Been holding American Eagles for decades, but wondering

Donald Nelson

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Been holding American Eagles for decades, but wondering

donald_nelson💎Premium (500k-1m)

2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I've been in gold for a loooong time now, probably pushing 20, 25 years.
•Started piling up some Eagles back when I was still working at Ford in the '90s, slowly building up.
•Always liked the Eagles, they're classic, everyone knows 'em, and liquidity's never been an issue, not that I've had to sell much.

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Okay, so I've been in gold for a loooong time now, probably pushing 20, 25 years. Started piling up some Eagles back when I was still working at Ford in the '90s, slowly building up. Always liked the Eagles, they're classic, everyone knows 'em, and liquidity's never been an issue, not that I've had to sell much. Right now, probably 35-40% of my ~600k portfolio is in physical gold, mostly Eagles in a mix of 1/2 oz, 1 oz, and a few 1/4s.

Lately though, I've been seeing more talk about American Gold Buffalos. The purity is often brought up – 24k vs 22k for Eagles. Part of me, the old-school part, thinks 22k is fine, especially with the copper/silver alloy making them a bit more durable. But then, the idea of having pure gold just feels right, ya know? I'm not planning on selling anytime soon, this is long-term wealth preservation, especially with how bonkers the economy feels sometimes. Just checked out that Gold vs Stocks Comparison tool, and while stocks have had a great run the last 10 years, gold has still held its own surprisingly well. It's truly a cornerstone of my retirement.

So, for those of you who've held both, or even just prefer one over the other, what drives your choice? Does the 24k purity of the Buffalo actually translate into a noticeable difference in premium or resale compared to Eagles, or is it mostly just a preference thing? Are there any disadvantages to Buffalos I'm not thinking of beyond perhaps slightly less durability (which isn't really a concern for me as they're not getting handled much)? With my next purchase, I'm genuinely torn. Trying to decide if it's worth diversifying into some Buffalos or if I should just stick to my tried-and-true Eagles.

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5 comments

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Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

jennifer_martinez💰Established (100-250k)

Hey, totally get the sentiment about the Eagles. They're iconic. But honestly, sometimes I wonder if that "everyone knows 'em" factor adds a premium that doesn't quite translate to better actual value, especially when you compare apples to apples (i.e., pure gold content). The Buffalos might not have the same long-standing reputation, but that 24k purity is a pretty compelling argument for some of us, especially if we're thinking long-term store of wealth over immediate, easy-flip recognition.

Comments (5)

donna_rogers🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor•2 months ago

Dude, same! I've got a stack of Eagles from back when I was in college, and they were my first foray into precious metals. Always felt good having them. But lately, I've been eyeing the Buffalos too. Something about that design just hits different. Haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I'm definitely considering diversifying a bit with them.

andrew_roberts👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor✓ Verified•2 months ago

That's a pretty sweet run with the Eagles! I'm curious, did you ever consider any other types of gold during those 20+ years, or was it always just Eagles from the start?

jennifer_martinez💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•2 months ago

karen_robinson💼Starter (0-50k)•2 months ago

Hey, that's a cool history with the Eagles! Always great to hear from long-time stackers. If you're seriously considering Buffalos, make sure you're aware of the slight difference in purity – Buffalos are .9999 fine gold, whereas Eagles are .9167 (22k). It's a minor detail for some, but can influence premiums or how you mentally categorize them.

For a good comparison, I've found sites like JM Bullion's comparison guide or even YouTube videos from reputable dealers to be pretty helpful in seeing the pros and cons laid out clearly. Might be worth a

dorothy_lopez💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•2 months ago

Totally get this. I'm in a similar boat, though not quite as long as you. Been grabbing Eagles for a good 15 years myself. Always felt like the safe bet, easy to move if I ever needed to.

But the Buffaloes are definitely tempting, aren't they? Love the pure gold aspect. Been looking at some of the premiums lately, and they're sometimes surprisingly close to Eagles, especially on the secondary market. Makes you think!

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