Stacker mistakes to avoid....

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Every stacker begins their journey with enthusiasm and curiosity. For some, it’s the allure of beautifully designed bullion coins; for others, it’s the pull of history embedded in older currency. Many, of course, start with the simple aim of hedging against inflation. What ever the reason, the road to building a precious metals stack is rarely perfect. I know from experience that it’s all too easy to make mistakes in the early days, and often they are the same pitfalls I see repeated time and again in the community.

One of the earliest challenges is understanding the premiums and hiw they can vary from dealer to dealer, and even coin to coin. I remember being caught up in the excitement of buying coins that looked too good to pass up, even if the price was far above spot. Coins like Chinese Pandas or limited Perth Mint issues can be stunning and certainly have collector appeal, but when everything you buy comes with a hefty markup, the returns diminish quickly. It took time for me to realise that while there is room for special pieces, most of a stack should be built with the fundamentals in mind — silver and gold as close to spot as possible.

Another trap that many of us fall into is chasing the market. The volatility of precious metals can stir emotions, and the temptation to buy in when prices surge or sell during a dip can be strong. I’ve seen people, myself included, react to those swings and regret it later. What stacking really demands is patience. The metals aren’t a get-rich-quick scheme; they reward those who can step back, take a breath, and hold for the long term.

Then there’s the practical side of things that is often overlooked. Silver, especially, takes up more space than you think, and without a plan for storage, it can quickly become cluttered and vulnerable. I’ve learned that protecting the stack is just as important as growing it, and neglecting storage or leaving coins exposed to damp conditions can undo a lot of the effort put into building it in the first place.

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But perhaps the biggest mistake is forgetting the bigger picture. Stacking is about more than just weight on a scale or the number of ounces tucked away. For me, it has become a lesson in discipline, patience, and saving — values that go far beyond the metals themselves. If the focus shifts too much to chasing the next coin or the next deal, it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose behind stacking in the first place.

Mistakes are all part of the journey, and sometimes part of the fun!! I don’t regret the overpriced Pandas or the limited mint coins I splurged on, because they helped shape the way I stack today. Each so-called mistake is just another chapter in the story, and every stacker has their own. What matters most is that we keep stacking — not just metals, but the experiences and lessons that come with them.