Quick Summary: Yes, you can include silver in your gold IRA. These accounts, officially called Precious Metals IRAs, allow you to hold IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Silver must be 99.9% pure and come in approved forms like American Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, or qualifying silver bars to be eligible for inclusion in your retirement account.
Can I Include Silver in My Gold IRA: Understanding Your Options
Many people wonder if their gold IRA can hold more than just gold. The good news is that you absolutely can include silver in your gold IRA. These special retirement accounts actually allow several precious metals, not just gold. The official name for these accounts is “Precious Metals IRA,” though many people call them gold IRAs for short.
Adding silver to your gold IRA creates better diversity in your precious metals holdings. Silver often performs differently than gold, which helps spread your risk. Let’s explore everything you need to know about mixing silver with gold in your retirement account.
What Types of Silver Can Go Into Your Precious Metals IRA?
The IRS has strict rules about what kinds of silver qualify for IRA inclusion. Not all silver products make the cut. Here are the silver items you can legally add to your gold IRA:
| Silver Product | Purity Requirement | Eligible for IRAs? |
| American Silver Eagle | 99.9% | Yes |
| Canadian Silver Maple Leaf | 99.99% | Yes |
| Austrian Silver Philharmonic | 99.9% | Yes |
| Australian Silver Kookaburra | 99.9% | Yes |
| Australian Silver Kangaroo | 99.9% | Yes |
| Mexican Silver Libertad | 99.9% | Yes |
| Silver bars from approved refiners | 99.9% | Yes |
| Silver rounds from approved mints | 99.9% | Yes |
| Junk silver coins (pre-1965) | 90% | No |
| Silver jewelry | Varies | No |
| Silver flatware or serving pieces | Varies | No |
| Collectible/numismatic silver coins | Varies | No |
As you can see, the silver must be very pure (at least 99.9%) and come from approved sources. This ensures your retirement account holds investment-grade metals, not collectibles.
Benefits of Adding Silver to Your Gold IRA
Putting silver alongside gold in your precious metals IRA offers several advantages:
1. Better Diversification
Silver doesn’t always move in the same direction or at the same rate as gold. Sometimes silver outperforms gold, especially during industrial booms. By holding both metals, you create more balance in your precious metals portfolio.
2. Lower Entry Point
Silver costs much less per ounce than gold. This makes it easier to add more pieces to your IRA with a smaller investment. For example, $5,000 might buy just 2-3 gold coins, but could purchase over 100 ounces of silver.
3. Industrial Demand Factor
Unlike gold, silver has major industrial uses in electronics, solar panels, medical devices, and more. This industrial demand creates another driver for silver prices beyond just investment interest. Your gold IRA can benefit from this additional value factor when you include silver.
4. Higher Growth Potential
Silver markets are smaller than gold markets. This means silver prices can sometimes rise faster percentage-wise during precious metals bull markets. Adding silver to your gold IRA might boost your growth potential during strong markets.
5. Historical Silver-to-Gold Ratio
The silver-to-gold price ratio historically averages around 60:1 but can vary widely. When this ratio gets very high (meaning silver is relatively cheap compared to gold), adding silver to your gold IRA might offer better value.
How to Add Silver to Your Existing Gold IRA
If you already have a gold IRA and want to add silver, the process is straightforward:
- Contact your IRA custodian – Tell your gold custodian that want to add silver to your account
- Select IRA-approved silver products – Choose from eligible coins or bars
- Complete a buy order – Your custodian will handle the paperwork
- Fund the purchase – Either use cash in your IRA or add new funds
- Verify delivery to the depository – Your silver will go to the same secure Gold storage facility as your other metals.
The entire process typically takes 7-10 business days from order to confirmation of storage.
Important Considerations When Adding Silver to Your Gold IRA
Before you mix silver into your gold IRA, keep these factors in mind:
Storage Fees
Most depositories charge based on the total value of your metals, not by weight or type. Since silver takes up more space per dollar value than gold, some facilities might charge slightly more for silver storage. Ask your custodian about any potential fee differences.
Are There Liquidity Differences Between Gold and Silver?
Both gold and silver IRAs are highly liquid assets with established global markets and live pricing. Thousands of dealers publish daily bid and ask prices for both metals, making them easy to buy or sell at any time. While gold is typically traded in larger dollar amounts, both metals offer excellent liquidity when using popular, IRA-approved coins and bars. Selling a gold or Silver IRA is as easy as calling your dealer of choice and asking for a buy-back quote.
Minimum Purchase Requirements
Some custodians have minimum purchase amounts for adding metals to your IRA. These minimums might be different for silver than for gold. Check with your provider before placing an order.
Purity Verification
Make sure any silver you add meets the 99.9% purity requirement. Your custodian should verify this, but it’s good to double-check, especially with silver bars from lesser-known refiners.
Creating the Ideal Gold-Silver Balance in Your IRA
Many financial advisors suggest diversifying within your precious metals holdings. Here are some approaches to balancing gold and silver in your IRA:
• 50/50 split – Equal dollar amounts in gold and silver
• 2/3 gold, 1/3 silver – More stability with some growth potential
• 1/3 gold, 2/3 silver – Higher growth potential with some stability
• Value-based approach – Adjust based on the gold/silver ratio
• Goal-based allocation – More gold for wealth preservation, more silver for growth
The right mix depends on your retirement timeline, risk tolerance, and market outlook.
Final Thoughts on Mixing Metals in Your Retirement Account
Adding silver to your gold IRA creates a more balanced precious metals portfolio. The different price drivers and performance patterns of silver can complement your gold holdings nicely. Just make sure you’re choosing IRA-approved silver products and working with a reputable custodian.
Remember that a precious metals IRA can hold gold, silver, platinum, and palladium—giving you multiple options for diversification. Many investors find that a mix of metals provides better overall performance than focusing on just one type.
Whether you’re just starting your precious metals IRA or looking to diversify an existing account, silver makes an excellent addition to your retirement strategy. With its lower price point, industrial demand, and growth potential, silver can be a valuable complement to gold in your long-term savings plan. So yes, you absolutely can include silver in your gold IRA, and many financial advisors would recommend doing exactly that.
