I had just finished a walking tour of the Royal Canadian Mint when I saw it. Right there, out in the open, was a 400-ounce bar of pure gold . It was chained to a display table and kept safe by an armed guard. At the time, in 2005, the bar was worth $220,000. Today, the same bar is worth $667,700. In just seven years, gold prices have jumped by 203%. But it's not the eternal fascination with gold that has boosted the price. With growing levels of worldwide uncertainties, mounting inflation risks and government distrust, people are clamoring for gold primarily as insurance. According to the World Gold Council, 2011 saw gold bars and coins reach nearly $77 billion in sales, versus 2002's $3.5 billion. And in November alone, the U.S. Mint's sales of the popular American Eagle coins jumped 131% in the wake of the election. With the market for gold growing at a feverish pace, it's now more important than ever to know that your gold is the real deal-especially with gold prices looking to break through the $2,000 mark in the new year. Here's why... Gold counterfeiting is nothing new. In fact, just recently there were reports of fake gold bars from China turning up in New York. Instead of gold, their centers were stuffed with tungsten. But rest assured there are a number of methods you can use to mitigate the risks of ending up with counterfeit gold. Some are simple, quick and inexpensive. Others are more elaborate, detailed, and not so readily accessible. Here are seven ways to find out if the gold you own is real: To continue reading, please click here...