Gold is the most popular precious metal investment. Investors generally buy gold as a hedge or safe haven against any economic, political, social, or fiat currency crises. The gold market is also subject to speculation as other commodities are, especially with futures contracts and derivatives. The history of the gold standard, the role of gold reserves in central banking, gold's low correlation with other commodity prices, and its pricing in relation to fiat currencies during the financial crisis suggest that gold has features of being money. Gold has been throughout history as money and has been a relative standard for currency equivalents specific to economic regions or countries. The most traditional way of investing in gold is by buying bullion gold bars. In some countries, like Argentina, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, these can easily be at the major banks. Alternatively, there are bullion dealers that provide the same service. Bars are available in various sizes. For example in Europe, Good Delivery bars are approximately 400 troy ounces. 1 kilogram is also popular, although many other weights exist, such as the 10oz, 1oz, 10 g, 100 g, 1 kg, 1 Tael, and 1 Tola. Bars generally carry lower price premiums than gold bullion coins. However, larger bars carry an increased risk of forgery due to their less stringent parameters for appearance. While bullion coins can be easily, weigh and measure against known values. Most bars cannot, and gold buyers often have bars re-assayed. Larger bars also have a greater volume in which to create a partial forgery using a tungsten-filled cavity, which may not be assay. Efforts to combat gold bar counterfeiting include kinebars, which employ a unique holographic technology and are by the Argor-Heraeus refinery in Switzerland. Gold coins are a common way of owning gold. Bullion coins price according to their fine weight, and a small premium based on supply and demand. The Krugerrand is the most widely held gold bullion coin, with 46,000,000 troy ounces in circulation. Other common gold bullion coins include the Australian Gold Nugget (Kangaroo), Austrian Philharmoniker (Philharmonic), Austrian 100 Corona, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Chinese Gold Panda, French Coq d’Or (Golden Rooster), Mexican Gold 50 Peso, British Sovereign, and American Gold Eagle. Coins may be from a variety of dealers both large and small. Fake gold coins occur, and are usually made of gold-plated lead.

American Gold Eagle

The American Gold Eagle is an official gold bullion coin of the United States. Over the years, the gold Eagle from the US mint have become the USA’s most popular bullion coin, and our biggest gold coin seller by far. Each 1-ounce gold Eagle contains a full 31.1 grams of pure gold, with an additional alloy of silver and copper, bringing the total weight up to about 33.9 grams. Coins Offered in 1/10 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/2 oz, and 1 oz denominations. U.S. government guarantees them to contain the stated amount of actual gold weight in troy ounces. By law, the gold must come from sources in America, with an additional alloy of silver and copper to produce a more wear-resistant coin of .9167. It authorized by the United States Congress and backed by the United States Mint for weight and content. The market value of the coins is generally about equal to the market value of their gold content, not their face value. Gold Eagles from the U.S. Mint are the most popular gold bullion coin in this country, and now make up over 80% of the U.S. physical gold bullion market. This bullion product has been a tremendous success for the U.S. Mint.; their actual selling prices vary daily based on the current spot price of gold. The face values are proportional to the weights. The one-ounce gold Eagle has a $50 nominal face value, is 91.67% fine gold, and weighs 1.0909 troy ounces. The most popular size bullion coin issued 20 coins per Treasury tube. The half-ounce gold Eagle has a $25 nominal face value, is 91.67% fine gold, and weighs .5455 troy ounce. The least popular size bullion coin, and often the lowest mintage, it is issued 40 coins per Treasury tube. The quarter-ounce gold Eagle has a $10 nominal face value, is 91.67% fine gold, and weighs .2727 troy ounce. About the size of a nickel, it is popular in jewelry. It issued 40 coins per Treasury tube. The tenth-ounce gold Eagle is a $5 face value coin, 91.67% fine gold (22 karat), and weighs .1091 troy ounce. Smaller than a dime, it is a popular small gift item. It issued 50 coins to a Treasury tube. The obverse design features a rendition of Augustus Saint-Gaudens' full-length figure of Lady Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left, with the Capitol building in the left background. The reverse design, by sculptor Miley Busiek, features a male eagle carrying an olive branch flying above a nest containing a female eagle and her hatchlings.