10 Best Places to Buy Gold Coins Online

There are plenty of ways to invest your cash and build wealth. Buying gold is a popular asset to diversify an investment portfolio from only holding stocks and bonds.

Physical assets like real estate and precious metals are a popular alternative. Gold and silver coins can be the best way to invest in gold and silver.

Owning physical gold and silver bullion can be better price stability than other gold investments in the stock market. It can also be a fun investment if you are a gold coin collector.

There are many places to buy gold online; you might consider these places first.

Top Places to Buy Gold Coins Online

You can purchase gold and silver coin products from a local gold and silver dealer. But shopping online can help you quickly find the best price, and you might find a better selection.

1. SD Bullion

SD Bullion is a relatively young yet highly-rated pure gold dealer. You can buy gold bars and coins, including gold bullion bars. Some offerings are IRA-eligible, and you can find rare coins such as pre-1933 US coins. 

Like other dealers, you can buy gold and silver bars in various weights. The smallest bars can be as light as 1/100th of an ounce or up to one kilo.

You will also find plenty of silver coin options and gold bullion coins to buy to diversify your portfolio. This can be a great option if you are a gold coin collector.

Shipping is free for domestic orders above $99. Small orders have a $7.77 shipping fee. 

SD Bullion offers storage options as well. Storage accounts start at $9.99 per month with the primary SD Depository vaults in Ohio and Michigan.

Read our full SD Bullion review to find out more details.

2. JM Bullion

JM Bullion is one of the most popular places to buy gold and other precious metals online. When it comes to gold bullion coin mints, you can buy gold and silver from the U.S. and foreign mints through this site.

If you aren’t a gold coin collector or investor, gold bullion bars are available as well. There’s also a sales page to find most gold and silver coins selling for a discount..

For each item, you can see the per-item cost based on your payment method. Shipping is free for all orders larger than $199. 

As is common among gold coin dealers, JM Bullion charges a fee above the current spot price. The fee varies by product.

3. Vaulted

Buying gold coins and bullion can be pricey. Vaulted makes it easy to own gold as you can invest a few dollars at a time. You buy fractional shares of gold bullion bars that Vaulted stores at the Royal Canadian Mint.

For example, you can purchase $20 per month from a linked checking account. Once your account balance is equal to the price for one ounce of gold, Vaulted can FedEx your gold bar to you. You pay $50 per delivery plus $2 per bar.

Each bar is conflict-free and has .9999 fine gold purity. A .9999 purity is the best possible rating for gold. If you want to buy gold coins, one of the other options can be better, as Vaulted only offers gold bullion bars.

You pay a 1.8% transaction fee each time you buy or sell gold on Vaulted. Also, Vaulted charges a 0.4% annual maintenance fee.

Learn More: Vaulted Review: An Easy Way To Invest In Gold

4. United States Mint

Your best option can be buying your gold coins directly from the mint. In this case, it’s the U.S. Mint that also produces the currency and coins sitting in your change jar at home.

If you buy directly from the U.S. Mint, you will most likely buy the American Eagle proof coin, as the U.S. Mint cannot sell the bullion series of collectible coins.

Investors favor gold bullion coins as they sell at a lower premium than proof coins. Both coin types have the same purity level. You must buy gold bullion coins that the U.S. Mint strikes from a gold dealer.

Shipping fees start at $4.95. After making three orders, you get free shipping on your remaining orders for the same year.

5. Kitco

Kitco sells gold coins and bars online or by telephone. Their minimum order is $2,000, higher than most pure gold dealers. 

It’s possible to buy gold coins from the world’s largest mints, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Austria. You can browse weekly deals to save money.

Kitco also offers a digital way to buy gold that can be converted into physical gold. You can buy fractional amounts of a gold bullion coin or other products until you’re ready to accept an in-person delivery.

Rising prices can increase your total investment cost, but it’s an easy way to buy gold with small amounts of money. This online dealer also has an impressive, expensive metals news dashboard.

If you invest in alternative assets, this dashboard lets you track pure gold and other precious metal products, including the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coin, the American Gold Eagle, the Chinese Gold Panda, and more.

6. Patriot Gold Group

Patriot Gold Group offers gold coins from the United States Mint and other world mints. Shipping is free and Patriot Gold Group can store your bullion in their vault too.

While you can browse the bullion, proof, and IRA-eligible gold coins online, you must speak with an advisor to get a price quote.

You might consider this online dealer as they can help you open a self-directed individual retirement account (IRA). It’s possible to transfer or roll over an existing IRA and get up to $2,500 in free gold coins. 

