IRA-Approved Precious Metals
Not all gold, silver, platinum, or palladium qualifies for an IRA. The IRS sets strict purity standards and approved product lists. Use this reference to verify which metals are eligible before investing.
IRS Eligibility at a Glance
Not all gold, silver, platinum, or palladium qualifies for an IRA. The IRS sets strict minimum purity standards: gold must be 99.5% pure, silver 99.9%, and platinum and palladium 99.95%. Approved coins include American Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, and Australian Kangaroos.
Collectible and rare coins are explicitly prohibited. All metals must be produced by a refiner accredited by NYMEX, COMEX, or a national government mint, and must carry the producer’s mint mark.
Minimum Purity Requirements
To qualify as IRA-allowable, precious metals must meet the following minimum fineness standards set by the IRS.
Gold
99.5% pure (0.995 fineness)
Silver
99.9% pure (0.999 fineness)
Platinum
99.95% pure (0.9995 fineness)
Palladium
99.95% pure (0.9995 fineness)
General Eligibility Requirements
All IRA-approved precious metals must also meet these standards:
Accredited Producer
Bars, rounds, and coins must be produced by a refiner, assayer, or manufacturer accredited/certified by NYMEX, COMEX, NYSE/Liffe, LME, LBMA, LPPM, TOCOM, ISO 9000, or a national government mint. Products must carry the producer's mint mark.
Proof Coins
Must be encapsulated in complete, original mint packaging, in excellent condition, and include the certificate of authenticity.
Small Bullion Bars
Other than 400-oz gold, 100-oz gold, 1,000-oz silver, 50-oz platinum, and 100-oz palladium bars — must be manufactured to exact weight specifications.
Non-Proof (Bullion) Coins
Must be in brilliant uncirculated condition and free from damage.
Approved Metals by Type
The following coins and bars are accepted for IRA investment, subject to the purity and condition requirements above.
- American Eagle bullion and/or proof coins
- Australian Kangaroo/Nugget bullion coins
- Australian Lunar Series coins
- Austrian Philharmonic bullion coins
- British Britannia (2013 and newer)
- Canadian Maple Leaf coins
- Chinese Panda coins
- Credit Suisse – PAMP Suisse bars
- U.S. Buffalo bullion coins
- Other products meeting minimum fineness requirements
- American Eagle bullion and/or proof coins
- America the Beautiful coins
- Australian Kookaburra coins
- Austrian Vienna Philharmonic coins
- British Britannia (2013 and newer)
- Canadian Maple Leaf coins
- Chinese Panda coins
- Mexican Libertad bullion coins
- Other products meeting minimum fineness requirements
- American Eagle bullion and/or proof coins
- Australian Koala bullion coins
- Canadian Maple Leaf bullion coins
- Isle of Man Noble bullion coins
- Other products meeting minimum fineness requirements
- Canadian Maple Leaf coins
- Other products meeting minimum fineness requirements
IRS Eligibility Quick-Reference Table
The table below consolidates IRS purity requirements, example qualifying products, and explicitly prohibited items for all four IRA-eligible metals in one scannable reference.
Qualifying
- American Gold Eagle (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz)
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
- Austrian Gold Philharmonic
- Australian Gold Kangaroo
- U.S. Gold Buffalo
- PAMP Suisse / Credit Suisse bars
Prohibited
- South African Krugerrand (91.67% — below threshold)
- British Sovereign
- Mexican Gold Peso
- Any rare or collectible gold coin
- Pre-1933 U.S. gold coins (numismatic)
Qualifying
- American Silver Eagle (exception — allowed despite 99.9% fineness)
- Canadian Silver Maple Leaf
- Austrian Silver Philharmonic
- British Britannia (2013+)
- Australian Silver Kookaburra
- Mexican Silver Libertad
Prohibited
- British Britannia (pre-2013)
- Belgian Franc
- Dutch Guilder
- French Franc
- Any silver coin below 99.9% purity
- Numismatic or collectible silver coins
Qualifying
- American Platinum Eagle
- Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf
- Australian Platinum Koala
- Isle of Man Platinum Noble
- PAMP Suisse platinum bars (99.95%+)
Prohibited
- Any platinum coin below 99.95% purity
- Rare or collectible platinum items
- Platinum jewellery or decorative items
- Non-accredited refiner bars
Qualifying
- Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf (primary approved coin)
- PAMP Suisse palladium bars (99.95%+)
- Other bars from LBMA/LPPM-accredited refiners
Prohibited
- Any palladium coin below 99.95% purity
- Palladium jewellery or industrial scrap
- Non-accredited refiner bars
- Collectible or commemorative palladium items
| Metal | Min. Purity | Qualifying Examples | Prohibited Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 99.5% (0.995 fineness) |
|
|
| Silver | 99.9% (0.999 fineness) |
|
|
| Platinum | 99.95% (0.9995 fineness) |
|
|
| Palladium | 99.95% (0.9995 fineness) |
|
|
Source: IRS Publication 590-A and IRC §408(m). American Eagle coins are a statutory exception — they are permitted despite the gold fineness being 91.67% (22 karat) because Congress explicitly named them in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.
Unacceptable Precious Metals
The following coins and collectibles do not qualify for IRA investment regardless of their precious metal content.
Holding any of these in an IRA may result in a taxable distribution and potential penalties.
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 expanded IRA precious metal holdings beyond American Eagle coins to include IRS-permitted gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion and coins — including one, one-half, one-quarter, or one-tenth ounce U.S. gold coins and one-ounce silver coins minted by the U.S. Treasury, along with certain foreign coins meeting fineness requirements.
Purity requirements and approved product lists are based on IRS Publication 590-A and industry custodian guidelines. IRS Publication 590-A
Ready to invest in IRS-approved metals? Here are the top-rated custodians that carry eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium:
Best Gold IRA Companies of 2026
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Augusta Precious Metals
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American Hartford Gold
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Birch Gold Group
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about IRA-approved precious metals.
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