Numismatics in an IRA - anyone actually doing this in a meaningful way? (Beyond just bullion)

Christopher Young

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Numismatics in an IRA - anyone actually doing this in a meaningful way? (Beyond just bullion)

christopher_young🌟Ultra (5m+)

about 5 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•Been thinking a lot lately about how to optimize my metals holdings *within* my IRA.
•Most of my non-IRA stuff is a mix of Eagles, Buffalos, and a decent stack of kilos that are just straight bullion.
•I'm based here in Scottsdale, and while I have some excellent local dealers, I'm finding differing opinions on how aggressive to get with this.

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Been thinking a lot lately about how to optimize my metals holdings within my IRA. Most of my non-IRA stuff is a mix of Eagles, Buffalos, and a decent stack of kilos that are just straight bullion. But when it comes to the IRA, I've stuck exclusively to boring proof Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs, just to keep things super simple for compliance. My Gold IRA is sitting at around $800k right now, but it feels like I'm leaving some serious appreciation on the table if I'm not considering numismatic coins for even a portion of it.

I know the rules around "collectible" coins in an IRA are pretty strict, essentially limiting you to specific government-minted bullion coins and certain proofs. But I've been seeing some folks talk about including certain graded, less common coins that still technically fit the criteria for purity and non-collectible status. I'm based here in Scottsdale, and while I have some excellent local dealers, I'm finding differing opinions on how aggressive to get with this. For context, my overall portfolio is over 5M, and my total metals exposure is a significant chunk of that. I'm all about diversification, and if there's a way to get some numismatic upside in a tax-advantaged account, I'm all ears.

Is anyone here actually holding a meaningful percentage of numismatic-leaning coins in their IRA? Not just a few proofs, but something that genuinely has numismatic value appreciation baked-in, beyond just the metal spot price? What kind of coins are you using? Has anyone run into issues with custodians or audits because of their choices? I'm trying to weigh the potential for higher returns against the added complexity and risk of non-compliance. I've been tracking things like the "Silver vs Stocks" comparison, and it just reinforces my belief in precious metals, but I'm looking for that extra edge.

Appreciate any real-world experiences or insights. I've spent enough years building businesses to know that you don't grow by sticking to the absolute safest, most basic strategies all the time. Just need to make sure I'm not crossing any lines with the IRS here.

4 comments

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Best Answer▲ 6 upvotes

linda_taylor📊Growing (50-100k)

Interesting thought, but I'm not sure numismatics in an IRA is the slam dunk everyone makes it out to be. Beyond the initial setup, you're looking at higher premiums, less liquidity, and potentially more complex valuations, especially if you're talking about truly rare coins. For something you can't even hold, are those extra hoops really worth the potential (and not guaranteed) upside compared to just good old fashioned bullion?

Comments (4)

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

Hey, I hear you on this. I've been dabbling a bit with numismatics in my IRA beyond just the standard bullion. For a while, I was pretty skeptical, but then I found a few specific certified coins that met the IRS fineness requirements AND had a nice numismatic premium.

It's definitely not the bulk of my holdings, more like a small percentage for diversification and potential upside. It takes more research than just buying Eagles, that's for sure. I'm curious to see what others are doing.

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

This is an interesting thought. When you say "meaningful way," are you thinking about specific types of numismatic coins, or more about the percentage of your IRA that would be allocated to them compared to standard bullion?

linda_taylor📊Growing (50-100k)✓ Verified•less than a minute ago

Hey, cool topic! If you're serious about numismatics beyond just bullion in an IRA, you'll want to make sure you're aware of the "collectibles" rule. Basically, most coins that aren't specifically allowed (like American Eagles) are considered collectibles by the IRS and can't be held in an IRA without incurring an immediate tax liability. It's a tricky area.

I found a pretty good breakdown on the rules for what IRS Publication 590-A says about collectibles and IRAs. Might be worth a quick read to make sure any numismatic pieces you're considering are actually eligible!

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