Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds for IRA - What's your take?

Robert Thompson

Back to forum

🥈 Silver IRA

Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds for IRA - What's your take?

robert_thompson💰Established (100-250k)

3 days ago

Key Takeaways

•I find myself in a bit of a quandary concerning my precious metals IRA.
•My Gold IRA, which is sitting around $180k right now, is primarily in gold, but I've got about $25k in Eagles already.
•The premium on Eagles, even for IRA eligibility, feels like it's creeping up higher and higher.

See what your 401(k) could look like in gold

I find myself in a bit of a quandary concerning my precious metals IRA. I've been eyeing up some more silver to balance out my gold holdings, especially with all the economic uncertainty floating around since 2008 – that's when I really started getting serious about physical assets after my teaching career ended. Anyway, I'm trying to decide between putting more American Silver Eagles into my account or opting for some generic silver rounds to get more bang for my buck in terms of ounces.

My Gold IRA, which is sitting around $180k right now, is primarily in gold, but I've got about $25k in Eagles already. The premium on Eagles, even for IRA eligibility, feels like it's creeping up higher and higher. I'm in Phoenix, so I see a lot of local dealers, and the spread on Eagles always makes me pause. Is that extra premium really worth it for potential liquidity down the line, or am I better off just accumulating as many ounces as possible with generic rounds that meet the IRA purity requirements?

I feel like part of me wants the collectibility (and perceived safety) of the Eagles, but the practical side of me, especially thinking about my retirement funds, just wants the most silver for my dollar. Has anyone here gone with a significant portion of generic rounds in their precious metals IRA? Any regrets or success stories? I'm curious to hear how others in a similar position have approached this.

134

5 comments

12,000+ investors requested this guide last month

Find out why retirees are moving savings into gold. Free kit, no obligation.

Under $100k? Compare options →

420 people viewed this today56 members requested a free kit this week84 investors bookmarked this

Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

frank_rivera💎Premium (500k-1m)

Totally get where you're coming from on this. I had a similar dilemma when I was setting up my mom's IRA a few years back. We went back and forth on ASEs vs. generics for a while. Ended up splitting the difference a bit, but mostly leaned towards the Eagles for that extra peace of mind and easier liquidity if she ever needed to sell quickly. It's a tough call!

Comments (5)

frank_rivera💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor•2 days ago

ronald_morris👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor•2 days ago

Interesting point about the post-2008 shift in your perspective. I'm curious, when you say "physical assets," are you referring specifically to *tangible* assets like metals, or did that also include other things like real estate or even certain collectibles for you?

steven_mitchell🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•2 days ago

Honestly, while the numismatic value of Eagles *can* be a thing, for an IRA, I tend to lean towards the generic rounds or even lower-premium bars. The whole point for me is maximum silver weight for the dollar, especially since you're holding it for the long haul in a retirement account. Unless you're specifically trying to collect, that extra premium on Eagles just feels like it's eating into your potential gains down the line. Just my two cents.

jason_morgan💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•2 days ago

Hey, cool you're diversifying with silver! When you're looking at Silver Eagles vs. generic rounds for an IRA, remember that only certain types of silver are IRS-approved for IRAs. Generally, this means government-minted coins like Eagles, Maples, or Britannias, which have guaranteed purity and are recognized globally. Generic rounds, even if they're 999 pure, often don't meet the specific fineness or legal tender requirements for an IRA.

It's always a good idea to double-check with your IRA custodian to confirm they'll accept whatever you're planning to buy to avoid any headaches later on. Good luck with your silver hunt!

ashley_baker💼Starter (0-50k)✓ Verified•2 days ago

Totally agree with you on diversifying, especially with how things have been since '08. I went through a similar dilemma when setting up my IRA. I ended up going with mostly Eagles for the recognized value and liquidity, but I did throw in a smaller percentage of generic rounds just to get more ounces for my buck at the time. It really depends on your comfort level with the premium vs. just raw silver weight.

12,000+ investors requested this guide last month

Find out why retirees are moving savings into gold. Free kit, no obligation.

Under $100k? Compare options →