TreasureHunter said:
Go for pure gold and silver bullion, forget about numismatic coins.
Whenever possible, buy bars that have certificates.
Why do you say this?
Bars, coins & rounds can be faked. PCGS/NGC slabs can be faked. But COA's can't??
For bullion, you're relying too much on spot for the future value of your pieces once purchased.
Yeah, for (semi-) numismatic you're paying more upfront. And there's no guarantee that the value will hold up, or potentially appreciate as much had you instead purchased bullion prior to any ramping up in spot price.
But it might be a good idea for the OP to diversify across different sub-groups. Different forms, different weights, different ages, across the spectrum of premiums.. from generic rounds to govt-issued bullion to "branded" bars to old slabbed coins, etc.
Plus, not only might it help protect against any declines in spot (while helping to catch any rises), but also just keeps things fresh, fun & interesting.
OP: You'll find that there will be as many different answers out there as there are stackers/collectors. There's no one right way to do things, per se. Depends a lot on your personal tastes, budget, location, philosophy, etc. And it's a pretty big universe out there to choose from, growing larger every week/month/year.