7. GoldSilver

You can buy gold bars, coins, and jewelry at GoldSilver. IRA-eligible bullion is available and the deals section lets you purchase gold at a reduced cost. 

Paying with a wire transfer, check, or Bitcoin lets you qualify for a discount of up to 4%. You won’t get a discount when paying with a credit card or PayPal as you pay payment processing charges. This practice is common for online gold dealers.

Shipping is free within the continental U.S. for orders of at least $499. Storage costs start at 0.06% of the asset value per month ($4 minimum). 

By purchasing at least 500 ounces of silver or 10 ounces of gold, you can join the insider’s loyalty program. As an “Insider,” you can qualify for exclusive discounts and get access to in-depth investment research. 

Another reason to consider GoldSilver is its price match guarantee. If another legit competitor has a better price, GoldSilver can match the price for orders of up to $5,000.

8. Money Metals Exchange

You can buy a gold coin or bars that Money Metals Exchange will ship to you. Bullion and proof series coins are available, plus pre-1933 coins. Enrolling in a monthly savings plan of at least $100 per month reduces your premium costs.

Prices for coins, whether its a gold maple leaf or other type, update each minute. If you’re not ready to buy a gold coin, you can set up price alerts to buy at a better price.

Payment options include wire transfers, checks, money orders, and credit cards. While other dealers accept Bitcoin payments, you can pay with other alt-coins, including LiteCoin, Dash and Ripple.

Money Metals Exchange also offers storage-only “Vault Gold” 1/10 oz. bars. These bars stay in their Massachusetts vault until you sell your gold. Storage fees start at $96 per year (0.96% annual fee).

The annual fee drops as your value stored increases as you buy more bars. Shipping is free for orders of at least $500. Smaller orders have a $7.97 shipping fee.

9. Buy Gold and Silver Coins

At BGASC (Buy Gold and Silver Coins), you can purchase bars, coins and rounds for gold and silver primarily. The dealers also sell investment-grade platinum, palladium, and copper products for additional diversification.

Focusing on gold, you can purchase coins and rounds from mints worldwide. You can also acquire bars, notes and jewelry.

Shipping is free on orders above $199 and $7.99 for smaller transactions. Most orders ship within one business day after your payment clears. You can place orders online or by phone.

10. Golden Eagle Coins

Consider Golden Eagle Coins if you plan on making a small order, as free shipping is available on orders of $99 or more ($9.95 for smaller orders). In comparison, most platforms require $199 or more.

Additionally, you may prefer this merchant if you prefer supporting a family-owned business (founded in 1974). If you live in Washington, D.C., you can schedule a local pickup if you pay with cash.

All orders ship via USPS, and all packages must be signed for. Most purchases ship within 5-7 days after your payment clears.

There are many options for coins, rounds and bars. This also includes ancient coins if you’re a collector. Visiting the “On Sale Now” page can help you find the best offers.

Why Buy Gold Coins

There are several advantages of investing in gold. Here are a few reasons why.

Inflation Hedge

Gold can be a hedge against inflation that can weaken the value of paper currency and currency-based investments.

Central banks can print an infinite amount of currency. Still, there are limited gold coins and other options like Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins, the Chinese Gold Panda, or other expensive metals. 

Stock Market Alternative

Investing in stocks has been one of the most successful ways to build wealth for the last century. However, pure gold and other precious metal options can be a better investment during a stock market recession. 

Investors may sell paper stocks and purchase gold and other physical assets, including real estate, as a way to store wealth.

As gold bullion coin investments don’t earn interest or dividends, you don’t pay taxes on any gains until you sell your coins.

It’s possible to avoid this tax when you invest in gold using a self-directed IRA; taxes are paid when the money is withdrawn from the account in retirement. 

Paper Currency Alternative

Gold coins can also be an alternative to paper currency. For example, various nations have been using gold as a currency for several thousand years.

No paper currency in use today has been in circulation for the same time. When the value of a currency decreases, investors tend to flock to gold and silver as a “safe haven” investment. 

Also, gold bullion is worth the value of metal content. People use gold as money and also for industrial purposes, including making gold jewelry and electronics.

The sole purpose of paper currency is to pay for goods and services without exchanging physical goods. 

Related Article: These Rare Dollar Bills Are Worth Money

Risks of Buying Gold Coins

Gold can be a good investment, but there are some risks and downsides.

