| Gold's value dates back to ancient times. Gold has | | | | handles the entire transaction process including the |
| a history of fascination, obsession and even tall | | | | trading, authentication, storage, insurance, order |
| tales. Gold has shaped human history through its | | | | fulfillment and distribution of products. |
| assigned value dating as far back as the | | | | 2.Gold Certificates: A certificate of ownership can |
| Egyptians. Even today gold is still considered a | | | | be held by gold investors. Having a certificate |
| standard for monetary exchange in many | | | | allows you to buy and sell gold securities without |
| countries. | | | | having to store the actual gold. |
| Gold still has a sense of mystery. But to find gold, | | | | 3.Accounts: Gold accounts or statements are |
| it isn't necessary to scavenge the bottom of the | | | | obligations of the issuing institute to deliver upon |
| ocean or 'head west'. Although there is gold found | | | | demand a stated quantity of gold. Gold accounts |
| in 'them there hills', the easier way to invest in | | | | are typically backed through unallocated allocated |
| gold is by buying it. There are different formats | | | | gold storage. Different accounts have varying |
| you can choose from to invest in gold. You may | | | | levels of intermediation between the client and |
| choose one or all of them - and remember all gold | | | | their gold. |
| investment, like any investment is a risk. | | | | 4.Gold Stocks: Gold exchange-traded funds or |
| So what are your choices? | | | | GETF's are traded like shares. A small commission |
| 1.Gold bars or coins: Do you like holding your own | | | | is charged for trading gold stock. The upside is |
| gold? Buying gold bars is cost effective and a | | | | gold stock represents a way to avoid the sales |
| specialist or gold dealer will give you a good | | | | tax that would apply to physical gold coins or bars. |
| purchase price for a bar. In some countries you | | | | 5.Gold Mining Shares: Here you aren't investing in |
| can easily buy gold bars over the counter and | | | | the gold directly but in the mining companies |
| they come in 12.5 kg or 1kg size. | | | | searching for the gold. The appreciation potential |
| Coins are also a popular way to invest in gold as | | | | of a gold share is depending upon the future price |
| they are easy to buy and sell. Gold bullion coins | | | | of gold. Do your homework though; many mining |
| are priced according to their weight. The most | | | | firms sell their future production years in advance. |
| popular bullion gold coins are the South African | | | | With gold mutual funds your risk is more |
| Krugerrand, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, the | | | | diversified. Some funds offer a broad mix of |
| American Gold Eagle and American Gold Buffalo. | | | | international mining stock. |
| Each of these coins are exactly one troy ounce | | | | BullionDirect is a leading online source to buy and |
| each. BullionDirect.com's Nucleo Exchange makes it | | | | sell precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, |
| easy to buy and sell gold and night. The exchange | | | | and palladium coins and bars. |