should i buy a gold coin without a coa?

most coins of any type are sold w/o certs, which are usually used when some detail of the coin is critical, like extreme rarity or the difference between Proof 69 and Proof 70, for example. and last time i checked it cost about $30 a coin to send it to a grading agency and have it returned "slabbed".

Coins can be counterfeited and so can "certificates". Consider buying a "slabbed" coin, one that is sealed in a plastic holder from either PCGS or NGC - no one else. I suppose slabs can be faked also, but mainly, deal with reputable sources, including dealers and grading services, of which the two I mentioned are the best.

I'm just now working on a section of my website about counterfeiting. Here's the first page:

http://www.valuable-coin-stories.com/counterfeit-c...

Also, a page on certified (slabbed) coins you may find interesting:

http://www.valuable-coin-stories.com/us-certified-...

Hope those will be useful to you.

As long as the coin is not known to be couterfeited, you should be fine. Just ask a local coin shop if he has heard of a counterfeit for that coin. If so, then only buy from that dealer. If not, you should be fine buying from anyone.

Deal only with established dealers.