Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds for IRA (My take, interested in yours)

Brian Edwards

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Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds for IRA (My take, interested in yours)

brian_edwards🌟Ultra (5m+)

about 3 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•Been seeing a lot of chatter lately on American Silver Eagles vs.
•generic silver rounds for IRA contributions.
•I've been exclusively stacking Eagles for my IRA for years now, but the premium difference is getting harder and harder to ignore.

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Been seeing a lot of chatter lately on American Silver Eagles vs. generic silver rounds for IRA contributions. I've been exclusively stacking Eagles for my IRA for years now, but the premium difference is getting harder and harder to ignore. My physical holdings are mostly Eagles and Canadian Maples, with a good chunk of generic bars (mostly 100oz) in my safe at home and a few safe deposit boxes.

For my IRA, I've got a seven-figure gold holding established over the past decade – mostly Eagles and Buffalos – but a significant chunk of silver, too. I started contributing to my self-directed IRA with silver when I moved a big chunk of my real estate profits from a sale in '18 into metals. At the time, the premium on Eagles wasn't that bad, and the peace of mind of holding government-minted coins in a regulated account felt worth an extra buck or two per oz. Now, with premiums sometimes hitting $8-10 over spot for Eagles, while generic rounds are still relatively close, it's making me scratch my head.

My custodian has no issue with either. It really comes down to what I, as the account holder, prefer. I'm sitting on a decent amount of cash from a recent Aspen development that just closed, and I'm actively looking to roll more into my IRA this year. I'm already in pretty heavy with the yellow stuff, so I'm debating adding to my silver. Is the perceived liquidity and recognition of an Eagle really worth the extra 20-30% premium now? My conviction is in the metal itself, not necessarily the fancy stamping.

Part of me feels like I've been paying a "brand name" tax. In a physical, SHTF scenario, an ounce is an ounce, and a good looking generic round is going to be just as easily transactable as an Eagle in my mind. For a potentially multi-million dollar holding, those percentage points really add up. Any other whales out there making the switch to generic for IRA contributions? What's your rationale if you're sticking with Eagles despite the premium?

5 comments

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Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

diane_bailey💰Established (100-250k)

Hey, interesting post! It's definitely a tough call with premiums being what they are. While Eagles are beautiful and recognizable, for an IRA, it really boils down to maximizing your ounces for the long haul. Have you looked into IRS-approved silver bars? Sometimes those can offer a better price per ounce than even generic rounds, especially if you're buying in larger increments. Just something to consider for pure weight!

Comments (5)

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

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

Totally feel this. I've been in a similar boat, mostly going with Eagles for the "guarantee" of recognition and liquidity down the line, especially for an IRA. But man, those premiums *sting* now, don't they? I've actually started dipping my toes into some generic rounds for my personal stack just to get more ounces for my buck. Haven't quite pulled the trigger on them for the IRA yet, though. The premium difference is definitely a tough one to ignore.

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

Interesting take! You mentioned your physical holdings are mostly Eagles and Canadian Maples. Are you primarily looking at American Silver Eagles for your IRA because of that consistency with your physical stack, or is there another reason, like perceived liquidity or recognition?

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

Interesting take, OP. I can absolutely see the appeal of Eagles for their recognition and easier liquidity, especially if you're thinking long-term for an IRA. But to play devil's advocate, if the goal is truly just exposure to silver and you're not planning on selling these anytime soon, why not maximize your ounce count with generics? That premium could buy a surprising amount of extra metal over time. Just something to chew on when those premiums hit.

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

Totally agree with you on the premium shock, it's getting wild out there. I've been doing a mix for my IRA, mostly Eagles for the "recognized" factor but I've definitely started adding more Maples lately too. The premium on those still stings but it's not as bad as the ASEs. It's a tough call when you're trying to maximize your ounces.

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