I told you recently that I've been buying more American Gold Eagles, and a lot of you asked for specifics.
I'm happy to elaborate.
There are a number of ways to own gold. The best way is to own physical gold, and I like gold coins, which can be purchased from a number of reputable dealers.
The dealers I like personally are Kitco, Blanchard, and JM Bullion. These firms offer a wide variety of newly minted coins, historical coins, and rare coins, as well as coins from different countries, such as American Gold Eagles, which are my favorite, South African Krugerrands, and Canadian Maple Leafs. You can choose from different weights, ranging from 1 ounce down to 1/10th ounce (and Kitco even offers 1/20th ounce).
They have great service, too. Buying gold coins is as easy as buying a book on Amazon.com. You can have your gold in hand in a few days. JM Bullion offers free shipping, while Kitco has a flat rate. Kitco is the only one that will ship gold internationally, so be aware of that.
Now let's talk about prices…
They all offer good prices. You can judge that based on the percentage markup over the spot price of gold. You can get discounts for buying in bulk or paying with cash. There are occasional sales and special offers (including this week on Black Friday). Kitco looks to have the best prices right now.
You can pay for your coins with credit cards at both Blanchard and JM Bullion, and JM Bullion has the added advantage of taking payment via PayPal, although it charges a higher price for coins paid for that way. With Kitco, you'll open an account and fund it via bank wire, money order, or personal check.
| Lowest Price for 1-oz Gold Coin (11/23/15) | Markup Over Spot (11/23/15) | Payment Options | Shipping | Ships Internationally? | |
| Kitco | $1,106.00 | 3.63% | Wire, check, money order | Flat rate | Yes |
| Blanchard | $1,109.25 | 3.93% | Wire, check, credit card | Free | No |
| JM Bullion | $1,109.40 | 3.94% | Wire, check, credit card, PayPal | Free | No |
Just to be clear, I am recommending these three because I like them and feel you will like doing business with them too. I do not receive any kind of compensation for naming them here.
If You Don't Want to Own Gold Coins…
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About the Author
Prominent money manager. Has built top-ranked credit and hedge funds, managed billions for institutional and high-net-worth clients. 29-year career.
Can't you buy gold coins direct from the US Mint and save the 3.6% charge ?