Many purchase from these guys:
http://www.nwtmintbullion.com/
http://www.bordergold.com/
http://goldprices.com/ this is a good link for viewing the daily price graphs (click on the options directly below each graph).
http://www.nwtmintbullion.com/gold_americaneagle.php this is a good link for seeing the sell and purchase prices. Don't sell at the Spot Price.
Do not sell and buy from your local pawn shop. They will do according to the "Spot Price." You will lose money. Use them only when desperate.
Dealers need to make money, so they sell for more than the gold is really worth. This is normal and should be expected.
Gold was once illegal to possess in this nation. Not too many years ago. It could happen again.
If you purchased gold and silver 5 years ago, you would have made more from your investment in silver.
If you purchase today (any day), you might make money in a day or year; but, you might also lose money if the price of gold goes down.
Many know that the price of gold and silver will go up and up and up. If your purchase goes down, just wait until it goes up again.
Gold is easier to store than silver as $700 of gold is one coin. $700 worth of silver is many coins - thus takes up more room and weighs much more.
Many are shifting over to silver as it seems to make for a greater profit.
If you have a $700 gold coin (American Eagle), and if this nation falls as it is expected it will, you might have a hard time finding someone with $700 to purchase your coin. Multiply that by how many coins you have. If you think you might barter your gold in a time of national distress, how are you going to split up your gold coin so it becomes small enough to barter?
You can purchase smaller gold coins from the dealers I mentioned above (the ones most used).
Silver coins would be much easier to sell in a time of distress. Besides, you can use the silver to make colloidal silver for ministering to your health needs during the coming time of national distress.
Storage: $7,000 worth of gold will be much easier to hide than $7,000 worth of silver.
If you store it in a bank, you might lose it. If you bury it, make sure you tell a family member where it is should you die. I know of a family that has their gold AND silver buried at the base of a tree - one of many trees on their forested 10 acres.
Houses burn down so loss could be sustained this way if you had it in your closet.
I know of someone that has their gold and silver in the pockets of the garments in the closet.
Cut a piece of thick walled PVC pipe to size. Cap both ends. Bury.
DO NOT TELL ANYONE (except
A trusted family member) about your gold/silver "savings." Don't brag about it to anyone.
You might stash it in several places so if a loss happens, you will not lose it all.
If you purchase, ask the seller about the limit for each purchase that keeps you from being reported to the IRS. It is not illegal now to purchase, but you don't want the government having a record of your purchases. Limiting your purchase to maybe $9,000 might keep you below that threshold. Ask. Then purchase again at a later date or from a different dealer.
Often your gold will be shipped to you by UPS.
I hope this answers some of your questions.
Walk