Common gold coins, like the Canadian Maple Leafs, are known as bullion coins. You can also purchase small bars of gold, known as bullion, from a trusted source. You can store metals in a safe at home or in a safe deposit box at the bank. Or if you have an IRA account, you can have an approved IRA custodian store them for you.
Buy your physical precious metals in the form of a Perth Mint Certificate. Your precious metals will be stored at the Perth Mint in Western Australia, with a government guarantee. You will receive a Certificate that shows title to the precious metals held on your behalf. Perth Certificates are highly recommended for safety and are extremely liquid.
You can buy shares in corporations that are in the business of the exploration and mining of precious metals. It is not recommended that you purchase junior mining stocks, as they are very risky.
Buying contracts through a licensed commodities broker can make hefty percentage gains, but they present the highest risk. This is considered a leveraged approach to buying precious metals.