It is a constant struggle to find new and creative ways to make and save money wisely. While there various options to choose from, one that begs special consideration is that of gold and silver investing. The thought of buying gold ?or, specifically, stacks of gold bullion– may seem a little lavish for those who focus on more modest means of investment, but it is a sound choice nonetheless. What?s more, investing in gold and precious metals can make for a more diversified investment portfolio, setting one apart from the usual mix of stocks and bonds and the like. Even so, it can be important to understand the specifics of one?s investment and knowledge of gold bullion may be a bit esoteric to the average person. The following lists the three most important aspects of gold.


U.S. Production of Gold


Gold provides for an active and lucrative American trade, but not as often in the form of the gold bullion bar. As much as 80% of the U.S. gold circulation is in the form of the American Gold Eagle coin, which also happens to be the most traded coin in the world. In 2014, U.S. mines produced 211 tons of gold in total, an impressive but unsurprising amount considering the U.S. circulates or deposits over $7,600,000,000,000 in gold. We can conclude that gold is a financially sound investment for anyone in a country that distributes and trades it with such resounding success.


Gold Bar Size


As gold is more of a solid investment than mere numbers in a computer, it can be important to know the specifics of size and weight. Gold bars will inevitably differ in this, but there are general standards and specifics for the sake of comparison. In a typical U.S. shop the heaviest bar of gold one can buy will usually be 10 ounce bars. Larger bars, like the 10 ounce and even as heavy as 400 ounces, can be bought for just a smaller fee over the original spot price. As a point of comparison, one cubic foot of gold weighs half a ton; currently, however, the largest bar of gold in the world 440 pounds.


Gold Purity


A very important factor in determining the worth of a gold is, of course, that of its purity. The purest form is that of 24 karat gold (99.9% pure), a fairly common knowledge factor for anyone who has ever bought jewelry. Investors can rest assured that most gold bars in the world are between 99% and 99.5% purity, meaning they are all very close to being a full 24 karat.


When looking for a sound investment and a choice to diversify one?s portfolio, we need look no farther than the security of gold.