Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds in a Gold IRA? My experience and questions

Carol Carter

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Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds in a Gold IRA? My experience and questions

carol_carter💰Established (100-250k)

about 9 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I’ve been building up my Gold IRA for a couple of years now, mostly sticking to Gold Eagles.
•Initially, I just figured "IRA-eligible government bullion is the way to go" without much thought.
•I’m thinking about adding some silver to the mix soon, and I’m torn between Silver Eagles and generic silver rounds.

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Okay, so I’ve been building up my Gold IRA for a couple of years now, mostly sticking to Gold Eagles. Initially, I just figured "IRA-eligible government bullion is the way to go" without much thought. I’m thinking about adding some silver to the mix soon, and I’m torn between Silver Eagles and generic silver rounds. I've got about $180k in my total retirement portfolio right now (spread across 401k, Roth, and this IRA), and I'm looking to put maybe another $10k-$15k into silver over the next year or so.

My Gold IRA is with Augusta Precious Metals, and they've been solid. From what I understand, both Silver Eagles and certain generic rounds (like Sunshine Minting, etc.) are IRA-eligible. The Eagles obviously come with a higher premium. When I bought my gold, the premium on the Eagles felt worth it for the liquidity and recognition, but for silver... I'm just not sure. The spread between spot and what I'd pay for Eagles vs. generic seems a lot more significant percentage-wise than with gold.

I'm an insurance agent here in Omaha, so I’m all about risk mitigation and making sure my retirement is well-diversified. I see the precious metals as a hedge against inflation and market volatility, not as a get-rich-quick scheme. So, I’m leaning towards generics for the lower premium, meaning more ounces for my buck. But is there a hidden catch I’m not considering for a P.M. IRA? Is the potential resale premium on Silver Eagles significant enough to offset the initial higher cost when it comes time to distribute or sell in retirement?

Anyone else have experience with this specific dilemma inside an IRA? Did you go for the lower premium on generics or bite the bullet for the Eagles? Really curious to hear some real-world experiences from those who’ve either sold or taken distributions from their silver IRA holdings.

3 comments

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Best Answer▲ 8 upvotes

sandra_green📊Growing (50-100k)

Hey, interesting post! When you say "generic rounds," are we talking about privately minted silver rounds from reputable refiners, or are there other types of "generic" you're considering for your IRA? Just curious about the specifics of what you're weighing against Silver Eagles.

Comments (3)

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

Totally feel this. I went through the exact same thought process when I started adding silver to my IRA. Ended up going with a mix of Eagles and some generic rounds from a reputable mint. The premium on Eagles is no joke, but there's a certain peace of mind with government-backed coinage, even in an IRA.

For me, it came down to a bit of both – a hedge with the Eagles, and more ounces for my buck with the generics. Curious to see what others recommend!

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

mark_adams👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor•less than a minute ago

Interesting take. While I get the appeal of the Eagles for their numismatic value outside an IRA, inside one, it's all about the metal content. Generics, especially from reputable refiners, are often much more bang for your buck per ounce. The premium on Eagles can be pretty steep, and for an IRA, you're not exactly going to be admiring them in person. Just something to consider if pure silver accumulation is the goal.

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