Q: Should I only buy certified U.S. gold coins when buying online? 

A: Not necessarily. 

While it is true that certified grading from companies such as PCGS, NGC, and ANACS has made buying rare U.S. gold coins online safer, raw coins can be had at a good value if you get clear pictures and know how to grade accurately yourself and, we recommend, are under $200.
 
Your price tolerance may vary, but we feel $200 is the maximum price point at which we are personally comfortable buying uncertified coins online.  Even certified coins involve some level of risk as their have been reports of counterfeit slabbed coins (faux certified) on the market.