Eagles vs. Buffalos for a Gold IRA? My take as a

Michael Anderson

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Eagles vs. Buffalos for a Gold IRA? My take as a

michael_anderson🏆Advanced (250-500k)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I've been wrestling with this one for a bit, and I figure this is the place to get some real-world opinions.
•I'm a big believer in tangible assets, always have been.
•My whole construction business is built on things you can see and touch, so gold just makes sense to me as a hedge.

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Okay, so I've been wrestling with this one for a bit, and I figure this is the place to get some real-world opinions. I'm looking to beef up the gold portion of my IRA – I’ve got about 300k in there now, mostly in some mutual funds and a small percentage in physical gold. I'm a big believer in tangible assets, always have been. My whole construction business is built on things you can see and touch, so gold just makes sense to me as a hedge.

I already own a decent amount of American Gold Eagles, mostly 1 oz, some 1/2 oz. Love them. The 22k purity doesn't bother me because they’re sovereign coins, the legal tender status is a nice little bonus, and honestly, they just feel substantial. But I've been eyeing the American Gold Buffalos lately. The 24k purity is appealing – I mean, pure gold just feels right, right? Plus, that design is iconic. My buddy out in Denver is all about the Buffalos, says anything less than 24k is just not worth it for an investment. I get his point, but I'm still on the fence.

My main concern is liquidity and premium down the line. I'm 45, based in Chicago, and while I don’t plan on touching this for a good while, when I do, I want it to be as straightforward as possible. Are the premiums on Buffalos consistently higher than Eagles? And does that 24k purity actually translate into a better resell value or easier transaction when the time comes? Or am I just overthinking this, and either one is perfectly fine in a Gold IRA?

Curious to hear from others who've gone back and forth on this. Is there a compelling reason to stick purely with one over the other, or is it more of a personal preference thing in the end? Anyone seen significant differences in how these perform or are viewed in the secondary market?

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13 comments

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Best Answer▲ 18 upvotes

dorothy_lopez💰Established (100-250k)

Really valuable perspective. I'll definitely keep this in mind as I make my decisions.

Comments (13)

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

Hey, I hear you on this! I'm in a similar boat, though with less in my IRA. I started out with Eagles because the familiarity was a comfort, but then a buddy who's pretty deep into this stuff convinced me to pick up some Buffalos too. Now I've got a mix. Honestly, the premiums on the Buffalos had me a little hesitant at first, but knowing they're pure kinda sealed the deal for me too. Good luck with your decision!

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

Interesting take, especially coming from the construction world! I'm curious, when you say "small percentage in physical gold," are those Eagles or Buffalos already, or something else entirely?

ruth_perez📊Growing (50-100k)•about 2 months ago

Hey, interesting take! While the Eagles definitely have that higher purity going for them, I've always leaned towards the Buffalos for a Gold IRA. The 24k is great, sure, but I personally like the idea of the extra durability the American Gold Buffalo offers with that .9999 fine gold. Purely from a long-term, "set it and forget it" perspective for an IRA, that little bit of added resilience against dings and scratches just feels right to me. Plus, the premium on Buffalos can sometimes be a smidge lower, which adds up when you're talking about a decent chunk of change. Just my two cents as someone also looking at the long haul.

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

Hey, cool post! It's definitely smart to diversify with physical gold, especially with the current economic vibes. When you're looking at Eagles versus Buffalos, keep in mind the premium differences. Sometimes fractional Eagles can carry a bit higher premium than Buffalos, so if you're buying in larger quantities, that might influence your decision.

Also, don't forget about reputable dealers. I found this comparison of gold IRA companies super helpful when I was vetting mine. It lays out a lot of the pros and cons of different providers, which can save you a ton of research time.