karat markings and assay methods to precious metals markets and spot price mechanics - are explained with both accuracy and clarity. Since joining Garfield's marketing team, Allie has written extensively on precious metals refining, dental scrap recovery, gold and silver bullion, estate and inherited jewelry, and industry-specific topics for dental and jewelry professionals. All content is reviewed by Garfield's leadership team prior to publication, ensuring it reflects the company's standards for accuracy, transparency, and industry expertise.
Reviewed by
Morgan KerrisseyMorgan Kerrissey is the President of Garfield Refining, one of North America's most longstanding and trusted precious metals refineries. For over two decades, Morgan has built his career at the intersection of commodities markets, metallurgy, and precious metals — earning a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable voices in the refining industry. Morgan joined Garfield in 2008, bringing rigorous operational discipline to a company built on exacting standards since 1892. Named President in 2014, he has guided Garfield through volatile gold, silver, and palladium markets, while modernizing its workforce and technologies and diversifying its metal supply chains. Under his leadership, Garfield has expanded its refining capabilities across the full lifecycle of precious metals recovery, entered new markets, and expanded services while maintaining the same customer forward approach that has made Garfield a mainstay for more than a century. From hedging strategy to daily refinery operations, Morgan commands high levels of technical depth and market fluency. Morgan grew up outside Boston, graduated from Harvard University, and has lived with his family in Philadelphia, PA for almost 20 years.