IRS-Approved IRA Metals List | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium

The IRS Rules

What Makes a Metal IRA-Eligible?

Under IRS Code Section 408(m), a precious metal must meet minimum fineness standards and be produced by an approved government mint or accredited refiner to qualify for IRA inclusion.

Approved Source

Metal must be produced by a national government mint or an accredited refiner, assayer, or manufacturer that meets IRS requirements (typically LBMA Good Delivery status).

Minimum Purity

Gold must be 99.5% pure, silver 99.9%, and platinum and palladium 99.95%. The American Gold Eagle is the only IRS exception — approved at 91.67%.

Custodian Held

IRA metals must be held by an IRS-approved custodian, not the account owner. Home storage of IRA metals is a prohibited transaction under IRS rules.

Approved Depository

Physical metals must be stored at an IRS-approved depository. Universal Gold Group works with Delaware Depository and Brink's Global Services.

No Collectibles

Collectible coins — including most rare, numismatic, or graded coins — are explicitly prohibited in IRAs under IRS Code Section 408(m)(2), regardless of their precious metal content.

Proof Coins

Proof versions of approved coins (e.g., Proof American Gold Eagle) may qualify if they remain in original mint packaging with a certificate of authenticity and are in perfect condition.

Complete Reference

IRA-Eligible Metals — Full List

🥇 Gold

IRS Minimum: 99.5% Pure (0.995 fineness) — Exception: American Gold Eagle at 91.67%

Product	Mint / Refiner	Purity	Sizes	Status
American Gold Eagle (Bullion)	U.S. Mint	91.67%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz	Eligible
American Gold Eagle (Proof)	U.S. Mint	91.67%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz	Eligible
American Gold Buffalo	U.S. Mint	99.99%	1 oz	Eligible
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf	Royal Canadian Mint	99.99%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz	Eligible
Austrian Gold Philharmonic	Austrian Mint	99.99%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz	Eligible
Australian Gold Kangaroo	Perth Mint	99.99%	1/20 oz – 2 oz	Eligible
South African Krugerrand	South African Mint	91.67%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz	Eligible
British Gold Britannia (post-2013)	Royal Mint (UK)	99.99%	1 oz	Eligible
Chinese Gold Panda	China Mint	99.9%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz	Eligible
PAMP Suisse Gold Bars	PAMP Suisse	99.99%	1 g – 100 g, 1 oz	Eligible
Valcambi Gold Bars	Valcambi	99.99%	1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kg	Eligible
Credit Suisse Gold Bars	Valcambi (CS brand)	99.99%	1 oz, 10 oz	Eligible
Perth Mint Gold Bars	Perth Mint	99.99%	1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kg	Eligible
Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins	U.S. Mint (historic)	Various	Various	Not Eligible
Numismatic / Graded Gold Coins	Various	Various	Various	Not Eligible

🥈 Silver

IRS Minimum: 99.9% Pure (0.999 fineness)

Product	Mint / Refiner	Purity	Sizes	Status
American Silver Eagle (Bullion)	U.S. Mint	99.9%	1 oz	Eligible
American Silver Eagle (Proof)	U.S. Mint	99.9%	1 oz	Eligible
Canadian Silver Maple Leaf	Royal Canadian Mint	99.99%	1 oz	Eligible
Austrian Silver Philharmonic	Austrian Mint	99.9%	1 oz	Eligible
Australian Silver Kangaroo	Perth Mint	99.99%	1 oz	Eligible
Silver Britannia (post-2013)	Royal Mint (UK)	99.9%	1 oz	Eligible
Mexican Silver Libertad	Casa de Moneda de México	99.9%	1 oz – 1 kg	Eligible
Sunshine Minting Silver Bars	Sunshine Minting	99.9%	1 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz, 100 oz	Eligible
PAMP Suisse Silver Bars	PAMP Suisse	99.9%	1 oz, 10 oz, 100 oz	Eligible
Engelhard Silver Bars	Engelhard	99.9%	1 oz, 100 oz	Eligible
U.S. 90% Junk Silver Coins	U.S. Mint (pre-1965)	90%	Various	Not Eligible
Sterling Silver (.925)	Various	92.5%	Various	Not Eligible

⬜ Platinum

IRS Minimum: 99.95% Pure (0.9995 fineness)

Product	Mint / Refiner	Purity	Sizes	Status
American Platinum Eagle (Bullion)	U.S. Mint	99.95%	1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz	Eligible
American Platinum Eagle (Proof)	U.S. Mint	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf	Royal Canadian Mint	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Australian Platinum Platypus	Perth Mint	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Platinum Britannia	Royal Mint (UK)	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
PAMP Suisse Platinum Bars	PAMP Suisse	99.95%	1 oz, 10 oz	Eligible
Valcambi Platinum Bars	Valcambi	99.95%	1 oz, 50 g	Eligible
Johnson Matthey Platinum Bars	Johnson Matthey	99.95%	1 oz, 10 oz	Eligible

🔘 Palladium

IRS Minimum: 99.95% Pure (0.9995 fineness)

Product	Mint / Refiner	Purity	Sizes	Status
American Palladium Eagle	U.S. Mint	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf	Royal Canadian Mint	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Russian Palladium Ballerina	Moscow Mint	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
PAMP Suisse Palladium Bars	PAMP Suisse	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Valcambi Palladium Bars	Valcambi	99.95%	1 oz	Eligible
Johnson Matthey Palladium Bars	Johnson Matthey	99.95%	1 oz, 10 oz	Eligible

Common Questions

IRA Eligibility FAQ

Why is the American Gold Eagle allowed at only 91.67% purity?

The American Gold Eagle contains 91.67% gold (22 karat) alloyed with copper and silver for durability. Normally, the IRS requires gold to be 99.5% pure, but Congress granted the Eagle a specific statutory exception because it is official U.S. legal tender. Despite its lower gold content, each coin contains exactly the stated amount of pure gold by weight — a 1 oz Eagle contains 1 full troy ounce of gold.

Are numismatic or collectible coins allowed in a Gold IRA?

No. IRS Code Section 408(m)(2) explicitly prohibits collectible coins in IRAs, including most rare and numismatic coins. The only exception is certain U.S. government-minted bullion coins specifically approved by statute. If a coin's value is based primarily on rarity or collector demand rather than metal content, it almost certainly does not qualify for IRA inclusion.

Can I store IRA metals at home?

No. The IRS requires that IRA precious metals be held by a qualified trustee or custodian and stored at an IRS-approved depository. Taking personal possession of IRA metals while they remain in the IRA is a prohibited transaction — it is treated as a full distribution, making the entire value taxable plus subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you're under 59½. There is no legitimate "home storage Gold IRA" despite what some promoters claim.

How do I know if a specific coin or bar is IRA-eligible?

The safest approach is to purchase only from a reputable dealer — like Universal Gold Group — that specializes in IRA-eligible precious metals. Every product we sell has been vetted for IRS compliance. If you're unsure about a specific product, call us at 702.250.1730 and a specialist will confirm eligibility before any purchase is made.

IRS-Approved Metals for Your IRA