Quick question for grading nuts - your thoughts on slabbed coins for an IRA?

Brian Edwards

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Quick question for grading nuts - your thoughts on slabbed coins for an IRA?

brian_edwards🌟Ultra (5m+)

about 10 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•A lot of that is raw, standard government-minted bullion.
•But for the IRA, I went a different route for a portion of it, picking up some MS70 Eagles and a few MS69 pre-33 St.
•Gaudens to diversify the purity/collectability blend.

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Morning from Aspen. Was reviewing some of the gold and silver assets I've got earmarked for my IRA and it got me thinking about the coin grading discussion that always pops up. I've got a decent chunk of physical in my portfolio already – probably 20% of my 5m+ is in various precious metals, mostly gold and some platinum group. A lot of that is raw, standard government-minted bullion. But for the IRA, I went a different route for a portion of it, picking up some MS70 Eagles and a few MS69 pre-33 St. Gaudens to diversify the purity/collectability blend.

My dealer was obviously pushing the graded stuff pretty hard, citing the premium and potential for better long-term appreciation, especially for the numismatic pieces. I get the argument – a certified grade from PCGS or NGC theoretically backs up the authenticity and condition, which should make it more liquid and command a higher price. I've always thought of my PM as a hedge against inflation and a store of value, not necessarily an aggressive growth play, but I'm also not leaving dollars on the table if I can avoid it. Looking at my current IRA allocation, the graded stuff is probably about 15-20% of the metals portion within it.

So, for those of you who've been around the block with Gold IRAs and graded coins, do you really see the value in those certifications for long-term hold? Especially for something like an IRA where the intent isn't typically high-frequency trading. My thought was always that it adds another layer of trust and simplifies the eventual liquidation, but are we overthinking it? Curious to hear from others who have substantial holdings in their retirement accounts and how they've approached this. Any stories of it paying off (or not paying off) down the line would be helpful. Is the premium justified for the assurance?

4 comments

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Best Answer▲ 9 upvotes

brian_edwards🌟Ultra (5m+)

Hey there! Interesting question. For a Gold IRA, typically the IRS has specific fineness requirements for precious metals to be considered "investment-grade." While slabbed coins can definitely be valuable, the grading itself doesn't automatically qualify them for an IRA unless they also meet those fineness standards.

You'll want to make sure the coins (even if graded) are at least .995 fine for gold, .999 for silver, and so on. Also, numismatic or collector coins usually aren't allowed. It's usually better to stick with bullion coins like Eagles, Maples, or specific bars. Here's a quick IRS resource that breaks down the accepted metals: https

Comments (4)

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

Dude, I was literally just having this thought process! I've been eyeing some graded Buffalos for my IRA, thinking about the peace of mind with authenticity. But then I started wondering if the premium on the slabbed coins was worth it for something that's essentially a long-term hold in an IRA. Like, am I just paying for a fancy case I'm never going to look at?

michael_anderson🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor•less than a minute ago

Morning from down here in Denver!

That's an interesting thought process. When you say "slabbed coins," are you specifically talking about bullion coins that have been graded (like a high MS score on an ASE), or more collectible coins, even if they're still 0.999 fine? The distinction can be pretty important for IRA eligibility.

donald_nelson💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor✓ Verified•less than a minute ago

Hey, interesting question. While I get the appeal of slabbed coins for collectors, for an IRA? I'm not so sure. Doesn't that just add an extra layer of cost and subjectivity? When it comes to an IRA, isn't the goal more about the intrinsic value of the metal itself rather than a numismatic premium that can fluctuate with trends and opinions? Seems like you're paying a premium for something that might not offer an equivalent return in that specific context.