The decision to invest in gold coins is not one that you made lightly, so you should treat your coin dealer choice with just as much gravity and seriousness. There are so many risks in today’s marketplace that it can be scary to figure out where exactly you should put your money. Most investment professionals believe that you should keep five to fifteen percent of your portfolio in precious metals, because gold and silver act as excellent hedges against inflation and a safe investment no matter what the economic climate.

You need to protect yourself against any fraudulent coin dealer that you might come across. The most important step to making sure you don’t get hoodwinked is doing all the research you can about the economic climate, the price of gold, pricing histories in general, and who the reliable coin dealers are, both in your hometown and on the Internet. You can find a good coin dealer if you do the research, but you’ll never get there unless you are diligent and careful. The best dealers have a strong professional reputation among their peers, so check for that as well as customer reviews.

Another good sign is membership in a professional organization that holds its members to a specific code of ethical conduct. You want to make sure the coin dealer you choose cares about giving every customer a good experience. The Professional Numismatists Guild and the American Numismatic Association are both excellent organizations that prize ethical conduct and fairness. Many large dealers belong to professional organizations, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a dealer that meets this requirement. Local dealers are less likely to have professional membership, but you should make sure to continue searching until you find a coin dealer who meets your standards.

Finally, examine the long-term reputation of any coin dealer that you consider, small or large. Question the ownership history of local dealers. A family owned business that has been in business for over a hundred years, owned by the same family, is much more trustworthy than a dealership that has changed ownership every couple of years for the last twenty years. Online customer reviews will also tell you a lot about a dealer. Checking with the Better Business Bureau is never a bad idea, either. This decision is very important to your future, and it requires care and research. You should always choose someone you can trust with your money and your future.