Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds for IRA - What's the better play?

Linda Taylor

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🥈 Silver IRA

Silver Eagles vs. Generic Rounds for IRA - What's the better play?

linda_taylor📊Growing (50-100k)

less than a minute ago

Key Takeaways

•Okay, so I've been kicking around the idea of adding some silver to my Gold IRA.
•I live here in Seattle, and the cost of living just keeps going up, so security is a big deal for me.
•My question for all you other precious metal peeps is about silver.

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Okay, so I've been kicking around the idea of adding some silver to my Gold IRA. I've got about $75k in gold right now, mostly American Eagles, and I started this whole thing a few years back after seeing way too many of my nurse colleagues stressed about retirement with just their 401ks. I live here in Seattle, and the cost of living just keeps going up, so security is a big deal for me.

My question for all you other precious metal peeps is about silver. Specifically, for an IRA, what's everyone's take on American Silver Eagles versus generic silver rounds? The Eagles have that undeniable government backing and generally higher premiums. On the other hand, generic rounds are significantly cheaper per ounce. I'm looking at this as a long-term hold, 15-20 years probably, until I'm ready to hang up my scrubs. Is the extra premium on the Eagles really worth it for something that's just going to sit in a vault? Or would I be better off maximizing ounces with generics?

I've been playing around with the Gold IRA Calculator lately to project different growth scenarios for my whole portfolio, and it really highlights how those premiums can add up over time when you're talking about a significant investment. My gut says more ounces is generally better, but then there's that nagging voice about liquidity and recognition if things ever went sideways. Has anyone had personal experience buying or selling larger quantities of generic silver in an IRA? Did you find it harder than dealing with government issued coins?

I'm probably looking to add another $10k-$15k in silver. Any thoughts or advice from those who've been down this road would be really appreciated. What's the consensus for an IRA, especially when considering the long game?

3 comments

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Best Answer▲ 6 upvotes

joshua_phillips🏆Advanced (250-500k)

Interesting thought process! While Eagles definitely have that recognized value, for an IRA specifically, I've always leaned towards generic rounds or bars if the goal is pure silver exposure. You're not really looking to resell these for their numismatic value, are you? It's more about the metal's price appreciation. Why pay the extra premium for Eagles if they're just sitting in a vault as part of your retirement?

Seems like you're already pretty well-covered with the Gold Eagles, so maybe the premium isn't as big a deal for a smaller silver allocation. Just something to consider before pulling the trigger!

Comments (3)

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

Hey, I hear you on the nurse colleagues and the 401ks – totally relatable! I actually had a similar moment a couple of years ago when I was looking to diversify my precious metals IRA. I was super torn between the premium on Eagles and the lower cost of generic rounds. Ended up going for a mix myself, a good chunk of Eagles for that recognized value, but also grabbed some generics to maximize the silver weight for the same dollar. Seems like a decent middle-ground, but I'm still curious to see what others here have done!

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

Hey, cool to see you diversifying! $75k in gold is a solid start. Just curious – you mentioned "Gold IRA," but then talked about adding silver to it. Is it a self-directed IRA that allows for both, or are you looking at a separate Silver IRA? Just trying to understand the setup you're working with!

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

Seems like you're already pretty well-covered with the Gold Eagles, so maybe the premium isn't as big a deal for a smaller silver allocation. Just something to consider before pulling the trigger!

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