Numismatic vs. Bullion for My Gold IRA - Thoughts?

Maria Campbell

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Numismatic vs. Bullion for My Gold IRA - Thoughts?

maria_campbell📊Growing (50-100k)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•I've been thinking a lot lately about how to further diversify within my Gold IRA, specifically in the numismatic coin vs.
•My portfolio is sitting comfortably between $75k-$80k right now, and I'm feeling good about that given the current economic winds.
•As the mayor of our little town here in Boise, I'm always looking for ways to do things smart, for myself and for the community.

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I've been thinking a lot lately about how to further diversify within my Gold IRA, specifically in the numismatic coin vs. bullion coin debate. I started my Gold IRA about three years ago with a pretty standard allocation, mostly American Gold Eagles and some Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, so pretty much all bullion. My portfolio is sitting comfortably between $75k-$80k right now, and I'm feeling good about that given the current economic winds.

As the mayor of our little town here in Boise, I'm always looking for ways to do things smart, for myself and for the community. So naturally, I've been doing a deep dive into numismatic coins. The idea of holding something with historical value and potential appreciation beyond just the spot price of gold is really appealing. I've heard stories, both good and bad, about people making significant gains with numismatics, but also getting burned if they don't know what they're doing. The thought of adding, say, an old Liberty Head Double Eagle feels genuinely special compared to another standard bullion coin. It's not just about the metal, it's about the history and the art.

My concern, though, is the premium. The premiums on numismatic coins can be substantial, and that can really eat into your initial investment if you're not careful. For me, getting closer to retirement in about 15 years, I'm definitely thinking about those future RMDs. I've even been playing around with that RMD Calculator over at goldirablueprint.com/rmdcalculator to get a clearer picture of what I'll need. The idea of having to liquidate a numismatic coin for an RMD, and whether it'll fetch a fair price quickly, is definitely on my mind. With bullion, it feels more straightforward.

So, for those of you with more experience in this space, especially within a Gold IRA: have you gone the numismatic route? What were your experiences, good or bad? Are there specific types of numismatic coins you'd recommend for an IRA, or should I just stick to the tried-and-true bullion for simplicity and liquidity when those RMDs start knocking?

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5 comments

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Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

catherine_bell🏆Advanced (250-500k)

Hey, great question! It's super smart to be thinking about the nuances of your Gold IRA. When it comes to numismatic vs. bullion, a lot of folks get tripped up on the "collectible" aspect of numismatics and how that affects their IRA.

One thing that really helped me understand the rules was checking out the IRS's own guidelines on what's allowed in an IRA. Sometimes the dealers' info can be a bit biased, so it's good to go straight to the source. This IRS notice (Notice 98-31) specifically talks about precious metal coins in IRAs and can clarify which "numismatic" coins actually make the cut. Hope that helps!

Comments (5)

sandra_green📊Growing (50-100k)✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Oh man, I totally get this dilemma. I was in the exact same boat a couple of years ago when I was looking to add more to my Gold IRA. I went back and forth for weeks on numismatics vs. just sticking to more bullion. I ended up adding a small percentage of certified numismatics, mostly for the "cool factor" and the potential for a bit more upside if I hit big, but the bulk of it is still good old-fashioned bullion. Just felt safer and more straightforward for my main investment.

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

Interesting question! When you say "standard allocation," are we talking mostly things like American Gold Eagles and Canadian Gold Maples, or did you venture into other bullion coins as well? Just curious about your starting point before diving into the numismatic side.

jason_morgan💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Honestly, while numismatic coins *can* be cool and have historical value, I'm a bit wary of them for an IRA. The premiums are often much higher, and liquidating them can be trickier if you're not dealing with a specialist who understands their collector value. For a retirement account, I'd lean heavily towards bullion for its straightforward market pricing and ease of sale. Diversification is good, but maybe not at the cost of liquidity and potentially inflated prices.

catherine_bell🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

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

Totally agree with the sentiment here. The numismatic argument for IRAs always felt like a bit of a stretch for me too.

I went with all bullion for my Gold IRA a few years back – mostly American Gold Eagles and Canadian Maples. The premium was definitely lower, and the "collectible" aspect just didn't scream "retirement security" to me. Glad to hear someone else is on the same page.

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