Do coin grades even matter for Gold IRA coins?

Robert Thompson

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Do coin grades even matter for Gold IRA coins?

robert_thompson💰Established (100-250k)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially looking at the premium on some of these graded coins.
•I started my Gold IRA after the whole 2008 mess, saw too many people lose everything and wanted something tangible.
•Being a retired teacher here in Phoenix, stability was always my goal, not chasing huge gains.

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I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially looking at the premium on some of these graded coins. I started my Gold IRA after the whole 2008 mess, saw too many people lose everything and wanted something tangible. Being a retired teacher here in Phoenix, stability was always my goal, not chasing huge gains. Over the years, I've built up a decent stack, probably somewhere between $150k and $200k in the IRA now.

Most of what I bought for my IRA were standard, eligible bullion coins – American Gold Eagles, Canadian Maples, that kind of thing. I always figured a gram of gold is a gram of gold, whether it's AU or MS70. But then I see these discussions about "investment grade" coins and the huge jump in price for something like an MS69 or MS70. Are we talking about a real difference in value for retirement purposes, or just speculation for collectors?

Part of me worries I'm missing out by not focusing on graded coins, but then the other part thinks it's just adding unnecessary cost and complexity. If the SHTF, will someone care if my Gold Eagle is MS69 vs. just plain BU? And when it comes to liquidating in retirement (which, let's be honest, is already underway for me!), how much of that premium for grading really translates back into cash in your pocket? Or does the dealer just pay you spot anyway for the gold content?

Anyone here with a similar size IRA or more experience with graded coins have perspectives on this? Did you intentionally buy graded coins for your IRA, and if so, how did you decide on the grade? Or is it really just about the gold content for IRA purposes?

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4 comments

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Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

michael_anderson🏆Advanced (250-500k)

Interesting thought process, given your background. While I totally get the desire for stability and tangibility, I'd argue that coin grades can matter, even for IRA gold. Not necessarily for daily price fluctuations like a collector might care, but more for the long-term, worst-case scenario. If you ever do need to liquidate, a well-graded coin, even if it's just a common bullion piece, might be easier to verify and sell at a fair market price, especially if the usual channels are disrupted. It’s like having a certified title for a piece of real estate – adds a layer of reassurance, even if you don't plan on selling it tomorrow.

Comments (4)

kenneth_parker💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Hey, I hear you on this! I had a similar thought process when I set up my Gold IRA a few years back. The whole "graded vs. un-graded" thing for IRA-eligible coins really threw me for a loop. I ended up going with some ungraded eagles because the premium on the graded ones just felt a bit much for something I wasn't planning on ever taking out of storage immediately.

My thinking was, if it's purely for wealth preservation and not collecting, does the grade *really* translate to better long-term value within an IRA? Still something I ponder sometimes, though!

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

Hey, that's a really good point about the premium. I was wondering, when you say "premium," are you specifically talking about the difference between the actual metal value and the asking price for a graded coin, or something else?

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

Interesting thought process, given your background. While I totally get the desire for stability and tangibility, I'd argue that coin grades can matter, even for IRA gold. Not necessarily for daily price fluctuations like a collector might care, but more for the long-term, worst-case scenario. If you ever *do* need to liquidate, a well-graded coin, even if it's just a common bullion piece, might be easier to verify and sell at a fair market price, especially if the usual channels are disrupted. It’s like having a certified title for a piece of real estate – adds a layer of reassurance, even if you don't plan on selling it tomorrow.

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

Hey, great question! It's definitely something to consider when you're looking at Gold IRA coins. While grading *can* matter for collectors, for your IRA, the main thing is that the coins are recognized as IRA-eligible and meet the fineness requirements.

A good resource to check out for a clear list of approved coins and their requirements is the IRS's own guidelines on IRA investments. That way you can be sure you're getting something that's compliant without necessarily overpaying for a high grade if that's not your primary goal. Hope this helps!

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