Problem with holding physical is you get ripped off by most places.

I hear buying gold at Dubai gold souk is one of the better ways, if you happen to be in Dubai. Of course you would have to report any gold valued > 10K when you come back to the states.

As for storing, a Standard safety deposit box will hold multiple 100Ks, will get bit heavy. I suppose if all hell breaks loose, for the paranoid even safety deposit boxes are unsafe. Storing at home would require for me a very secure safe, and I would still insure it.
Bubblesitter. (no longer real bubble sitter, I bought a house a over a year ago. See thread on “bubblesitter buys”)