The best places to buy gold coins online

If you're aiming to add some variety to your investment portfolio, don't overlook gold.

It's often seen as a safe-haven asset: In times of economic or political turmoil, investors turn to gold because it has a long history of holding its value, and is a scarce resource. The precious metal is also considered an investment that can hedge against inflation.

On May 7, gold reached a two-week high of $4,735.32 per ounce. But the precious metal hasn't performed as well as it did last year: Since the start of the year, prices have been on a rollercoaster, thanks in part to the Iran war. However, market watchers told CNBC that a rally in gold could start again if a U.S.-Iran peace settlement is reached.

If you're interested in adding physical gold to your investing portfolio, there are several strategies. While gold bars and bullion are popular options, coins also have another layer of value — some have rare designs or historical significance, therefore commanding higher prices.

There are many ways to buy gold coins online, but a few retailers shine for customer service, affordable shipping and ease of use. CNBC Select reviewed a dozen vendors and found four that stand out. (See more on how we chose our top places to buy gold coins in our methodology.)

Who's this for? Goldco offers dozens of gold coins that can either be shipped to your home or held in a gold IRA. When you're ready to sell your coins, Goldco's Highest BuyBack Guarantee will help you get top dollar.

Standout benefits: Goldco also has a price match guarantee, so if you find a better deal elsewhere, the brand will beat it or add a free silver coin to your retirement account.

Who’s this for? If you’d rather not handle the proper storage of your gold coins at home, opting for a gold IRA could be a smart move. Another benefit: These accounts also come with the tax perks of an IRA. American Hartford Gold’s catalog includes many gold and silver coins that can be securely added to your gold IRA and held for you. Outside of gold IRAs, the brand also offers home delivery options.

Standout benefits: American Hartford Gold offers free storage for up to five years and a price protection guarantee, which can re-price your gold if values fall in seven days.

Who's this for? JM Bullion has a wide selection of coins available for purchase from its site, from newly minted designs to rare, vintage and even ancient coins from around the world.

Standout benefits: JM Bullion offers free shipping on orders of $499 or more. Orders below that threshold ship for just $9.95.

Who's this for? You can save on costs with APMEX, which offers free shipping on orders over $199 — many other competitors require a higher minimum order for free shipping. Orders under that threshold are charged $9.95.

Standout benefits: APMEX has been in the gold and precious metals space for more than 20 years and has many accolades to show for it, including an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a large number of positive customer reviews on its site.

Gold coins can be just as good an investment as gold bars if you want to diversify your portfolio with precious metals. However, the right one for you largely depends on your goals.

Gold coins can be more liquid than bars, as they tend to have a more easily verified history and provenance that can be traced back to a government mint. They can also fetch higher prices than gold bars, as they're traded for more than their melt value. After all, a coin's design or historic significance could help it be worth more than just the value of the precious metals it was created with, according to precious metals retailer JM Bullion.

While gold bars can be equally valuable, they may require more work to confirm authenticity and exchange for cash.

Either can be a good store of value, depending on your investment goals. If you're just looking to include gold in your investing portfolio and hold onto it for the long haul, a bar could be easier to store and a better fit than coins. However, coins might be a better fit for collectors or those wanting to actively trade in the gold market.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every gold review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of gold products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best gold coin dealers.

CNBC Select analyzed more than a dozen providers of physical gold products that also offer gold coins. We compared them based on the following:

• Availability and variety: We prioritized dealers that offered a wide range of designs and coin types.
• Pricing and fees: All retailers on our list offer transparent pricing and competitive fee structures. 
• Shipping: We considered the price and speed of shipping (if applicable).
• Ease of use and customer support: The gold companies on this list all had strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau, as well as numerous customer support channels.
• Educational resources: We gave preference to gold retailers that offered educational tools on precious metal investing.

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

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