Which Gold and Silver Products Are IRA Eligible? The Complete List

Not every gold coin or silver bar qualifies for a precious metals IRA. I learned this the hard way when I tried to add South African Krugerrands to my IRA in 2023. They did not qualify. My dealer caught it before it became a problem, but it was frustrating.

This is the list I wish I had found before I started buying. Every IRS-approved product you can hold inside a self-directed IRA, plus the products that will get your purchase rejected.

IRS Purity Requirements: The Numbers That Matter

The IRS does not care about brand names, mint marks, or how pretty a coin looks. It cares about one thing: metal purity. Here are the minimum fineness standards for each metal in a self-directed IRA.

• Gold: .995 fine (99.5% pure) or higher
• Silver: .999 fine (99.9% pure) or higher
• Platinum: .9995 fine (99.95% pure) or higher
• Palladium: .9995 fine (99.95% pure) or higher

These thresholds come from Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m)(3)(B). If your product does not meet the minimum purity for its metal type, it cannot go into an IRA. Period. There is exactly one exception, and it involves the American Gold Eagle.

Approved Gold Coins and Bars

Gold is where most IRA investors start. I have held three of these products in my own IRA, and I have strong opinions about which ones to buy.

American Gold Eagle

The most popular gold IRA product in the country, and it breaks the purity rule. The American Gold Eagle is only .9167 fine (22 karat), well below the .995 threshold. So why is it allowed? Congress specifically exempted coins minted by the U.S. Treasury. The Eagle gets in on its own statute, not on purity. It is the only gold coin that qualifies below .995 fineness.

I hold American Gold Eagles in my IRA and they make up the largest portion of my gold allocation. The reason is simple: nothing is more liquid in the U.S. precious metals market. Every dealer buys them back. Every investor recognizes them. When I eventually take distributions, selling Eagles will be the easiest transaction I make.

Available in 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz. All sizes are IRA eligible, but smaller sizes carry higher premiums per ounce. I stick with 1 oz coins for my IRA.

American Gold Buffalo

The Buffalo is .9999 fine (24 karat, "four nines" pure). The U.S. Mint introduced it in 2006 specifically because investors wanted a 24-karat American gold coin. Premiums run $30 to $60 more per ounce than Eagles. Functionally, Eagles and Buffalos perform almost identically inside an IRA.

Canadian Gold Maple Leaf

The Maple Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint comes in at .9999 fine. In production since 1979, recognized worldwide. I like Maple Leafs for their tight premiums. They often cost less than Buffalos while delivering the same purity. They scratch more easily than Eagles because pure gold is softer than the 22-karat alloy, but inside an IRA vault, nobody is handling your coins.

Other Approved Gold Coins

Several other government-minted gold coins meet the .995 purity threshold:

• Austrian Gold Philharmonic: .9999 fine. Widely available, good premiums.
• Australian Gold Kangaroo: .9999 fine. Minted by the Perth Mint. Solid recognition internationally.
• British Gold Britannia: .9999 fine (post-2013 issues). Earlier versions were .9167 fine and do not qualify on purity alone.

I personally favor American coins (Eagles and Buffalos) for U.S.-based IRA investors because they carry the strongest domestic liquidity.

Approved Gold Bars

Gold bars qualify if they meet the .995 purity standard and come from a refiner accredited by NYMEX/COMEX or LBMA. The brands you will see most often: PAMP Suisse (every bar comes with an assay card), Credit Suisse, Valcambi, Johnson Matthey (no longer in production, but existing bars still qualify), and Royal Canadian Mint bars at .9999 fine.

Bars carry lower premiums than coins. On a $50,000 gold buy, choosing bars over coins might save you $500 to $1,500 (I break down the exact spread in my hidden gold IRA fees guide). The trade-off is flexibility. You cannot sell half a 10 oz bar. For my IRA, I went mostly coins for that reason, with one PAMP Suisse bar to round things out.

Approved Silver Products

Silver has a higher purity threshold than gold (.999 versus .995), but plenty of products clear that bar. Silver is also where I see the most new investors make mistakes, because the variety of available products is wider and the quality differences between manufacturers matter more.

