(The Daily Signal)—Like abortion zealots in the past, gender warriors today are trying to use the courts to force on the American people a dangerous agenda that neither they nor their elected representatives want. So far, at least, they are striking out.
More than half the states have enacted laws banning medical interventions such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery for minors who want to identify as the opposite sex. There’s good reason for doing so. The number of adolescents claiming gender dysphoria is skyrocketing, accompanied by tremendous pressure to blindly follow what the Department of Health and Human Services calls “pediatric medical transition.” Not surprisingly, however, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved drugs for this purpose.
As this trend shot forward, a group of European researchers observed that “virtually nothing is known regarding adolescent-onset gender dysphoria.” A comprehensive report published last year in the United Kingdom described this as “an area of remarkably weak evidence” in which “results of studies are exaggerated or misrepresented.” State legislatures have the constitutional authority to regulate the medical profession—and they’re right to put on the brakes.
This being America, losing in the legislature often means turning to the courts and claiming a constitutional “right” to do this or that. And already, activist groups are recruiting both children and parents to challenge these adolescent sex change bans.
In August 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld Alabama’s ban, and the Sixth Circuit came to the same conclusion regarding Tennessee’s law a month later. The latter decision, L.W. v. Skrmetti, then went before the Supreme Court, which held that Tennessee’s ban did not violate the Constitution.
Two more circuits have now followed suit.
In Poe v. Drummond, the Tenth Circuit ruled on Aug. 6 to uphold Oklahoma’s ban on “gender transition procedures” for minors. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Skrmetti, the court came to the same conclusion about the Oklahoma law.
According to the court, that law is based on age, banning procedures for minors, not adults, and on medical use, banning procedures for “gender transition,” not to treat medical conditions. Neither of those is a special consideration that would justify the Constitution restricting how legislatures address the issue.
Even more recently still, the Eighth Circuit concluded in Brandt v. Griffin on Aug. 12 that Arkansas’ sex change law—virtually identical to Tennessee’s—does not violate the Constitution, citing Skrmetti as justification.
In 2022, the court had put Arkansas’ law on hold while its constitutionality was being litigated. While that preliminary decision was made by a three-judge panel, this final decision came from the full Eighth Circuit, which voted 8-2 to uphold the Arkansas law.
Writing for the majority, Judge William Benton noted that the district court found evidence that these procedures pose risks for minors. Some of these were also noted in a May 2025 DHHS report: impaired bone density accrual, infertility, risk of stroke, and changes in cholesterol and blood thickness. The court, Benton wrote, will not “second-guess the lines” that the legislature chose to draw.
The next round in the gender-litigation fight will come this fall when the Supreme Court takes up two cases, out of Idaho and West Virginia respectively, challenging laws prohibiting men from competing in women’s sports. The American people, and those we elect, have authority to tackle issues like these. Hopefully, the courts will agree.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.