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In the current financial climate of weak currencies, inflation and general insecurity, many investors and ordinary families are turning to a reliable and time-tested form of wealth preservation - gold bullion coins. People are attracted by both being able to diversify how their savings are held, and also by being able to actually hold their wealth in their hands.

So, what exactly are gold bullion coins, where do you get them, and how much do they cost?

Once upon a time, gold coins were actually in circulation as currency, and most countries issued them. In the USA, these were the famous and very beautiful quarter eagles, half eagles, eagles and double eagles, which were last issued in the 1930s, and are now sought after by collectors. After gold coins ceased to be circulated in the 30s, there was then a gap of a few decades before they were again re-issued. However, as gold had by that time become so valuable, the coins that made up the re-issuing were not entered into circulation as a standard form of currency.

These days when people refer to gold bullion coins, they are talking about the modern format of them, which are issued by governments in one ounce, or fractions of one ounce weights, and which are meant only for collection or investment. They represent an accessible and relatively inexpensive way (when compared to the larger and heavier gold bullion bars) for ‘normal’ people to buy and own gold.

In the USA, gold bullion coins are called American Gold Eagles. In Canada, they are called Canadian Gold Maple Leafs. In South Africa, the coins are called Krugerrands. In China, they issue Gold Pandas. The names are derived from the designs they carry.

All the governments that issue these gold bullion coins use the same gold weighting scale, with them being available in the following values: one ounce, half an ounce, a quarter of an ounce, and a tenth of an ounce. The bullion coins can be either pure gold, or they may have a small percentage of silver or copper added to them to make more durable. Those which do have some other metal added to the gold are just as valuable as the pure gold ones though, as as they always have an ‘actual gold weight’ of one ounce of gold, or of one of the previously stated fractions.

The coins will normally have on them the year in which they were issued and a face value. Of course, the gold in the coins is worth far more than the face value. The actual value of a particular coin is dependent on the current value of gold on the general market, plus a ‘premium’, which is determined by the dealer or store that you buy it from.

Gold bullion coins have traditionally been bought from a dealer or a local coin store, but in recent years the Internet has opened up two new ways of purchasing them. One of the new ways is through online auction sites, and the other is through specialist online coin stores. These specialist online coin stores are the best way for most people to buy because you can view all types and weights of coins in one place, and can purchase them at prices which are generally lower than elsewhere.

To find out more about bullion gold coins, read about the types of coins available, and to check current prices, go to bullion-gold-coins.com and get the information you need to know before you buy.