Doesn’t Earn Passive Income

Popular gold coins only appreciate when the price of gold or its collectible value increases. Stocks, bonds, and savings accounts can earn passive income through dividends. 

As the spot price for gold fluctuates, it can take years (or decades) to sell your coins for a profit if gold investments enter a recession. 

Transaction Fees

You will pay transaction fees to buy or sell gold coins. When buying coins, dealers charge a premium above the spot price for a gram or ounce of gold. Premiums are higher when the demand for gold coins is high. 

These fees increase your investment cost basis and reduce your potential investment return. 

Secure Storage is Necessary

As gold is valuable, finding a secure storage vault is essential to prevent theft or loss. You can store your gold in a home vault. Other investors prefer storing their gold in a dealer’s secure vault.

Off-site storage costs money and doesn’t give you instant access to your gold if you need to sell it quickly.

Capital Gains Tax

When it comes time to sell your gold coin or other type of gold, any profit is subject to a capital gains tax.

The current tax rate on long-term capital gains is 15% or 20% for most investors. Investors pay the same tax on stock market investments they own for at least a year.    

How to Buy Physical Gold

Buying physical gold online is simple but different than investing in gold stocks. You have more options and more fees. Below is a brief how-to for purchasing gold coins.

Decide Which Gold Coin to Buy

There are many different types of gold coins you can buy. Several factors dictate the price.

Gold Weight

Gold coins have differing weights of gold. A 1 oz. gold coin is the largest and priciest coin that you can buy. The 1/10 oz gold coin can be the most affordable.

Purity Level

These coins might have different purity levels of gold. 

Purity levels for two of the most popular U.S. Mint coins:

• American Gold Eagle Coin: 91.67 (.9167 fine gold)
• American Gold Buffalo Coin: 99.99% (.9999 fine gold) 

A .9999 purity level is the best grade possible for gold.

Bullion or Proof Coins

For newly minted coins, bullion-grade coins cost less than proof coins. Bullion coins are uncirculated but undergo a less intensive minting process than proof coins.

Most online dealers display the bullion coins first as they are more sought after by investors.

Mint

Mints issue different series of coins. Dealers can offer coins from the U.S. Mint, Royal Canadian Mint, and the Perth Mint. 

Coins with similar weights and purity levels but from different mints can have varying prices.

Collectible Value

A coin’s collectible value also impacts the price in addition to the spot price for the gold. 

Popular gold coin collectors tend to prefer US coins with a pre-1933 mint year since they tend to have some of the highest values. 

Compare Dealer Prices

Pricing is similar among most dealers for coins and gold bullion bars. However, they can charge different over-spot premiums to make a profit.

This premium is how much more the coin is selling for versus the spot value for the gold. 

You will need to compare the purchase price for each dealer to determine which one charges a higher premium. 

Also, compare any potential shipping and vault storage fees you might pay.

Pay for Purchase

It’s common for online dealers to accept these payment methods:

• Wire transfer
• Check
• Credit card
• PayPal
• Bitcoin

Paying by wire and check can give you a 4% discount as you avoid payment processing fees.

If you have a large order of at least $5,000, you may have to pay by check or wire transfer. Each dealer has different payment policies.

Buy Gold with a Self-Directed IRA or Not?

Selling your gold can result in paying capital gain tax on your investment gains. Opening a self-directed IRA can minimize your tax bill for gold bullion products and other physical assets. 

You must buy IRA-eligible coins and bars not exclusively for collectible value. Many coins and gold bullion bars, including the American Eagle bullion coins, are eligible. These are some of the most common coins that investors buy.

One reason to avoid a self-directed IRA is its custodian fees. First, you must open a self-directed IRA from a special custodian.

You will pay a flat annual fee or a percentage of your portfolio value. Also, your self-directed IRA cannot hold stocks.

It may be easier to avoid buying gold with retirement cash to avoid the IRA custodial fees and purchase restrictions.

How Do These Gold Sites Compare

Company	Trustpilot (Out of 5 Stars)
SD Bullion	4.4
JM Bullion	4.4
APMEX	2.0
Vaulted	NA
United States Mint	3.0
Kitco	4.7
Patriot Gold Group	4.9
GoldSilver	2.8
Money Metals Exchange	2.0
David Hall Rare Coins	NA
Buy Gold and Silver Coins (BGASC)	4.8
Golden Eagle Coins	3.7

Summary

Buying physical gold is a popular way to diversify your liquid net worth and not rely on gold stocks to build wealth.

The best option can be the one with the best price or vault service.