American Silver Eagle

The Silver Eagle is .999 fine and minted by the U.S. Mint. I hold Silver Eagles in my IRA and they represent my entire silver allocation. Same logic as Gold Eagles: maximum liquidity, universal recognition, no questions asked when selling. Premiums have been volatile (they spiked to $10 over spot during the 2020 and 2021 silver squeeze), but for IRA purposes, I consider that premium worth paying.

Canadian Silver Maple Leaf

At .9999 fine, the purest major silver coin in production. Premiums typically run $2 to $3 per ounce less than Silver Eagles. On a large purchase, that difference adds up.

Austrian Silver Philharmonic

At .999 fine, this qualifies for IRA inclusion. Europe's best-selling silver coin with competitive premiums, though less familiar to American dealers.

Approved Silver Bars and Rounds

Silver bars and rounds are IRA eligible if they meet .999 purity and come from an approved manufacturer. Common brands: Sunshine Minting, SilverTowne, PAMP Suisse, Engelhard (out of production but still approved), and Johnson Matthey (same situation). Silver rounds from approved manufacturers also qualify. They look like coins but come from private mints, lack face value, and carry lower premiums. For IRA investors building a large silver position on a budget, approved rounds and bars deliver the most ounces per dollar.

Platinum and Palladium Options

Most people overlook these. I hold a small platinum position (about 10% of my metals allocation), and I think platinum is undervalued relative to gold right now. But these are smaller, less liquid markets. Spreads are wider. Dealer selection is thinner.

IRA-Approved Platinum Products

Platinum must be .9995 fine or higher. That is a stricter standard than gold. Qualifying products include:

• American Platinum Eagle: .9995 fine. Minted by the U.S. Mint. The most common platinum IRA product, and it is what I hold. Comes in 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz sizes.
• Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf: .9995 fine. Good alternative to the Eagle with strong purity credentials.
• Australian Platinum Koala/Platypus: .9995 fine. Perth Mint production. Less common in U.S. IRA accounts but still approved.
• Platinum bars from PAMP Suisse, Credit Suisse, or Valcambi: All qualify at .9995 fine or higher.

Platinum trades at a discount to gold right now, which is historically unusual. That relationship flipped around 2015 and has not reversed. I see the gap as an opportunity, which is why I allocated 10% to platinum. But I would not go above 15%. Smaller market, more volatility, and industrial demand (autocatalysts, primarily) creates different dynamics than gold.

IRA-Approved Palladium Products

Palladium also requires .9995 fineness. Your options are limited: the Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf (.9995 fine) and palladium bars from PAMP Suisse or other approved refiners. I do not hold palladium in my IRA. The market is too thin for my comfort, and the price swings in 2020 and 2021 were dramatic. If you have conviction about palladium's industrial demand story, keep it under 5% of your metals IRA.

What Is NOT Allowed in a Precious Metals IRA

Getting this wrong means your custodian rejects the purchase, or worse, the IRS treats it as a taxable distribution.

South African Krugerrands

This is the one that got me. Krugerrands are .9167 fine (22 karat), same purity as American Gold Eagles. But the Congressional exemption only covers U.S. Treasury coins. Krugerrands are out. Full stop. I own them personally (outside my IRA), and they are excellent coins. They just cannot go into a retirement account.

Pre-1933 Gold Coins

$20 Liberty Double Eagles, $10 Indian Head Eagles, $5 Half Eagles. None of them qualify. Purity is typically .900 fine, well below the .995 threshold. They also fall into the "collectible" category, which the IRS specifically prohibits in retirement accounts. Any dealer pushing pre-1933 coins for your IRA is either confused or deliberately misleading you.

Numismatic and Collectible Coins

Proof coins, limited-edition commemoratives, and graded numismatic coins are not allowed in IRAs. One exception: American Eagle proof coins are allowed if they come in original government packaging with a certificate of authenticity. Everything else with a collector premium is out. NGC or PCGS graded coins, limited mintage commemoratives, anything whose value comes from rarity rather than metal content.

