Eagles vs. Buffalos for my IRA - What's your take?

Barbara White

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Eagles vs. Buffalos for my IRA - What's your take?

barbara_white🏆Advanced (250-500k)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•Living here in Portland, you see a lot of folks putting their eggs in very different baskets, and for me, it's about stability.
•That’s why gold, especially physical gold in an IRA, made so much sense to me.
•I've got a decent mix already, but I'm looking to add another 10-15 ounces this quarter.

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I'm wrestling with a decision for my next physical gold allocation within my IRA – specifically, whether to go with American Gold Eagles or Buffaloes. I've been diversifying into metals for about 7 years now, ever since watching the market volatility pick up steam, and it's been a solid move for my portfolio, which is sitting comfortably in the mid-six figures now. Living here in Portland, you see a lot of folks putting their eggs in very different baskets, and for me, it's about stability.

My background as a bank manager, before I decided to step away and focus on my own investments, really drilled into me the importance of having assets that aren't purely digital or tied to corporate whims. That’s why gold, especially physical gold in an IRA, made so much sense to me. I've got a decent mix already, but I'm looking to add another 10-15 ounces this quarter. The Eagles have that undeniable legal tender status and the fractional options, which is a nice touch for liquidity, I suppose. But then the Buffalos are 24-karat pure, which always feels a little more... substantial, if that makes sense? Less alloy, more gold.

I've been looking at the premiums, and they seem to fluctuate so much between the two. Does anyone have a strong preference or any recent experiences with either regarding premiums or ease of storage with their custodian? I'm leaning slightly towards the Buffalo for that purity, but the Eagles' history and wider recognition are also persuasive. Just for kicks, I was playing around with the Gold vs Stocks Comparison tool the other day – it's actually pretty insightful to see the long-term performance laid out, and it just reinforces my decision to keep a healthy portion in gold.

What are your thoughts on Eagles vs. Buffalos for a long-term hold in an IRA? Is the 24k purity of the Buffalo a significant advantage for you, or do you prefer the durability and fractional options of the Eagle? Any insights, especially from those who've held both, would be much appreciated!

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6 comments

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Best Answer▲ 18 upvotes

james_wilson👑Elite (1m-5m)

Interesting take. I've heard the opposite from a few people though — would love to see some actual numbers on this.

Comments (6)

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

Oh man, this brings back memories! I had the exact same dilemma a few years ago when I first started adding physical gold to my IRA. I was going back and forth between Eagles and Buffalos for weeks.

Eventually, I went with a mix to scratch both itches, but honestly, it probably didn't matter as much as I thought it would at the time. Both are solid choices for an IRA, so you really can't go wrong.

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

Hey, that's a classic dilemma! Curious about your current holdings within the IRA. Are you already heavy on one type of coin, or is this your first significant dive into either Eagles or Buffaloes?

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

Honestly, I think a lot of people overthink this. While there are subtle differences in premium and potential resale, for most long-term IRA investors, either coin is going to perform pretty similarly as a gold hedge. Unless you're talking about a *massive* allocation where basis points truly matter, I'd just go with whichever you find more aesthetically pleasing or can get a slightly better deal on right now. The bigger picture of holding gold in an IRA is what matters.

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

Hey, cool thread! Since you're looking at Eagles vs. Buffalos for your IRA, something a lot of folks overlook is the premium difference. Buffalos generally carry a slightly higher premium due to their 24k purity, while Eagles are 22k but are backed by the US government. For an IRA, either is a solid choice, but if you're trying to maximize your ounces for the dollar, sometimes the Eagles can edge out the Buffalos slightly because of that lower premium.

You might find this article on comparing them helpful for your specific situation: American Gold Eagle vs. American Gold Buffalo: Which Is Right for You? It breaks down some of