Buying physical gold coins?

In uncertain economic times when people are turning to gold for safety, I can’t help but feel that the ultimate in safety would be physically possessing your gold rather than "your" gold simply being a few bytes on a computer somewhere that indicate that some gold in a distant land belongs to you.

What would be the disadvantage of buying coins like this (or bullion if you’re RICH!)…

http://www.mint.ca/store/buy/gold_coins-cat120004

These are from the Canadian mint because I’m in Canada, but I assume the US has similar coins.
Edit:

Scratch my comment about bullion - any size bullion bar is clearly out of my reach - I’m interested in the disadvantages of gold coins.

One disadvantage for some people would be finding somewhere to safely keep it. No problem there, I’ve got a good hiding spot. :-)

Edit2:
Thanks for the answers so far. I should have been more clear, the scenario I am considering hedging against is a drastic decline in the value of the US dollar, the USD losing its reserve status and anarchy ensuing. I have plenty of extremely liquid assets for if the economy actually turns around long term, which I think is laughable given the fundamentals of the US economy right now, but I hope that’s the way it goes. If gold were to go to k - k per oz, and it turned out to be a good place to have some money, I was just wondering about the dis/advantages of physically possessing coins. It sound like the primary one is finding a safe spot to keep them. That is not a big problem for me at all. Thanks for the answers so far, some very good points!

Related posts:

  1. Krugerrand Gold Coins - Five Advantages Of Buying Gold Krugerrands Compared To Similar Bullion Coins Krugerrand Gold Coins - Five Advantages Of Buying Gold Krugerrands Compared To Similar Bullion Coins Krugerrand gold coins are the oldest among all modern gold bullion coins. Released in 1967...
  2. Have You Thought About Buying Gold Bullion Coins? Have You Thought About Buying Gold Bullion Coins? In the current financial climate of weak currencies, inflation and general insecurity, many investors and ordinary families are turning to a reliable...
  3. Buying American Eagle Gold Coins to Hedge Against Inflation American Eagle bullion gold coins are an excellent way to begin and diversify any investment portfolio. With the decline in the value of the US dollar, and the rise in...
  4. Buying Gold Coins From Gold101.Com Buying Gold Coins From Gold101.Com Since the restoration of 1974, gold, as a method of trade, investment and expenditure has caught on amongst a lot of people. While this is...
  5. Buying Gold Bullion Coins as a Hedge Against the Economy Buying Gold Bullion Coins as a Hedge Against the Economy For serious investors looking to purchase gold bullion, coins often yield higher returns than gold bars. The main reason is...