Don't Get Gouged on Premiums! My Recent Gold Coin Buy &
- •4.5% over spot
- •what are you all seeing out there in terms of premiums on 1 oz. gold bullion coins lately?
Hey everyone,
Andrew Roberts here, chiming in from sunny Palm Beach. Been meaning to jump into this gold coin premium discussion for a while now. As some of you know, I've got a decent chunk of my IRA—we’re talking somewhere in the 7-figure range—allocated to physical metals, and a good portion of that is in coins. So premiums are something I keep a very close eye on. Just last month, I was looking to add some more to the stack, primarily Eagles and Maples, and I was honestly a bit surprised by the spread I was seeing. Got a decent deal on some 1 oz. Gold Eagles – paid about 4.5% over spot, which I felt was fair for current market conditions. But then I saw some Maples pushing 6% and even 7% at a couple of the online dealers. That felt a bit steep to me, especially when you're buying in larger quantities like I usually do. My son, Michael, who's just starting to get into this, was looking at some smaller fractional coins, and the premiums on those were just absolutely wild – sometimes even 10-15%!
It really got me thinking about how much of a difference even a percentage or two can make when you're talking about significant investments. Over the years, I’ve probably saved tens of thousands just by being patient and shopping around for better premium percentages. I started seriously investing in physical gold back in the early 2000s, and while premiums then were often lower across the board, the market dynamics have definitely shifted. Now, with all the geopolitical uncertainty and inflation worries, demand is high, and dealers seem to be adjusting accordingly. For those of us with a substantial allocation, like my Gold IRA, these things really do add up and impact our overall long-term returns. It’s not just about the spot price, right?
I typically stick to the major bullion coins – Eagles, Maples, and sometimes Krugerrands or Britannias if the premium is compelling. I'm less inclined to go for the ultra-low premium junk gold or semi-numismatics with my main holdings. I find the liquidity and recognition of the popular government-minted coins makes the most sense for my retirement strategy. So, a question for the group: what are you all seeing out there in terms of premiums on 1 oz. gold bullion coins lately? Are you finding better deals through local dealers, or are online retailers still competitive? Also, any thoughts on whether this premium creep is here to stay, or if it might soften a bit if market demand cools off? I’m always interested in hearing what strategies others are employing to maximize their purchasing power.