The first time you buy gold coins or Gold Bar medals, I suggest you do not start with valuable antique gold. Go for coins whose value is intrinsically in the metal. This includes damaged items that would have no appeal for the collector and scrap gold. Before you buy make sure you know how much gold an item contains and what the spot price of gold is on the day. Remember that no dealer will give you more than 70-80% of the spot price.
Remember that gold is a valuable commodity and is very attractive to thieves for the same reasons you are buying it. Security is an issue you should consider carefully. Never tell anyone what you are doing and never keep more than a small amount of gold in your home or office. Should you decide on getting a safety deposit box that the costs of this could reduce your investment income significantly.