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Given the volatility of the global economy in recent years, buying and selling gold has gained a new degree of popularity. The key to generating real value and profits from gold is to spend sufficient time learning about the commodity and its market. Keep reading to gain valuable pointers that really can help.

You can't beat bullion bars for a solid gold investment. These bars come in varying weights. They can be found in sizes as small as a half-ounce or as large as four hundred ounce bars. It will be harder to find the bigger bars.

Try to only buy and sell your gold to certain dealers that are recognized through official gold and money associations. These dealers must follow strict guidelines under these organizations to ensure that you get fair compensation or quality pieces. One such well-known organization is the ANA or American Numismatic Association.

Understanding how gold is weighed can ensure that you don't get ripped off when selling your gold to a dealer. Gold can be weighed in Troy ounces, pennyweight, or grams. The most important thing is to make sure that whatever system the buyer is using to weigh your gold is the same one they're calculating the payment with.

When selling your gold, make sure that you separate each piece by its karat value. Some dealers will attempt to weigh all your gold at once then use the lowest karat value to calculate the payment. Keeping your jewelry separated out by karat values ensures that you are paid fairly for each piece.

You don't have to physically own gold to invest in gold. Check out mutual funds that invest specifically in gold. Also look at mutual funds that invest heavily in commodities in general with a concentration in gold. This makes investing in this sector a lot easier to handle for many.

Keep in mind that buying rare gold coins takes a lot of research, expertise, time, and dedication. Some coins tend to look alike, but they may have very different grades. Minor differences like these can lead to an additional thousands of dollars. Try hiring a type of professional grading service to obtain a certificate of authenticity when buying rare coins. These services judge the physical condition and provide it with a grade.

Do your homework about the market value of gold before you sell. Also, it might be beneficial to compare prices and see what others are selling similar items for. That way, you will have a good starting point. Ask a bit more than you want so you can negotiate with the buyer or seller.

Always identify the karat value of your jewelry when you walk into the store to sell it. Some dealers will try to convince their customers that the karat value of a piece is lower than it actually is, and this results in less money in the consumer's pocket. Have a clear understanding of your piece's actual weight so this doesn't happen to you.

While some people like the idea of purchasing gold in coins or bars, the cost is very high. It is also not advisable to keep valuable coins or bullion in your possession unless you have a very secure safe. Having personal possession of a few gold coins is only a good idea if you know you can keep them secure.

Never be an impulse buyer or seller of gold. There's a ton of emotion wrapped up with gold. Whether it's a piece that's been in your family for ages or one that's so beautiful that you've just got to have it, you may consider making off the cuff decisions. Take a step back. There are Trauringe involved with gold, so little mistakes can add up. Take the time to do it right.

Try to avoid buying gold coins from small shops that claim to be reputable dealers. You want to make sure that the people you deal with are really knowledgeable about the business, so it would be in your best interest to look for a gold dealer that has a much larger inventory.

Gold has traditionally provided a stable repository of value, even in the most turbulent economic times. In order to extract maximum value from your own participation in the gold market, knowledge is absolutely essential. Hopefully this article has given you the foundation necessary to launch your own exploration of the possibilities offered by gold.