I have seen dealers charge 40% to 100% over melt value for graded coins, then pitch them as IRA investments. The math does not work. Stick with standard bullion. Any dealer pushing numismatics for your IRA is waving one of the biggest red flags in this industry.

Jewelry, Decorative Gold, and Other Foreign Coins

Gold jewelry does not qualify, even at 24 karat. Neither do gold art pieces or gold-plated items. Beyond Krugerrands, other popular coins that fail the purity test: British Gold Sovereigns (.9167 fine), Mexican Gold Pesos (.900 fine), and pre-2013 British Britannias (.9167 fine; only 2013 and later issues at .9999 qualify).

Quick Reference Table

Product	Metal	Purity	IRA Eligible?
American Gold Eagle	Gold	.9167	Yes (statutory exception)
American Gold Buffalo	Gold	.9999	Yes
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf	Gold	.9999	Yes
Austrian Gold Philharmonic	Gold	.9999	Yes
Australian Gold Kangaroo	Gold	.9999	Yes
PAMP Suisse Gold Bar	Gold	.9999	Yes
South African Krugerrand	Gold	.9167	No
British Gold Sovereign	Gold	.9167	No
Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins	Gold	.900	No
American Silver Eagle	Silver	.999	Yes
Canadian Silver Maple Leaf	Silver	.9999	Yes
Sunshine Minting Silver Bar	Silver	.999	Yes
American Platinum Eagle	Platinum	.9995	Yes
Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf	Palladium	.9995	Yes

What I Personally Hold in My IRA (and Why)

I have a $50,000 self-directed IRA with Augusta Precious Metals. My allocation as of early 2026:

• 60% American Gold Eagles (1 oz): Maximum liquidity, strong recognition, and that Congressional exemption gives me confidence the product will remain IRA eligible for the foreseeable future.
• 25% American Silver Eagles: Silver's dual role as a monetary and industrial metal appeals to me. Solar panel manufacturing alone consumed over 140 million ounces in 2024.
• 10% American Platinum Eagles (1 oz): Speculative position. Platinum trading below gold is historically unusual. If I am wrong, 10% is a loss I can absorb.
• 5% PAMP Suisse Gold Bar (1 oz): Lower premium than coins at the time of purchase.

No palladium. No numismatic coins. No obscure bars. Boring? Maybe. But my IRA is not where I get creative. It is where I store long-term purchasing power in the most liquid products available. If you are just getting started with a precious metals IRA, keep it simpler: 70% Gold Eagles, 30% Silver Eagles. And read my 10 things I wish I knew before opening my gold IRA so you do not learn these lessons the hard way like I did. Add platinum later once you are comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer coins I already own into my IRA?

No. The IRS prohibits contributing physical metals you already possess into an IRA. Your custodian must purchase on behalf of your IRA through an approved dealer, and the metals ship directly to the depository. I found this frustrating when I started, but the rule exists to prevent abuse of the tax shelter.

Why are Krugerrands not allowed if they have the same purity as American Eagles?

Congress wrote an explicit exemption into the tax code for coins produced by the United States Treasury. That exemption does not extend to Krugerrands, British Sovereigns, or any other 22-karat coin. They must meet the standard .995 threshold, and they do not. Seems inconsistent, but that is how the statute reads.

Are silver rounds IRA eligible?

Yes, if they are .999 fine or higher and produced by a manufacturer meeting NYMEX/COMEX or LBMA standards. Sunshine Minting, SilverTowne, and similar accredited producers qualify. Generic rounds from unknown manufacturers may not. Your custodian makes the final call.

Can I hold both gold and silver in the same IRA?

Yes. A self-directed precious metals IRA can hold any combination of IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. I hold gold, silver, and platinum in the same account. There are no rules requiring you to stick with a single metal type.

Getting Started

If you are ready to open a precious metals IRA, or just want to compare options, request a free information kit from one of these three dealers. Each kit includes current product pricing, fee schedules, and specifics on their IRA rollover process. No obligation to buy.

Get Augusta's Free IRA Guide Request Goldco's Free Kit Get Birch Gold's Info Kit