What Types of Precious Metals Are Acceptable/Non-Acceptable?

Per IRS regulations, to qualify as IRA-allowable precious metals and be accepted by STRATA, the following minimum fineness requirements must be met:

• Gold must be 99.5% pure, silver must be 99.9% pure, and platinum and palladium must both be 99.95% pure.
• Bars, rounds, and coins must be produced by a refiner, assayer, or manufacturer that is accredited/certified by NYMEX, COMEX, NYSE/Liffe, LME, LBMA, LPPM, TOCOM, ISO 9000, or national government mint. Precious metals must also have the producer’s mint mark and meet minimum fineness requirements. 
• 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-ounce gold, 100-ounce gold, 1000-ounce silver; 50-ounce platinum, and 100-ounce palladium bars) must be manufactured to exact weight specifications.
• Non-proof (bullion) coins must be in brilliant uncirculated condition and free from damage.

The following list contains examples of precious metals that cannot be held in an IRA.

To see examples of IRA-allowable gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and bullion, please visit Types Allowed, or for a more in-depth guide of acceptable/unacceptable precious metals visit our IRA Allowable Precious Metals page.