Gold IRA companies massively mark up the price of exclusive coins, justifying it by claiming they are unique collector's items with limited mintage.

“This practice is well-documented by government regulators and news investigations. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and state regulators have filed lawsuits against multiple precious metals dealers for selling coins at grossly inflated prices, often targeting elderly investors. For example, cases against companies like Safeguard Metals and Red Rock Secured allege they charged markups of 70% to 130% by falsely marketing coins as rare or exclusive. A Washington Post investigation also detailed how companies use this tactic, selling exclusive coins with markups far higher than standard bullion. Context: The claim describes a common tactic used by some firms in the precious metals IRA industry. These "exclusive" or "numismatic" coins are often pushed on inexperienced investors with claims of higher potential returns and protection from government seizure, which regulators have identified as misleading sales tactics.”