Platinum IRA & coin grading - worth paying up for PF70?

Elizabeth Johnson

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🔲 Platinum IRA

Platinum IRA & coin grading - worth paying up for PF70?

elizabeth_johnson💰Established (100-250k)

about 1 month ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I've been wrestling with this decision for a bit and wanted to get some other platinum IRA investors' takes.
•As an accountant here in Atlanta, I really appreciate the tax-advantaged growth, and platinum felt like a solid diversifier.
•My question is about coin grading, specifically for platinum Eagles.

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Okay, so I've been wrestling with this decision for a bit and wanted to get some other platinum IRA investors' takes. I rolled over about $180k from my old 401k into a self-directed IRA last year, mostly into physical gold, but I put a good chunk, around $40k, into platinum. As an accountant here in Atlanta, I really appreciate the tax-advantaged growth, and platinum felt like a solid diversifier.

My question is about coin grading, specifically for platinum Eagles. When I was setting things up, my custodian's preferred dealer offered me some Platinum Eagles rated PF70 (or MS70 for bullion, but let's stick to proofs for this) for a premium. I ended up going with mostly PF69 since the cost difference was pretty significant, and honestly, at the time, I was more focused on the metal weight and getting the rollover done efficiently. I figured the tax benefits were the main draw, not ultra-rare coins.

Now, I'm second-guessing. A buddy of mine, who's way more into numismatics than I am, is telling me I might have missed out on significant appreciation potential by not springing for the PF70s. He claims the demand for perfect grades in platinum, especially, can lead to much higher premiums down the line. I'm looking at my portfolio as a long-term play, ideally for retirement in about 15-20 years. My thought process was always that the intrinsic value of the platinum itself would be the primary driver, not the tiny imperfections visible under a microscope.

So, for those of you who've invested in graded platinum for your IRAs, what's your take? Is that PF70 premium truly worth it for long-term hold, or is it more for collectors looking for quick flips? Did you go for perfection, or did you stick with excellent but not flawless grades like PF69 to maximize your metal per dollar? Any experiences with selling graded platinum from an IRA later on? I'd love to hear some real-world input.

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3 comments

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Best Answer▲ 8 upvotes

james_wilson👑Elite (1m-5m)

Interesting point about the PF70 grading. For those of us who aren't super familiar with the nuances, what exactly does a PF70 grade signify for a platinum coin beyond just being in "perfect" condition? Are we talking about a significant liquidity or resale value bump, or is it more of a collector's premium?

Comments (3)

laura_sanchez💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

Dude, I hear you on this. I went through a similar debate myself but with silver proof coins for my IRA. The price difference for a PF70 vs. a PF69 was significant, and I just kept thinking about whether that extra condition really translates to that much more value when it comes time to sell way down the line. Ended up going mostly for PF69s and a few PF70s for my absolute favorites. My logic was to diversify my grades a bit and save some capital. Interested to see what others say about platinum specifically!

james_wilson👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

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

Interesting take on the PF70s, but I'm not entirely convinced it's always the best move for an IRA. While the "perfect" grade definitely sounds appealing and *could* fetch a premium if you're ever selling in the retail market, for an IRA, you're looking at long-term accumulation and preservation of wealth. The added premium for a PF70 often doesn't scale proportionally with the intrinsic value of the metal itself, especially for something like platinum where the numismatic premium can be a bit more volatile than gold.

My philosophy has always been to prioritize ounces over certification for IRA holdings, as long as it's still an eligible coin, of course. You could potentially get more ounces of platinum for the same $40k by opting for something like a PF69 or even just a well-maintained uncertified eligible coin, and those extra ounces might appreciate more over the decades than the marginal

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