Gold is high right now. If you’re not in a hurry, you can get a bit more for your $$ if you wait for it to come down, which it always does. But if you’re not too worried about it as an investment, I’d guess it’s not likely to come down by more than 10% anytime soon, so that’s not really that big of a deal, IMO.
The major dealers are pretty safe. I know that JM Bullion is one reputable source. A well established local coin shop should be pretty safe too. Compare prices, but don’t expect too much difference. It’s a commodity.
I have bought silver from J M bullion and Kitco. Both are very reputable.
I have a friend from high school who has owned several gold and silver businesses. And he showed me how to use a specific gravity test to verify that silver is indeed silver. You could get what you need to make the gadget for about 15 or $20. There are multiple tutorials on YouTube on how to construct and use such a device. It’s really quite easy.
I’ve only done it with silver, but I understand that the same process can be used with gold. Although I’m guessing with one tenth of an ounce coins it’s hard to be sufficiently precise.