IRA Eligible under IRC §408(m)(3)
IRA-eligible metals, priced off the live market.
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium coins and bars that meet the IRS fineness rules for a self-directed precious metals IRA. Look for the IRA-eligible label across our store.
Toll free 1-855-528-4653 · every order 100% insured
Minimum fineness
IRC §408(m)(3)- Gold.995
- Silver.999
- Platinum.9995
- Palladium.9995
- American Gold Eagle.9167 · by statute
Metals must be held by the IRA’s trustee or custodian.
As seen on
Physical metal, with the tax treatment of your IRA.
A self-directed IRA can hold physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium alongside, or instead of, stocks and bonds. The metal has to meet the fineness rules and be held by your custodian.
Tax treatment of your IRA
Gains follow the rules of the account: tax-deferred in a traditional IRA, and tax-free on qualified withdrawals from a Roth.
Diversification
A physical asset that isn’t a stock, a bond or a fund share, held in the same retirement account.
Real metal, held for you
You own specific coins and bars, stored by your custodian at a depository rather than in a paper product.
Easy to price and sell
Sovereign-mint coins and bars from accredited refiners are recognized worldwide and trade close to the metal price.
What makes a coin or bar IRA-eligible.
Eligibility comes from Internal Revenue Code §408(m)(3), not from a list of brands. Four things matter.
Minimum purity
Gold .995, silver .999, platinum .9995 and palladium .9995. Most investment-grade bullion clears these.
The Gold Eagle exception
The American Gold Eagle is 91.67% gold (22-karat), below .995, but it is specifically authorized by statute.
Not collectibles
Collectible and numismatic coins generally do not qualify, even when they are made of gold or silver.
Held by your custodian
The metal must be held by the IRA’s qualified trustee or custodian, not at home or in a personal safe.
- The American Gold Eagle is a specific statutory purity exception.
- Collectible and numismatic coins generally do not qualify.
- The metals must be held by the IRA’s qualified trustee or custodian.
- Individual IRA custodians and depositories may impose additional requirements.
- “IRA-eligible” is the more accurate term than “IRS-approved,” because the IRS does not maintain a comprehensive brand-by-brand approval list.
Primary authority: Internal Revenue Code §408(m)(3).
What qualifies, metal by metal.
The American Eagle in each metal, plus the other investment-grade bullion coins and bars that meet the fineness rules.
Shop IRA-eligible metals.
Priced off the live market. Look for the IRA label on products across the store.
-
1.5% OFF Save $65.78
1 oz American Gold Eagle Coin
Original price was: $4,385.16.$4,319.38Current price is: $4,319.38. -
1 oz Perth Mint Gold Bar
$4,340.76 -
1 oz PAMP Suisse Fortuna Gold Bar
$4,343.87 -
1.5% OFF Save $65.32
1 oz Canadian Gold Maple Leaf Coin (.9999 Fine)
Original price was: $4,354.22.$4,288.90Current price is: $4,288.90. -
1 Gram PAMP Suisse Gold Bar
$171.82 -
1 Gram Valcambi Gold Bar
$164.05 -
1.5% OFF Save $66.71
1 oz American Gold Buffalo Coin
Original price was: $4,447.59.$4,380.88Current price is: $4,380.88. -
1/10 oz American Gold Eagle Coin
$470.04
See all gold 48 IRA-eligible gold products in stock
-
7.9% OFF Save $5.64
1 oz American Silver Eagle Coin
Original price was: $71.51.$65.87Current price is: $65.87. -
2026 1 oz American Silver Eagle Coin
$72.78 -
1 oz Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coin
$71.11 -
1 oz British Silver Britannia Coin
$70.13 -
10 oz Asahi Silver Bar
$671.99 -
6.5% OFF Only $64.86/coin
1 oz American Silver Eagle Coins (Tube of 20)
Original price was: $1,388.13.$1,297.28Current price is: $1,297.28. -
10 oz Nadir Silver Bar
$671.99 -
100 Gram Valcambi Silver CombiBar (100 x 1 Gram)
$287.98
See all silver 37 IRA-eligible silver products in stock
-
1 oz Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf Coin
$1,918.09 -
1 oz American Platinum Eagle Coin
$1,980.18 -
1/4 oz American Platinum Eagle Coin
$530.65 -
1 oz Valcambi Platinum Bar
$1,918.09 -
2026 1 oz Australian Platinum Kangaroo Coin
$1,939.60 -
1/10 oz American Platinum Eagle Coin
$285.97 -
1 oz British Platinum Britannia Coin
$1,944.98 -
1/2 oz American Platinum Eagle Coin
$994.92
See all platinum 9 IRA-eligible platinum products in stock
-
1 oz Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf Coin
$1,453.39 -
1 oz PAMP Suisse Palladium Bar
$1,455.35 -
1 oz PAMP Suisse Palladium Bar
$1,418.50 -
1 oz Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf Coin
$1,531.89 -
1 oz Heraeus Palladium Bar
$1,609.59 -
1 oz Valcambi Palladium Bar
$1,417.08 -
1 Gram Heraeus Palladium Bar
$66.70 -
5 Gram Heraeus Palladium Bar
$245.19
See all palladium 8 IRA-eligible palladium products in stock
The IRA label is a guide based on the fineness rules and the product type. Confirm with your custodian before you buy for an IRA.
