Eagles vs. Buffalos for Gold IRA - My Experience & Thoughts

Ruth Perez

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Eagles vs. Buffalos for Gold IRA - My Experience & Thoughts

ruth_perez📊Growing (50-100k)

about 2 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of folks asking about American Eagles vs.
•Buffalos for their gold IRA, especially with rollovers.
•I did my rollover a little over three years ago, got about $60k of my old 401k into a self-directed IRA, and opted for mostly Eagles.

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Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of folks asking about American Eagles vs. Buffalos for their gold IRA, especially with rollovers. I did my rollover a little over three years ago, got about $60k of my old 401k into a self-directed IRA, and opted for mostly Eagles. At the time, the premium on the Buffalos just felt a bit too high for me, and I liked the fractional options with the Eagles because I was thinking about potential future liquidity if I ever needed to pull out a smaller amount without selling a full ounce. Plus, being a government employee here in Albuquerque, I liked the idea of holding something so clearly backed by the US government, even if it's just psychological.

My thinking was also that Eagles are just so recognizable worldwide. If I ever truly needed to liquidate internationally, or even just at a local coin shop here in New Mexico, I figured an Eagle would be easier to move quickly. The Buffalos are beautiful, absolutely stunning design, no doubt about it. But for a pure investment vehicle within an IRA, I was leaning more towards the lowest premium over spot. My goal with this gold is really a long-term hedge against inflation and to supplement my pension down the line, so I'm not really looking for collector value.

Now, three years in, I'm still feeling good about my decision. My portfolio has grown nicely, and the gold has done exactly what I wanted it to do – provide a stable asset outside of the stock market. I did throw in a couple of fractional Buffalos just to have them, especially if the premium dips significantly. But for core holdings, the Eagles still make sense to me. What are others' thoughts on this? Has anyone regretted going heavy on one over the other for their IRA?

I'm contemplating adding another $20k from a different account soon, and while I love the Buffalo design, I'm still leaning towards Eagles for the bulk of it. Premiums seem to be all over the place right now, so it’s making me double-check my previous choices. Any recent premium comparisons specifically for IRA-eligible coins folks have noticed?

4 comments

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Best Answer▲ 9 upvotes

helen_turner💰Established (100-250k)

Totally get this! I had a super similar experience with my gold IRA rollover a few years back. Also did a chunk from an old 401k and went with mostly Eagles for the same reason – the premium on Buffalos just wasn't making sense for me at the time. Honestly, haven't regretted it. The liquidity factor was a big one for my decision too, and I feel like Eagles just have that slight edge there.

Comments (4)

helen_turner💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•less than a minute ago

dorothy_lopez💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•less than a minute ago

Interesting perspective! When you say "mostly Eagles," what percentage are we talking about, and did you throw any Buffalos into the mix at all, even a small amount?

janet_cook📊Growing (50-100k)•less than a minute ago

Interesting take! I actually went the opposite direction with mine. While Eagles are undeniably iconic, I found the Buffalos' purity and simpler design more appealing for a long-term hold in my IRA. Plus, you often see a slightly better premium on the Buffalos when you're buying in bulk for these kinds of rollovers, at least from what I've seen. Both are solid choices, no doubt, but that 24k just hits different for me.

gary_stewart📊Growing (50-100k)•less than a minute ago

Interesting post! Always good to hear real-world experiences. One thing I'd add for anyone still weighing their options between Eagles and Buffalos (or other eligible coins) for their Gold IRA is to really dig into the premiums beyond just the initial purchase. While Eagles can sometimes have a slightly *lower* initial buy premium, Buffalos often have a tighter bid/ask spread when it comes time to sell, which can eat into your returns. It's not always a huge difference, but it's worth factoring in.

You can sometimes find good comparison tables on dealer sites that break down bid/ask spreads for common IRA-eligible coins, which can be super helpful for visualizing this. Good luck to everyone building their nest egg!

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