For hundreds of years gold has been a symbol of power and wealth.  Gold has been used for years as currency in many countries around the world because it is both durable and valuable.  Today, many people are learning the value of gold investments.  Gold prices are continuing to rise, with no real end in sight.  This means that gold is a stable investment.  When investing in precious metals you must first learn the latest gold value.

The gold value is based on the current market price of gold on the global commodities exchange.  When buying gold for investment you can choose from gold coins and gold bars.  Gold bullion bars are one of the most popular ways to purchase gold for investment.  Gold bars are most commonly minted in 10-ounce sizes.  Each of the gold bars is hallmarked to indicate the precise purity of the gold.  Bars are made by mints.  The gold is melted and poured into molds.  The gold value of the bars depends on the weight and purity of them.

When buying gold bars or coins, the price that you will pay is based on the weight and purity of the metal and the market price on the second day after the transaction.  Gold bars are most often kept on-premise, eliminating the need for expensive shipment.  Larger sized gold bars are also available for serious investors.  These bars, called “kilobars”, contain a kilogram of gold.  The gold used is .9999 pure.  This is also known as “four nines”.

Investors and collectors who prefer to keep their gold at their own homes may prefer to purchase gold coins.  Gold bullion coins are both valuable and historically important.  Coins are an affordable way to start or add to an investment collection.  The most popular of the gold coins for investment is the gold American Eagle.  A stunning coin, the American Eagle features an American bald eagle on one side.  The other side depicts Lady Liberty holding a torch in one hand and an olive branch in the other.

The gold American Eagle contains one troy ounce of 22-karat gold.  The coin is quite substantial, measuring 32.7 mm in diameter.  The coins are sold in units of ten one-ounce coins.  The face value of the coin is $50; however, the actual value of the coin is much higher than that since it is based on the current gold value.  The American Eagle is also sold in fractional denominations.