Silver Eagles vs Generic Rounds for IRA - What's the move?

Michael Anderson

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Silver Eagles vs Generic Rounds for IRA - What's the move?

michael_anderson🏆Advanced (250-500k)

3 days ago

Key Takeaways

•Seems like everyone has an opinion on whether to go with American Silver Eagles or just stack generic silver rounds.
•For those of you who’ve been investing with a Gold IRA for a while, particularly if you’re holding silver, what’s been your experience?
•My Gold IRA currently sits around $380k right now, mostly in gold, with a decent chunk of that in physical.

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Alright, so I’ve been looking to add some physical silver to my Gold IRA, specifically for the precious metals portion, and I’m hitting a bit of a snag on the product choice. Seems like everyone has an opinion on whether to go with American Silver Eagles or just stack generic silver rounds. For those of you who’ve been investing with a Gold IRA for a while, particularly if you’re holding silver, what’s been your experience?

My Gold IRA currently sits around $380k right now, mostly in gold, with a decent chunk of that in physical. I own a construction company here in Chicago, and I’m a big believer in tangible assets – always have been. The stock market can be a wild ride, and while I have some funds there, a good portion of my savings are in things I can actually hold. For me, the appeal of silver is its industrial demand coupled with the monetary aspect. I’m not talking emergency prep, but diversifying away from just gold feels right. I'm looking at adding maybe $20k-$30k in silver right now, and the Eagles typically carry a higher premium. Is that premium worth it for the recognized liquidity and government backing, or am I just paying extra for something that’s going to be melted down eventually anyway?

The generic rounds are obviously cheaper per ounce. My main concern with those is the potential for selling issues down the line. If I eventually need to liquidate some of this silver from my IRA, are generic rounds going to be a pain in the butt? Or are dealers generally happy to take whatever, as long as it's verifiable? I was looking at that Silver vs Stocks tool the other day, just to get a feel for how silver has performed against equities over the last decade, and it definitely reinforced my conviction in adding more. But I want to make sure I’m making smart choices on the type of silver.

Any insights from folks who’ve diversified their Gold IRA with physical silver, particularly regarding Eagles vs. generics, would be hugely appreciated. What are the pros and cons you’ve experienced selling either type, especially from an IRA custodian perspective?

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4 comments

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Best Answer▲ 5 upvotes

dorothy_lopez💰Established (100-250k)

Hey, cool question! It's definitely something a lot of us wrestle with when stocking up the IRA.

One thing to consider that sometimes gets overlooked is the potential for premiums to compress or expand. While ASEs typically carry higher premiums, in a really hot market, those premiums can sometimes go even higher. Conversely, generic rounds, while cheaper upfront, might not see the same premium appreciation. It's a bit of a gamble either way, but something to keep in mind beyond just the initial cost. Also, if you're looking for a good resource to track some of these premium trends over time, Coinflation can be pretty helpful for historical data, even if it's not specific to IRA-approved products.

Comments (4)

steven_mitchell🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•3 days ago

Hey, interesting question! I'm curious what your main goal is with this silver investment within your IRA. Are you leaning more towards pure bullion value, or is there a numismatic/collectible aspect you're considering at all?

kenneth_parker💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor✓ Verified•3 days ago

Man, I had the exact same dilemma when I started looking into my IRA. Ended up going with a mix, mostly Eagles for the recognized value and liquidity, but a few generics just 'cause the premium was so much lower. Kind of felt like the best of both worlds without putting all my eggs in one basket. Interested to see what others say though!

daniel_wright💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor✓ Verified•3 days ago

Honestly, while the "generic vs. ASE" debate is valid for personal stacking, I'm not sure it matters *as much* for an IRA. The whole point of an IRA is long-term growth and tax advantages, right? You're not likely to be selling small batches frequently or looking for the absolute highest premium on every single ounce when it's time to withdraw in retirement.

Focusing on the larger picture of your portfolio allocation and secure, IRS-approved storage might be more impactful than chasing a few extra cents on the premium for Eagles vs. rounds. Just a thought.