First foray into stacking, wondering about diversifying between coins and bars

Patricia Miller

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First foray into stacking, wondering about diversifying between coins and bars

patricia_miller📊Growing (50-100k)

about 6 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•Started looking into Gold IRAs a few months back because my 401k was feeling a little… ethereal.
•I'm a small business owner here in Denver, and while things are good, I definitely like the idea of some physical security.
•My strategy so far, which is probably more "blind fumbling" than "strategy," has been to focus on silver coins.

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So, I’m pretty new to the precious metals game, mostly coming from a general investing background, but the current market jitters (and let's be honest, watching too many YouTube videos) got me thinking about tangible assets. Started looking into Gold IRAs a few months back because my 401k was feeling a little… ethereal. I'm a small business owner here in Denver, and while things are good, I definitely like the idea of some physical security. My initial Gold IRA investment was around $60k, which felt like a big step, but now I’m also dipping my toes into direct silver stacking, separate from the IRA.

My strategy so far, which is probably more "blind fumbling" than "strategy," has been to focus on silver coins. I’ve picked up about 100 American Silver Eagles and 50 Canadian Maple Leafs over the last few weeks. My thinking, which might be flawed, is that these smaller denominations offer more liquidity if I ever need to sell off smaller amounts. I’m also drawn to the collectibility aspect a little bit, though my primary goal is definitely wealth preservation. I’ve been trying to keep my premiums as low as possible, but it feels like it's always a moving target. It’s been a bit of an emotional roller coaster, frankly – every dip I see I get a little pang of "should I buy more now?!"

This whole journey has been a HUGE learning curve. I spent so much time on Gold IRA Quiz just understanding the basics of how a Gold IRA even works, let alone the nuances of bars vs. coins. For those of you who've been stacking for a while, do you find it's better to stick with solely coins, or does it make sense to diversify into bars as well for a portion of your silver holdings? My overall goal is to have about 10-15% of my total investable assets in precious metals, including the IRA, so I'm thinking long-term here. Does the weight of the bar (1oz, 5oz, 10oz, etc.) significantly impact the premium or future saleability in your experience?

4 comments

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Best Answer▲ 5 upvotes

barbara_white🏆Advanced (250-500k)

Totally get where you're coming from! I had a similar experience when I first started my Gold IRA. Was super torn between coins and bars, watching endless videos and reading articles. Ended up going with a mix – a couple of the more common coins for easy liquidity if needed, and then some smaller bars for the bulk of it. Felt like a good compromise for me, and honestly, holding a physical bar for the first time was pretty cool, not gonna lie.

Comments (4)

barbara_white🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•less than a minute ago

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

Hey, welcome to the club! Stacking can be a fun and rewarding journey. When you say "diversifying between coins and bars," are you primarily thinking about silver, or are you also considering gold coins and bars for your Gold IRA?

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

Hey, that's awesome you're getting into stacking! It's definitely a smart move for diversification. I see a lot of people sweating the coins vs. bars thing, and while there are valid points for both, sometimes it feels a little overthought, you know?

For a first dip into the pond, especially if you're coming from general investing, I wouldn't worry *too* much about optimizing the split right off the bat. Just focus on getting some physical metal you're comfortable with. The "diversification" within PMs often comes down more to your long-term goals and exit strategy than the physical form factor itself, especially for smaller stacks. Just my two cents!

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

Hey, welcome to the shiny side! Great question about diversifying between coins and bars. For a Gold IRA, it's worth noting that typically only specific types of coins and bars meet the IRS's fineness standards (99.5% pure for gold).

You can check out a list of IRS-approved metals on the IRS website or many reputable Gold IRA custodian sites will have this info readily available. It's super important to confirm this before making any purchases for your IRA!

The biggest mistake retirees make with their 401(k)

Most people don't diversify until after a crash. Get the free guide and protect your nest egg.

Under $100k? Compare options →