When it comes to buying gold, there are many different options available. Gaining in popularity are minted gold bars, which come in a multitude of sizes and designs, some simple and others quite ornate.

The gold bars usually have a design on one side, and the other side is stamped with the weight and purity followed by a serial number and/or an assay stamp. To protect the consumer, most gold bars are stored in packaging that displays assay information and is most often tamper-evident. More people are turning to gold everyday as a hedge against inflation and long-term investment.

A lot of people like start out buying one to ten grams of gold at a time, which is fine, but you pay a higher premium on several small bars than you do on one larger gold bar. Prized by collectors, minted gold bars are not only nice to look at, but also make great investments.

Credit Suisse produces the highly acclaimed "Liberty" gold bar which features the Statue of Liberty embossed on a mirror finished background. These beautiful gold bars are available in one gram, two gram, five gram, ten gram and twenty gram weights.

Produits Artistiques de Métaux Précieux (Artistic Designs in Precious Metals), or PAMP, creates some of the most beautiful works of art when it comes to gold bars. Lady Fortuna is the bar currently available, which shows the Lady of Fortune on the front of the bar. PAMP Suisse gold bars are sold in one gram, two and a half gram, five gram, ten gram, one ounce, five ounce and ten ounce sizes. Some people so admire these gold bars that holders can be made by jewelers to wear them as necklaces.

The Perth Mint currently offers kangaroo gold bars, which shows a repeating kangaroo design on the back of the bar, referring the the Australian Outback. These fine gold bars are available in five gram, ten gram, twenty gram, one ounce and ten ounce weights.

While there are dozens of other minted gold bars out there, these are the most popular gold bars to buy. Recognized all over the world, any of these gold bars can be bought or sold at most any precious metals dealer. When you decide to buy one of these wonderful gold bars, either for and investment or as a gift, remember to buy the biggest bar that you can afford, and always buy gold through a reputable dealer.