We have analysed the physical characteristics of gold, its colours and the alloys it can form, the differences between raw gold and pure or fine gold, and the systems used to assess its purity and therefore its value, both in carats and in thousandths. Now let’s try to understand together why this precious metal has historically been considered a safe haven: let’s talk about gold as an investment.
Since ancient times, gold has been recognised as having a stable and lasting value. Its rarity, the difficulty in finding it and its physical characteristics have made it a precious and sought-after commodity, used as currency and as a symbol of power and social status, as well as economic status.
Throughout history, gold has become increasingly important as a safe haven asset in times of economic and political uncertainty. Financial crises, wars, epidemics and other situations of instability have prompted people to seek security by investing in safe haven assets such as gold.
A particularly significant historical example is the financial crisis of 1929, which led to the Great Depression. The collapse of the stock market led many investors to seek refuge in gold, whose price rose sharply as the value of currencies fell.
In recent decades, economic developments have led to greater diversification of investments, but gold continues to be considered an important safe-haven asset. In particular, investors use it as a defence against inflation and as protection against fluctuations in the financial markets.
Investment gold refers to a form of physical gold purchase made with the specific aim of profiting from its market value.
Unlike gold used for jewellery or industrial purposes, investment gold is considered a financial asset in its own right.
Investment gold can be purchased in various forms, including gold bars and gold coins. The choice of form depends mainly on the investor’s preferences and market conditions.
It is considered a safe form of investment – precisely because gold has always maintained a certain value over time – and, in the long term, capable of protecting the portfolio from financial losses and ensuring a certain stability.
Investment gold can also be a tool for diversifying your portfolio. Investors can purchase gold as part of a diversified portfolio that also includes equities, bonds, real estate and other financial products.
Investment gold can help reduce the overall risk of your portfolio, as its value does not necessarily follow that of other financial assets.
In Italy, investment gold is subject to specific regulations that define the characteristics of gold products intended for investment and the methods of marketing.
The main legislation governing investment gold in Italy is Law No. 7 of 17 January 2000, also known as the “Gold Decree”. This law defines the requirements that gold investment products, including gold bars and coins, must meet in order to be considered as such and enjoy the related tax benefits.
In particular, gold investment products must have a minimum purity of 995‰ for bars and 900‰ for coins. They must also be minted by an accredited mint and have a nominal value.
The price of physical investment gold depends on its purity, expressed in thousandths or carats, and its weight, expressed in grams or ounces.
The gold prices that determine the price of investment gold are influenced by supply and demand on the international market, inflation, exchange rates and central bank monetary policy decisions.
Precisely because of its status as a safe-haven asset, the price of physical gold for investment purposes can rise in times of economic or political uncertainty, as demand increases from investors seeking a safe way to diversify their portfolios.
Among the different types of physical gold for investment, bullion is often the preferred choice of more experienced buyers. Gold bullion is easy to store, can be bought and sold more easily and is available in various sizes: on the Italpreziosi online shop, you can buy pure gold bullion in 9 different sizes, from 5 grams to 1 kg, always accompanied by a certificate of guarantee.
An alternative form of investment in physical gold is collector coins: often minted in limited editions, they can have a numismatic value higher than the value of the gold they contain.
Italpreziosi offers an extensive catalogue of gold coins for collectors and investors, including Marengo and British Sterling coins, purchased from the world’s leading mints. To help you choose the form of investment that best suits your needs, Italpreziosi offers a consultancy service with industry professionals who guide customers in choosing the most effective and secure option.
