Which Precious Metals Can You Hold in an IRA?
Not every gold coin or silver bar is eligible for inclusion in a Self-Directed IRA. The Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m) establishes specific fineness (purity) requirements that metals must meet, and only certain products from approved mints and refiners qualify.
This guide provides a comprehensive list of IRA-approved precious metals to help you make informed decisions about your retirement portfolio.
IRS Purity Requirements
The IRS requires minimum purity levels for each metal:
- Gold: 99.5% pure (.995 fineness) — with one notable exception
- Silver: 99.9% pure (.999 fineness)
- Platinum: 99.95% pure (.9995 fineness)
- Palladium: 99.95% pure (.9995 fineness)
Approved Gold Products
The following gold products are approved for IRA investment:
Government-Minted Coins
- American Gold Eagle (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz) — The only exception to the 99.5% purity rule. American Eagles are 91.67% gold (22 karat) but are specifically exempted by law.
- American Gold Buffalo (1 oz) — 99.99% pure gold (24 karat)
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz) — 99.99% pure
- Austrian Gold Philharmonic (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz) — 99.99% pure
- Australian Gold Kangaroo (1 oz) — 99.99% pure
- British Gold Britannia (1 oz) — 99.99% pure (post-2013)
Gold Bars
- PAMP Suisse gold bars (1 oz, 10 oz, kilo)
- Credit Suisse gold bars
- Perth Mint gold bars
- Other bars from COMEX/LBMA-approved refiners meeting .995+ fineness
Approved Silver Products
Government-Minted Coins
- American Silver Eagle (1 oz) — 99.9% pure
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf (1 oz) — 99.99% pure
- Austrian Silver Philharmonic (1 oz) — 99.9% pure
- Australian Silver Kookaburra (1 oz) — 99.9% pure
- Mexican Silver Libertad (1 oz) — 99.9% pure
Silver Bars
- 10 oz silver bars from approved refiners
- 100 oz silver bars from approved refiners
- 1 kilo silver bars from approved refiners
- Must meet .999 purity standard
Approved Platinum Products
- American Platinum Eagle (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz)
- Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf (1 oz)
- Isle of Man Platinum Noble (1 oz)
- Australian Platinum Koala (1 oz)
- Platinum bars from COMEX/NYMEX-approved refiners (.9995+ purity)
Approved Palladium Products
- Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf (1 oz)
- PAMP Suisse palladium bars (1 oz)
- Palladium bars from approved refiners (.9995+ purity)
What Is NOT Allowed in an IRA
The following types of precious metals are generally NOT eligible for IRA investment:
- Collectible or numismatic coins — Coins valued primarily for their rarity or collector appeal
- Pre-1933 gold coins — Considered collectibles by the IRS
- South African Krugerrands — Do not meet the .995 purity requirement (91.67% gold)
- Coins below purity requirements — Any coin or bar that does not meet the minimum fineness standard
- Proof coins — Unless they come in original mint packaging with certificate of authenticity and meet purity requirements
How to Verify Eligibility
Before purchasing any metals for your IRA, verify eligibility with your custodian. They can confirm whether a specific product qualifies. When in doubt, stick with the most popular IRA-eligible products like American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, and bars from well-known refiners like PAMP Suisse.