Better to buy bullion coins like the US Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, or Austrian Philharmonic in my opinion. They are easy to recognize, easy to authenticate by appearance, weight, and dimensions, and have a fairly small premium over bullion spot price. The US Eagle has an advantage in that the US Secret Service protects against counterfeiting. The other two coins are 0.9999 Au and are extremely difficult to counterfeit, assuming one checks weight and dimensions.
BTW, if you buy physical bullion you’re still going to pay a premium over quoted spot prices.
I checked Monet prices, and US Govey uncircs and proofs, which cost a premium, but who needs that quality anyway, and you are correct, the Monet costs between bullion and coins is really nothing. Go with the recognized and trusted stampings.