Why IRA-eligible bullion, not collectibles or paper.
Three common ways to own gold for retirement, and how they differ.
IRA-eligible bullion
Eagles, Maples, Philharmonics, Kangaroos and accredited-refinery bars.
- Allowed in a self-directed IRA
- Priced off the live metal price
- Specific coins and bars, held by your custodian
- Recognized worldwide and easy to sell back
Collectible & numismatic coins
Pre-1933 U.S. gold, graded and slabbed coins, most commemoratives.
- Generally not allowed: buying one in an IRA is treated as a distribution
- Price includes a collector premium for rarity and grade
- Value depends on grade and collector demand, not just metal
Paper gold
Gold ETFs, funds and futures.
- Can be held in an ordinary brokerage IRA
- You own shares or contracts, not specific coins or bars
- Fund fees, and no delivery of metal
Metal into your IRA in four steps.
Your custodian holds the account and the metal. We price and supply IRA-eligible coins and bars.
Open a self-directed IRA
With a custodian that allows physical precious metals.
Fund the account
By contribution, transfer or rollover, as your custodian allows.
Choose eligible metal
Pick IRA-eligible coins and bars, priced off the live market. Call 1-855-528-4653 for a quote.
Held by your custodian
The metal is stored for your IRA at the depository your custodian uses, never at home.
IRA metals, answered.
Still have a question? Call 1-855-528-4653, email [email protected], or read our full FAQ.
What does “IRA-eligible” mean?
It means a coin or bar meets the rules in Internal Revenue Code §408(m)(3) for precious metals held in an IRA: minimum fineness (gold .995, silver .999, platinum .9995, palladium .9995, with the American Gold Eagle eligible by statute) and physical possession by the IRA’s trustee or custodian. Collectibles, including most numismatic coins, generally do not qualify.
Is there an IRS-approved list of coins and bars?
No. The IRS does not maintain a brand-by-brand approval list, which is why “IRA-eligible” is the more accurate term than “IRS-approved.” Eligibility comes from the statute, and individual custodians and depositories may add their own requirements.
Why is the American Gold Eagle eligible at 91.67% gold?
The Gold Eagle is named specifically in the statute, so it qualifies even though it is 22-karat (.9167 fine). Other gold coins at that fineness, such as the Krugerrand, do not meet the .995 minimum.
Can I keep IRA metals at home?
No. IRA metals must be held by the IRA’s qualified trustee or custodian, typically at an approved depository. Taking personal possession can be treated as a distribution.
Are collectible, graded or older gold coins eligible?
Generally no. Numismatic coins such as pre-1933 U.S. gold, graded or slabbed collector coins and most commemoratives are treated as collectibles. We only label bullion products that meet the fineness rules.
Is Ausecure an IRA custodian?
No. Ausecure is a precious metals dealer. Your IRA’s trustee or custodian holds the metal. Call us at 1-855-528-4653 to price IRA-eligible coins and bars.
Is this tax advice?
No. This page is general information about which metals meet the IRA rules. Talk to your custodian and a tax professional about contributions, rollovers and distributions.
Price metal for your IRA.
Shop IRA-eligible coins and bars at live prices, or call the desk and we’ll quote them for you.
