Not all gold coins and bars qualify for IRA investment. The IRS sets specific fineness standards under IRC Section 408(m) and explicitly approves certain government-minted coins. Purchasing non-eligible gold for an IRA constitutes a prohibited transaction — potentially triggering the entire account's taxable distribution. This complete reference covers every major IRS-approved gold product and highlights common products that do not qualify.
IRS Fineness Requirement
Gold held in an IRA must be .995 fine (99.5% pure) or better. This standard applies to bars and most coins. The one exception is American Gold Eagles, which are .9167 fine (22-karat) but are explicitly approved by statute in IRC Section 408(m)(3)(A)(i) regardless of their fineness.
IRS-Approved Gold Coins
United States
- American Gold Eagle — 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz (.9167 fine; explicitly IRS-approved by statute)
- American Gold Buffalo — 1 oz (.9999 fine; 24-karat, introduced 2006)
Canada
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf — 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz, 1/20 oz (.9999 fine)
Australia
- Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget — 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz (.9999 fine; Perth Mint)
Austria
- Austrian Gold Philharmonic — 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz (.9999 fine; Vienna Mint)
South Africa
- South African Krugerrand — 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz (.9167 fine; IRS-approved since 1986 rule change)
United Kingdom
- British Gold Britannia (post-2013) — 1 oz (.9999 fine; pre-2013 versions were .9167 fine and are also eligible)
China
- Chinese Gold Panda — 30g, 15g, 8g, 3g, 1g (.999 fine; annual design change; IRS-approved)
The American Gold Eagle and South African Krugerrand are the most widely recognized gold IRA coins globally, despite being 22-karat rather than 24-karat. Their explicit statutory approval and universal acceptance by custodians and depositories make them reliable choices even though their gold content is slightly lower per coin than 24-karat alternatives.
IRS-Approved Gold Bars
Gold bars are eligible for IRA investment if they meet .995 fineness and are produced by a refiner or assayer accredited by NYMEX/COMEX, LBMA, ISO 9000, or national government. Major approved bar producers include:
- PAMP Suisse — 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo; assay card included (.9999 fine)
- Valcambi Suisse — 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo (.9999 fine)
- Credit Suisse — 1 oz, 10 oz (.9999 fine)
- Engelhard — 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo (.9999 fine; now Johnson Matthey/Asahi)
- Johnson Matthey — 1 oz, 10 oz, 1 kilo (.9999 fine)
- Royal Canadian Mint bars — Various sizes (.9999 fine)
- Perth Mint bars — Various sizes (.9999 fine)
- Sunshine Minting — 1 oz, 10 oz (.9999 fine)
What Does NOT Qualify
- Gold jewelry, regardless of purity
- Numismatic or collectible coins (pre-1933 U.S. gold coins, commemorative coins)
- Gold certificates or paper gold claims
- Private mint rounds that do not meet accredited refiner standards
- Foreign coins not listed above (verify eligibility before purchase)
See the complete IRA-eligible metals reference page or browse gold coins and bars available through Universal Gold Group.