If investors wish to enjoy the touch, feel, and security of owning gold, they may want to consider gold bars instead of intangible investments such as gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investing in physical, investment-grade gold, also referred to as gold bullion, can be done at the spot price, which is the price of unfabricated gold plus additional costs, which vary depending on the seller. Even in the event of a collapse of the economy, gold can be liquidated.

The most standardized method of directly owning physical gold is to purchase bullion bars.

Prior to purchasing, make sure you are dealing with a reputable dealer and check the bars' purity, shape, size, and weight.

Gold bar purchases come with extra costs, such as storage and insurance.

The process of purchasing physical gold bars online is fairly straightforward. Visit reputable retail websites for gold bars as safeguard metals. Choose the gold bars you wish to purchase based on weight, quantity, and price.

Larger quantities of gold are typically discounted by online gold retailers. You can get discounts at certain retailers if you use a credit card, while other retailers offer discounts if you use wire transfers, so choose the most cost-effective payment option. Keep the gold bars in their packaging once you receive them to avoid scratches. Store them in your home safe or in a safety deposit box at your bank.

On eBay, you can also bid on gold bars. Checking the seller's feedback is necessary when shopping for gold on the auction website. A seller who has documented negative feedback regarding authenticity, exorbitant shipping and handling fees, or failure to deliver should be avoided.

Las Vegas and Dubai offer Gold-to-Go ATMs where you can purchase gold bars. Gold ATM users should be particularly aware of the spot price of gold since these machines sell the precious metal well above this level and above the prices of most other retailers.

A gold bar of investment quality should contain at least 99.5% pure gold.1 The rest is an alloy, usually silver or copper, that makes smelting possible. The name of the bar's manufacturer, its weight, and its purity, usually 99.99%, should all be stamped on its face if a gold investment is being purchased. There are several mints that produce gold bars, including the Royal Canadian Mint, Perth Mint.

Although gold in all forms has significant monetary value, not all gold is investment-quality. Investing in gold coins may not be the best idea from an investment perspective. In addition to their attractive designs, historical value, and gold content, these coins also cost more because of their numismatic value.

Along with costing more, Safeguard metals gold coins can also change the value of an investor's portfolio. As an example, the highly regarded American Eagle coin produced by the U.S. Gold Mint contains 91.67% gold but costs more than plain gold bars due to its value as a collector's item. Some investors may want collector's items, while others may want plain gold bars that are easiest to hold long term.

The ease with which gold bar buyers can liquidate the bars should be considered as part of the purchase process.

An investor who has $14,000 to purchase gold bullion at $1,400 per ounce, for example, will often have an easier time selling gold down the road if they purchase 10 one-ounce bars rather than one ten-ounce bar. The one-ounce bars can be sold at a time as needed, but a 10-ounce bar may be more difficult to sell if they need to move quickly.

Contrarily, because one-gram gold bars are so small, investors sometimes save up to purchase larger gold bars.

The spot price of gold should be considered when browsing the bullion market. Most finance websites display gold prices on their stock tickers.

There is no shortage of gold, but prices vary widely as sellers include their desired profit margin and additional costs such as authentication certificates, shipping and handling, and payment processing fees. It is important to compare the prices of different gold bars from different sellers to find the best deal.

To learn more about a gold seller's reputation, gold bar buyers should visit websites like Better Business Bureau and Ripoff Report. It is generally the responsibility of reputable gold sellers to disclose all fees upfront.

Prior to purchasing gold from sellers abroad, U.S. buyers should also do their due diligence. Gold bars may be authentic, but seller charges might be excessive, and buyers may have difficulty clearing the gold through customs, depending on the quantity bought.

In addition to storage and insurance costs, physical gold ownership involves transaction fees and markups associated with buying and selling the commodity. Additionally, investors making smaller purchases may be charged processing fees and small lot fees.

Collectively, these costs may not significantly impact someone looking to invest a small portion of their portfolio in gold, but they may be prohibitive for investors seeking to gain a greater exposure.