Among all hard assets, precious metals—and gold in particular—hold a special place in the hearts of investors. Gold has been used as a form of money for thousands of years, and it remains the ultimate "store of value" when fiat currencies lose their purchasing power . Unlike paper money, which a government can print at will, the supply of gold is limited by the difficulty of finding and mining it.

Gold as an "Alternative Currency"

In many parts of the world, especially where the local currency is unstable, people don't trust the government's money. Instead, they use gold as an alternative currency . Gold is a real, physical asset that tends to hold its value over long periods. While the price of gold can go up and down in the short term, its "buying power" has remained remarkably consistent over centuries.

The Yield Problem: A Critical Trade-off

One of the most important things for a beginner to understand about gold is that it is a "non-productive" asset. Unlike a stock (which might pay a dividend) or a bond (which pays interest), a gold bar just sits there. It doesn't "grow" or produce anything .

Because of this, gold often struggles when interest rates are high. If you can earn 5% interest on a safe government bond, holding gold (which pays 0%) looks less attractive. However, when inflation is high and "real" interest rates (interest minus inflation) are negative, gold becomes the preferred choice for many .

How to Invest in Precious Metals

There are several ways to add precious metals to your portfolio, each with its own pros and cons:

Physical Bullion: This involves buying actual gold or silver coins and bars.
- Pros: No counterparty risk (you own it physically); it works even if the financial system crashes.
- Cons: You have to pay for storage and insurance; it can be hard to sell quickly for a fair price .
Gold ETFs: Funds like the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) track the price of gold.
- Pros: Highly liquid (can be sold like a stock); no need for physical storage .
- Cons: You don't actually own the gold; you own a share in a trust that owns the gold.
Mining Stocks: Buying shares in companies that dig the metal out of the ground.
- Pros: These can provide "leverage"—if the price of gold goes up 10%, a mining company's profits might go up 30%.
- Cons: You are taking on "business risk." If the mine has a strike or bad management, the stock could go down even if the price of gold goes up.

Marketable Securities vs. Liquid Assets

It is important to distinguish between a "marketable security" and a "liquid asset." A marketable security is a financial instrument that can be easily bought or sold on a public exchange, like a stock or an ETF . A liquid asset is anything that can be quickly converted to cash.

As points out, a recently minted American Eagle Gold Coin is a liquid asset because you can take it to a coin dealer and get cash for it quickly. However, it is not a marketable security because it isn't traded on a stock exchange. Understanding this distinction is vital for planning how quickly you can access your money in an emergency.

Historical Context: The 1933 Double Eagle

The value of precious metals is often tied to their rarity. A famous example is the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle $20 gold coin. Only 11 are known to exist, and only one can be legally owned by a private citizen . Because of its extreme rarity, its value has nothing to do with the current price of gold; it is a "collectible" alternative investment. This highlights how some hard assets can gain value not just from inflation, but from their historical significance and scarcity .

FAQ: Precious Metals

Is silver a good hedge? Yes, but silver is also an industrial metal (used in solar panels and electronics), so its price is more sensitive to the health of the economy than gold is .
What are "TIPS"? While not a metal, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are government bonds that adjust their value based on inflation. They are often used alongside gold as a "safe" inflation hedge .
Should I buy "paper gold" or "physical gold"? If you are worried about a total collapse of the financial system, physical is better. If you just want to profit from rising prices, an ETF is much easier and cheaper .