I stick with US gold and silver coins, which are (theoretically) protected by the US Treasury against counterfeiting. Bouillon rounds and bars are not. I have heard of a few counterfeit slabbed coins (rare coins graded by one of the professional grading houses and encased in plastic slabs), but the seller (if caught) ends up dealing with the Federal court system. Junk silver coins are usually a safe investment as are Saint-Gaudens $20 gold pieces. My gold coin guy used to say: *invest in census rarity as opposed to condition rarity* - meaning a rare coin, even if severely worn, will appreciate in value much faster than a highly graded coin of which there are many available. And don't forget to check coin machine return slots often found in banks and grocery stores. Silver dimes and quarters get rejected by those machines, along with washers, slugs, buttons etc. and are occasionally left by person cashing in their change.