There are currently nine known precious metals. However, only gold, silver, palladium, and platinum are considered investment commodities. The 4th most sought-after precious metal is gold. Since gold is the original currency, it is widely known around the globe. Paper currency was actually just a promise to the bearer of gold. You can see Rosland Capital Gold for more information.

Nowadays, investing in gold is a popular method of protecting one’s assets against economic recessions as well as national and international crisis. Let’s face it, if the world was to restart tomorrow after a major disaster, then gold would be the same currency it was until the 1800s. Here’s a short description of the top ways to add gold to your portfolio.

Currently, the best way to invest in gold is by buying gold coins. Prices for gold bullion coin are usually determined by their weight. However a premium will always be added to the current market price of Gold. The majority of Swiss banks accept gold coins for sale or purchase over the counter. Special orders are also accepted by many banks. You can also purchase coins over the internet, or from local dealers.

Gold bullion bar investment is the oldest way to get your hands on gold. These bars can be purchased over the counter at most Swiss banks or by special order at many other banks around the world. You can also purchase the bullion bars over the internet, or from local dealers. Investors are losing interest in gold bars due to difficulties like the verification process, transport and storage. They remain my personal favorite and have a lower premium than gold coins.

Gold can be traded just like foreign currencies. An account in gold is either backed with NON fungible (allocated), gold storage, or pooled unallocated storage. Even though you may be able get leverage for buying gold, it can be risky. If you use too much leverage, you could have to pay more on a margin call and/or risk having your gold stolen at a loss. Leverage means that you must treat all of your investment as a single unit.

Another option is to purchase a gold certificate, rather than buying physical gold bullion. The certificates must be stored and/or covered to prevent theft. The gold certificate gives the investor the ability to sell and buy the commodity without the hassles associated with real gold. You will never be able to access the actual gold.