Which coins and bars can go in a precious metals IRA: the fineness rules, the US and foreign coins that qualify, the ones that do not, and why you cannot store IRA metal at home.
Short answer: an IRA can hold certain precious metals if they meet purity standards and are held by an approved custodian. In general, gold must be at least 99.5% pure, silver and platinum-group metals must be at least 99.9% / 99.95% pure, and several government-minted coins qualify, including American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs. Most collector coins and junk silver do not qualify, and you cannot keep IRA metal at home. This is general information, not tax or investment advice. Rules change, so confirm with your IRA custodian.
US law normally treats collectibles bought with IRA money as a taxable distribution. It makes an exception for certain bullion. To qualify, the metal must meet a minimum fineness and be in a form the law allows, such as certain coins and bars from approved refiners and assayers.
| Metal | Minimum fineness |
|---|---|
| Gold | 0.995 (99.5%) |
| Silver | 0.999 (99.9%) |
| Platinum | 0.9995 |
| Palladium | 0.9995 |
American Eagle coins are also specifically permitted in the law even where their composition differs from the table. See fineness and the purity tables.
| Coin | Metal | Why it qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| American Gold Eagle | Gold | Specifically permitted |
| American Silver Eagle | Silver | Specifically permitted |
| American Platinum Eagle | Platinum | Specifically permitted |
| American Gold Buffalo | Gold (.9999) | Meets fineness |
| Canadian Gold and Silver Maple Leaf | Gold, silver (.9999) | Meets fineness |
| Austrian Philharmonic | Gold, silver | Meets fineness |
| Britannia (modern) | Gold, silver | Meets fineness |
| Australian Kangaroo / Kookaburra, Nugget | Gold, silver | Meets fineness |
| Refiner gold, silver, platinum bars | Various | Meets fineness and refiner approval |
Custodians keep their own lists, so check that the exact product, including the year and form, is accepted.
IRA metal has to be held by a trustee or approved custodian, usually in an insured depository. If you take personal possession of IRA metal, it may be treated as a distribution, which can mean income tax and, if you are under 59½, a penalty. Marketing for "home storage" gold IRAs has drawn legal challenges, so get advice from a qualified professional rather than relying on a seller. For metals you hold outside an IRA, see gold IRA versus physical gold at home.
Over a long period, annual fees can cost as much as the premium, so ask for a written fee schedule.
American Gold Eagles, American Gold Buffaloes, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, Austrian Gold Philharmonics, Australian gold coins that meet the fineness standard and Britannia gold coins, among others. The key tests are the coin's fineness and the IRS's list of permitted coins and bullion, so confirm with your custodian.
Generally no. The gold Krugerrand is 22 karat, about 91.67% pure, which is below the 99.5% fineness required for gold bullion in an IRA. Check with your custodian, since eligibility depends on the rules in force.
Yes. American Silver Eagles are specifically permitted, as are other silver coins and bars that are at least 99.9% pure and meet the standards. Junk silver and older US circulating silver coins are not eligible.
The rules require IRA metal to be held by a trustee or approved custodian. Taking possession yourself can be treated as a distribution, which may trigger tax and penalties. Schemes promoting home-storage IRAs have been challenged, so get qualified advice before considering one.
Generally no. The law treats most collectibles held in an IRA as a distribution, with exceptions for certain bullion coins and bars. Rare and graded collector coins are usually not eligible.
Cost basis, live spot prices and photo documentation. Free for up to 20 holdings.
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