With the economy in an ever-changing state of flux, it is nice to know that your money has a reliable value. Buying gold is one of the surest ways to make sure that your money stays well-invested. Nearly $7.6 trillion worth of precious metals circulates in the United States, with the American Gold Eagle coin as the most traded coin in the world. Last year alone the United States’ mines produced over 211 tons of the yellow ore, although nearly 75% of circulated gold has been extracted since 1910. Here are the two most important things to consider before buying gold straight up.

Relative Size
Not all gold bars are treated equally. Some of the largest examples include the 10 ounce bar, the kilogram bar, and in some cases the 400 ounce bar; all of these bars can be bought cheaper than the spot price that golden bars go for. Most United States precious metal sellers will sell nothing greater than a 10 ounce bar. By securely trying to invest gold, you can ensure yourself that your money will stay in a state of storage where the value scarcely changes because its value is recognized by a global market.

Purity
Knowing the purity of your gold is akin to knowing its value. Most bars will consist of 99% to 99.5% pure, with 99.9% or more being famously recognized as 24 karat. To put that in perspective, just one cubic foot of 24 karat weighs nearly half a ton, making it one of the heaviest metals in the world. The record–holder for the largest gold bar in the world weighs 250,000 grams and is housed in the Toi Gold Museum in Shizuoka, Japan. If you’re looking for a safe, secure investment, consider buying gold and putting value back in your money.