American Eagles vs Buffalos for a Gold IRA - is there a real difference?

Jason Morgan

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American Eagles vs Buffalos for a Gold IRA - is there a real difference?

jason_morgan💰Established (100-250k)

about 1 month ago

Key Takeaways

•Alright, so I’ve been looking into adding more physical gold to my IRA, specifically leaning towards the coin route.
•Living here in Jacksonville, FL, I like having tangible assets that aren't tied to some digital illusion.
•I’m trying to decide between American Gold Eagles and American Gold Buffalos for my next chunk, probably around a 10-15k purchase.

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Alright, so I’ve been looking into adding more physical gold to my IRA, specifically leaning towards the coin route. My portfolio's sitting around the $180k mark right now, and as someone who's spent enough time in less-than-stable places, security and reliability are always top of mind for me. Living here in Jacksonville, FL, I like having tangible assets that aren't tied to some digital illusion. I’m trying to decide between American Gold Eagles and American Gold Buffalos for my next chunk, probably around a 10-15k purchase.

My initial thought was Eagles, purely based on name recognition and the fact that they’re so widely known. But then I started digging deeper and seeing a lot of folks debate the merits of both. I know Eagles are 22k with that alloy for durability, which sounds good in theory for handling. Buffalos, though, are 24k pure gold. Does that purity really make a difference for an IRA investment? Are they truly more liquid or valuable if the SHTF?

I ran some numbers using that "Gold vs Stocks Comparison" tool over at goldvsstocks.goldirablueprint.com/?period=10Y just to see the historical performance of gold against stocks, and it definitely reinforces my belief in having a solid gold allocation. The long-term stability is pretty compelling. But when it comes to Eagles vs. Buffalos, it feels like I'm splitting hairs over premiums and perceived value. Are the premiums significantly different enough to matter over, say, a 10-20 year hold? And does the lack of alloy in Buffalos make them too soft for storage, even in a secure depository?

For those of you who've held both in your IRAs, what's your experience been? Is there a tangible benefit one has over the other beyond just the aesthetic? I'm trying to make the most informed decision for my retirement, especially with everything going on in the world. Any insights from fellow security-minded investors would be much appreciated.

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7 comments

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Best Answer▲ 16 upvotes

ruth_perez📊Growing (50-100k)

Genuinely curious — has anyone here actually tried to liquidate from their gold IRA? How smooth was that process?

Comments (7)

diane_bailey💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•about 1 month ago

I hear you on the security front! I went through a similar debate for my own IRA last year. Ended up going with Buffalos, mostly because I found a slightly better deal on them at the time. Honestly, haven't thought about it since. Both are solid, IRA-approved, so it probably comes down to whatever you can get at a better premium when you're buying.

diane_bailey💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•about 1 month ago

Interesting post! You mentioned security and reliability are top of mind, which makes total sense given your background. When you say "less-than-stable places," are you referring to financial market stability, geopolitical stability, or something else?

david_brown💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor•about 1 month ago

Honestly, the "real difference" might only matter if you're planning on selling them directly to a collector down the line. For an IRA, where you're holding for the long haul and likely liquidating through a dealer, the premium you pay and the ease of storage are probably bigger factors. Don't overthink the aesthetics unless you're really into that.

joshua_phillips🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

Hey, good question! For a Gold IRA, both American Gold Eagles and Buffalos are excellent choices since they're both 0.999 fine gold (or 0.9167 for Eagles with the alloy). The biggest difference for IRA purposes is really just the premium. Buffalos often carry a slightly lower premium over spot price because they're 'pure' gold, whereas Eagles have that small amount of silver/copper alloy, which can sometimes make their premium a tiny bit higher.

My tip: Always check the current premiums from a few different reputable dealers before you buy. Sometimes one might be running a special that makes one a significantly better deal than the other, even if usually they're pretty close. Also, make sure to factor in any shipping or storage costs for your IRA custodian, as those can vary too!