There is growing interest in inflation hedge and diversification of the portfolio. Due to this growing interest, many US investors are turning towards precious metal IRAs. These are especially those Americans that hold physical gold coins. These IRAs provide the tax advantages of a retirement account while allowing ownership of tangible, intrinsically valuable gold assets. However, the IRS is not allowing just any gold coin to be held in the retirement account. There are strict rules that must be followed to qualify as IRA-approved gold, which is based on its purity. We will learn everything you need to know about IRS approved gold coin, which is totally based on Internal Revenue Code, official publications from IRS, and US Mint specification.
What Makes a Gold Coin IRA Approved?
To be qualified for inclusion in a self-directed SDIRA, a gold coin must meet the following criteria that are set by IRS in the section 408(m).
1. Minimum Purity Requirement: Gold coin must have a minimum fineness of 0.995 i.e. 99.5% pure The only exception to this is one specific US coin, which is the American Gold Econ, which is an exception and it is allowed despite it being only 91.67% pure.
2. Legal Tendencies: The coin must be issued by a national government and recognized as a legal tender to be eligible for IRA.
3. Not Classified as a Collectible: Generally, IRAs prohibit collectibles in the IRAs. Coins which are sold for numismatic or historical values are disqualified from IRAs regardless of their content of gold.
4. Proper Storage: The coin must be held by an IRS-approved custodian and it should be stored in an IRS-approved depository. Any kind of personal possession or home storage will disqualify the asset and may result in taxes and penalties.
A gold coin must meet following criteria:
| Requirement | Standard |
| Fineness | At least 0.995 (99.5% pure) |
| Issuer | Legal tender from a national government |
| Storage | Held by IRS-approved custodian & depository |
| Form | Bullion coins (not numismatic or rare) |
Complete List of IRS Approved Gold Coins in 2025
1. American Gold Eagle
- Issuer: U.S. Mint
- Purity: 91.67% (22 karat)
- Legal Tender: Yes ($50 face value for 1 oz)
- Sizes: 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz
- First minted: 1986
Even after being under the 99.5% purity threshold, this is exceptionally approved by law. It’s one of the most popular IRA gold coins in the U.S.right now
2. American Gold Buffalo
- Issuer: U.S. Mint
- Purity: 99.99% (24 karat)
- Legal Tender: Yes ($50 face value)
- Size: 1 oz
- First minted: 2006
Its a First U.S.-minted 24-karat gold coin. It has Strong global recognition and high purity which makes it IRA-compliant.
3. Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
- Issuer: Royal Canadian Mint
- Purity: 99.99% (24 karat)
- Legal Tender: Yes (CAD denomination)
- Sizes: 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz
Older coins which are pre-1983 may not be able to meet the purity standards, so custodians often limit IRA eligibility to newer versions of the coins.
4. Austrian Gold Philharmonic
- Issuer: Austrian Mint
- Purity: 99.99%
- Legal Tender: Yes (Euro)
- Sizes: 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, 1/10 oz
This is very popular in European and U.S. markets. It Meets all IRS standards for inclusion in a gold IRA.
5. Australian Gold Kangaroo (formerly known as Nugget)
- Issuer: Perth Mint
- Purity: 99.99%
- Legal Tender: Yes (AUD)
- Sizes: 1 oz and fractional sizes
This is Known for its annually changing designs, but it always meets IRS purity and government-issue requirements.
6. British Gold Britannia (2021 and newer)
- Issuer: Royal Mint (UK)
- Purity: 99.99% (as of 2021)
- Legal Tender: Yes (GBP)
- Sizes: 1 oz and smaller
Britannias which were minted before 2013 only contain 91.67% purity and are not IRA-compliant. you should always verify the mint year.
Gold Coins NOT Approved for IRAs
Even if the coin is made out of gold and it is government issued, it will still be prevented from inclusion criteria of IRE. Here are few of these coins which are non-approved and why they are not approved.
| Coin | Why It’s Not Approved |
| South African Krugerrand | 91.67% purity; not legal tender in U.S. |
| Chinese Gold Panda | Inconsistent purity and limited verification |
| Pre-1933 U.S. Gold Coins | Classified as collectibles, not bullion |
| Proof Coins (unless sealed) | Considered numismatic if removed from packaging |
| Privately minted rounds/bars | Not issued by government mints |
| Graded coins (slabbed) | Treated as collectibles by IRS |
Buying any of these above mentioned IRA could trigger taxable distribution, a 10% penalty if you are under 59.5 years of age, and loss of tax-deferred or tax-free growth.
Custody & Storage Rules for IRS Gold Coins
According to the regulations that are set by IRS, it says that all the IRA assets including gold must be held by an IRS approved custodian like equity trust gold star etc and it should be stored in an approved depository such as :
- Delaware Depository
- Brinks Global Services
- IDS of Texas
any kind of home storage is prohibited even if you own an LLC dot storing these coins at home will violate the guidelines and it will lead to full distribution penalties.
What About IRA Gold Bars
Gold bars are also allowed in the IRAs but they should have a minimum fineness of 0.995 They should be produced by accredited refineries They should be properly labelled, sealed and stored Examples of such approved bars are;
- PAMP Suisse
- Credit Suisse
- Johnson Matthey
- Valcambi
- Perth Mint
IRA Approved Gold Coin Eligibility
| Coin | Purity | Legal Tender | Mint | IRA-Approved |
| American Gold Eagle | 91.67% | Yes | U.S. Mint | Yes |
| American Gold Buffalo | 99.99% | Yes | U.S. Mint | Yes |
| Canadian Gold Maple Leaf | 99.99% | Yes | RCM | Yes |
| Austrian Gold Philharmonic | 99.99% | Yes | Austrian Mint | Yes |
| Australian Gold Kangaroo | 99.99% | Yes | Perth Mint | Yes |
| British Gold Britannia (2021+) | 99.99% | Yes | Royal Mint | Yes |
| South African Krugerrand | 91.67% | No (in U.S.) | Rand Refinery | No |
| Pre-1933 U.S. coins | Varies | Yes | U.S. Mint | No |
| Slabbed/graded coins | Varies | Maybe | Various | No |
Conclusion
Not all the gold is equal in the eyes of IRS. For you to hold your gold coins in IRA, it must stick to bullion coins from government bins. Ensure the purity is at least 0.995 unless it’s a gold eagle, which is allowed at 91.65%. You should store them through a qualified custodian and in an approved depository only. You should avoid rare collectible or credit coins when done correctly. This gold IRA can add stability and long-term value to your retirement portfolio. But it must be done through rules and regulations because the IRS will offer no leniency if any kind of rules are being violated.
You Can Follow these Guides for more on IRA Approved Gold Coins:
● IRS FAQs – Self-Directed IRAs
● U.S. Mint Gold Coins
26 U.S. Code § 408 – Individual Retirement Accounts
● IRS Publication 590-A – Contributions to IRAs
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