Best gold and silver bullion coins and bars

Start with a 1 oz gold bar in sealed assay — the PAMP Suisse Fortuna is my top pick: a globally recognised brand, .9999 fine, and it comes sealed with an assay card and Veriscan authentication, which makes it easy to resell. Bars usually carry a smaller premium than coins of the same weight.

Who the others suit:

• American Gold Eagle (1 oz) — the most liquid gold coin in the US; the 22-karat alloy is tougher, so it handles handling better.
• Gold Maple Leaf (1 oz) — .9999 fine and a familiar name; a good coin alternative to the Eagle.
• 1/4 oz Gold Eagle — for smaller budgets or fractional stacking, at a higher premium per ounce.
• Silver Eagle (1 oz) — the classic entry point to silver; buy a few rather than one.
• 1 oz silver bars (Scottsdale Marquee, APMEX 10-packs) — lowest cost per ounce for volume; the 10-pack is the efficient way to build a stack.

Two cautions: check the stated weight on each listing (some "1 oz" gold bar listings show 10 g specs), and buy from established dealers where you can confirm authenticity.