Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium Coins & Bars
What qualifies inside
What qualifies inside
a retirement account.
The IRS does not permit just any coin or bar in an IRA. It sets minimum purity standards and approves specific categories of product. Collectibles and most numismatic coins are excluded.
The rules, in short
- Gold must be at least 99.5% pure (.995 fineness). The American Gold Eagle is the recognised exception, at .9167, because it is specifically named in the statute.
- Silver must be at least 99.9% pure (.999 fineness).
- Platinum and palladium must be at least 99.95% pure (.9995 fineness).
- Bars and rounds must come from a refiner or assayer accredited by NYMEX, COMEX, LBMA, or a national government mint.
- The metal must be held by an approved trustee or depository. It cannot be kept at home, in a personal safe, or in a bank box in your own name.
- Not eligible: rare and collectible coins, graded or "proof-only" products sold on a numismatic premium, South African Krugerrands (.9167 and not statutorily named), and most pre-1933 US coinage.
Gold
Eligible gold products
| Product | Fineness | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Gold Eagle | .9167 | 1 oz, ½, ¼, 1/10 | Named in the statute, so eligible despite being below .995. The most widely held IRA gold coin in the US. |
| American Gold Buffalo | .9999 | 1 oz | The US Mint's pure-gold coin. Softer than the Eagle and marks more easily. |
| Canadian Gold Maple Leaf | .9999 | 1 oz and fractional | Royal Canadian Mint. Usually a slightly lower premium than the Eagle. |
| Austrian Gold Philharmonic | .9999 | 1 oz and fractional | Austrian Mint. Widely traded in Europe. |
| Australian Gold Kangaroo | .9999 | 1 oz and fractional | Perth Mint. |
| Gold bars | .995+ | 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kg | From an accredited refiner. The lowest premium per ounce, but less divisible when you come to sell. |
Silver
Eligible silver products
| Product | Fineness | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Silver Eagle | .999 | 1 oz | The most recognised silver bullion coin in the US. Carries a higher premium than bars. |
| Canadian Silver Maple Leaf | .9999 | 1 oz | Royal Canadian Mint. Typically a lower premium than the Silver Eagle. |
| Austrian Silver Philharmonic | .999 | 1 oz | Austrian Mint. |
| Australian Silver Kookaburra | .999 | 1 oz | Perth Mint. |
| Silver bars | .999 | 10 oz, 100 oz | From an accredited refiner. The lowest premium, but bulky — storage cost is a real consideration with silver. |
Availability changes with the market, and premiums move with it. We will quote you the actual premium on the actual product before you decide anything — not an indicative figure.
Platinum & palladium
Eligible platinum and palladium products
| Product | Fineness | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Platinum Eagle | .9995 | 1 oz and fractional | The US Mint's platinum bullion coin. |
| Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf | .9995 | 1 oz | Royal Canadian Mint. |
| Platinum bars | .9995 | 1 oz, 10 oz | From an accredited refiner. |
| Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf | .9995 | 1 oz | Royal Canadian Mint. |
| Palladium bars | .9995 | 1 oz, 10 oz | From an accredited refiner. Supply is thinner than gold or silver, so availability varies. |
Platinum and palladium are smaller, less liquid markets than gold and silver, and premiums and availability move more. We will tell you where a product sits before you decide.
Not sure which is right for you?
That is exactly the conversation to have on the phone. We will walk through the options and what each actually costs.