Numismatic vs. Bullion for Gold IRA - What's your take?

Sandra Green

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Numismatic vs. Bullion for Gold IRA - What's your take?

sandra_green📊Growing (50-100k)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I've been doing a lot of reading and still feel a little torn about numismatic vs.
•bullion for my Gold IRA.
•We've seen good growth since we started, which is fantastic.

See what your 401(k) could look like in gold

Okay, so I've been doing a lot of reading and still feel a little torn about numismatic vs. bullion for my Gold IRA. My husband and I put about $75,000 into a Self-Directed IRA last year, mostly into American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maples, which I understand are bullion coins. We're on the farm here outside Kansas City, and honestly, the thought of having actual, tangible wealth that's not just numbers on a screen really appeals to me. We've seen good growth since we started, which is fantastic.

But then I keep running into discussions about numismatic coins and their potential for higher appreciation. I get that they have a collector's value on top of their metal value, but the premiums can be steep. Like, really steep! My main goal with this IRA is long-term wealth preservation and a safeguard against inflation and economic instability, not necessarily trying to hit a home run on a rare coin auction. Still, a part of me wonders if I'm missing out on a potentially better long-term strategy by sticking only to bullion.

My thinking has always been that the closer I am to the actual metal value, the better, especially with an IRA where you just want something solid and reliable. But then, is there a good argument for diversifying within gold, even in an IRA, to include a small percentage of numismatics? For those of you with Gold IRAs, have any of you gone the numismatic route? Did it pay off? Or is it just too much risk and too much premium for something that's supposed to be a secure retirement asset?

I’m constantly trying to refine our retirement strategy and want to make sure we're making the smartest choices with our hard-earned money. I even found a pretty neat Retirement Planner tool online recently that’s helping me visualize what our gold assets could look like down the road. Any thoughts or experiences on bullion vs. numismatic, especially within an IRA context, would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for your insights!

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6 comments

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Comments (6)

thomas_walker🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Hey, totally get where you're coming from! My spouse and I had the exact same dilemma when setting up our Gold IRA. We ended up going with mostly bullion too, primarily American Gold Eagles. It just felt like the more straightforward, less speculative option for a retirement account, you know? While the numismatic stuff is fascinating, the premium can be a bit much for something I'm hoping to hold for the long haul.

richard_garcia👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Hey, interesting post! So you mentioned putting about $75k into American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maples. Are those the 1oz versions, or did you mix in some of the smaller denominations too?

thomas_walker🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Honestly, the whole "numismatic vs. bullion" debate feels a bit overblown for most people's Gold IRAs. Unless you're a serious collector or have a crystal ball for what obscure coin is suddenly going to spike in value, bullion makes more sense for the average investor looking for precious metal exposure.

You're essentially trying to choose between a commodity and a collectible. For an IRA, I'd lean towards the simplicity and liquidity of bullion every time. The premium you pay for numismatics rarely translates to better returns in a retirement account, and the "collectible" aspect can make valuation a headache. Your current holdings sound totally fine for a long-term play, IMO.

joshua_phillips🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Hey, great question! It's super smart you're looking into this given your current holdings. For anyone else wondering, generally, the IRS has pretty strict rules about what "numismatic" coins are allowed in a Gold IRA. Often, the value has to be tied almost entirely to their metal content, not their rarity or collectibility.

A good rule of thumb I heard is that if a coin's premium over its melt value is more than 20-25%, it might raise an eyebrow with the IRS for an IRA. Your American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maples are definitely solid choices for bullion, so you're already on the right track there. Just make sure any "numismatic" coins you consider are clearly defined as acceptable by the IRS for an IRA. Some dealers will try to push higher-premium items, so always double-check!

matthew_murphy👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Totally agree with what you're saying here. I had the exact same 고민 (that's Korean for ' 고민' - I lived there for a bit!). When I set up my Gold IRA a couple of years ago, I went with almost entirely bullion. My thought process was just what you mentioned – lower premiums, and their value is tied directly to the spot price of gold, which feels like a more straightforward play for retirement savings.

I did throw in a tiny percentage of something slightly more collectible, just for fun, but the bulk is definitely in Eagles and Maples. Sounds like you guys made a really solid choice! $75k is a great start.