Look for a reputable bullion dealer in your area if you prefer to buy small quantities of gold in person. Most good jewelers and coin dealers sell top rated gold IRA investment coins. In addition, the coins they carry are certified and encapsulated (packaged) by the producing mint or by a certification service such as National Guaranty Corporation. Buying physical gold bars online for a gold IRA is a fairly simple process. A common way to buy gold bars is through authorized online retailers.
Look for gold bullion products on reputable retail websites, such as American Precious Metals Exchange (APMEX), JM Bullion and Wholesale Coins Direct. Select the gold bars you want to buy by weight, quantity and price. Small gold coins are easily purchased and transported, and can be stored in a home safe, bank safe, or warehouse of your choice. Because some gold coins contain 999.9 percent fine gold, it's possible that certain gold coins can be purchased in an IRA account.
Of course, you should consult your tax advisor for the requirements and guidelines before making any purchase for an IRA. Fractional coins can also be more expensive than larger pieces of ingots. As a general rule, purchases of gold of one ounce or more should be fairly close to the spot price of the precious metal. The larger the quantity, the smaller the premium distributors who increase the cost of the metal itself.
If you are interested in physical gold, I recommend that you invest in small gold bars. You can buy them in a wide range of weights, and you can buy small gold bars or ingots for as little as 1 percent more than the price of gold. For people who believe in the long-term value of gold as a commodity, having a large number of gold pieces is undoubtedly important. When buying gold jewelry, keep in mind that the price you pay will be linked to the craftsmanship of the piece and that the amount of gold it contains will be only a percentage (carats) of its total weight.
Fractional gold coins allow investors to quickly convert small amounts of gold into capital without wasting large pieces. The Mint contains 91.67% of gold, but it costs more than pure gold bars because of its value as a collector's item.
