Numismatic vs. Bullion for Gold IRA - My Research & Thoughts

• •I've been knee-deep in research lately, trying to figure out the best approach for adding more physical gold to my IRA.
• •Currently sitting on about $380k in my retirement portfolio, primarily diversified across equities and some real estate syndications.
• •I'm a professor here in Richmond, and you could say I tend to *over-research* everything before making a move – comes with the territory, I guess.

I've been knee-deep in research lately, trying to figure out the best approach for adding more physical gold to my IRA. Currently sitting on about $380k in my retirement portfolio, primarily diversified across equities and some real estate syndications. I'm a professor here in Richmond, and you could say I tend to over-research everything before making a move – comes with the territory, I guess. My current Gold IRA position is sitting at roughly $50k, all in bullion coins like Eagles and Buffalos, which was a pretty straightforward decision when I first rolled over some old 401k funds about three years ago.

Now, I'm looking to add another chunk, probably around $20k-$30k, and I keep seeing discussions around numismatic coins vs. standard bullion. My initial gut reaction, and what my research has largely reinforced, is that for an IRA, bullion is the clear winner for safety and liquidity. We're talking about a retirement vehicle, not a high-risk collectible venture. The low premiums, direct correlation to spot price, and ease of determining fair market value just seem inherently better suited for something like an IRA, where you eventually need to liquidate without hassle or debate over rarity and condition.

However, I've seen some arguments from folks who claim certain eligible numismatic coins can offer better long-term appreciation potential beyond just the gold price, due to their rarity and collector appeal. I'm talking about specific, graded coins that meet IRA standards, not just any old collectible. While I understand the theory, it feels like it introduces an unnecessary layer of speculation and complexity into an asset designed for stability and inflation hedging. Are these arguments just wishful thinking from dealers touting higher premium products, or is there a genuine, data-backed case for specific numismatic coins in an IRA?

My concern is primarily around the additional premiums and the difficulty in accurately valuing them down the line for distribution, especially if you're working with a custodian who might be more accustomed to straightforward bullion. I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually gone the numismatic route within their Gold IRA. What was your rationale? What kind of coins did you choose? And perhaps most importantly, if you've had to liquidate any, how did that process go compared to what you'd expect with bullion?