The IRS imposes strict guidelines regarding precious metals held in self-directed individual retirement accounts and it is imperative that investors ensure their gold meets these requirements before adding it to a retirement portfolio.
Gold eligible for inclusion in an IRA must meet certain purity standards and come from either a national government mint, an accredited refiner/assayer/manufacturer, or producer. Below are some popular gold bars which satisfy this criteria.
American Eagle Coins
IRA-eligible gold coins meet IRS standards to qualify as assets to be included in self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). Specifically, these coins must meet minimum purity requirements and come from recognized government mints or accredited refiners/manufacturers. APMEX stocks an impressive selection of these IRA-eligible coins that have passed all necessary tests – they’re sure to please investors!
The American Eagle gold bullion coin is an investor favorite due to its high purity standard and production by the United States Mint, an entity with full faith and authority from their government. John Mercanti’s iconic American Eagle design symbolizes strength and national pride – two factors investors seek out when investing in bullion coins.
The American Eagle bullion coin comes in denominations of one ounce, half ounce and quarter ounce. Gold proof coins undergo a special minting process that gives them their extraordinary beauty; similarly the Liberty & Britannia 1 oz gold coin stands as another option, symbolizing the relationship between America and Britain.
Valcambi Suisse
Valcambi Suisse is one of the world’s foremost precious metal refiners. Their CombiBar gold bars combine Swiss precision and practical functionality – each 1-gram segment can easily be broken off using pre-scored lines without jeopardizing their integrity or purity.
As with coins, IRA-approved gold bars must meet IRS purity standards and be certified “good delivery” by an assayer or mint. They’re often also accredited with the London Bullion Market Association for additional credibility and reliability.
Gold bars differ from coins in that their obverse side typically displays key information such as manufacturer logo, weight and purity details, serial number as well as serial number verification to help establish authenticity and value as genuine investments. Furthermore, this allows holders of these precious metals to trace them easily for tracking purposes – making gold coins and bars an invaluable way to diversify retirement portfolios.
Argor-Heraeus
Argor-Heraeus is one of the premier gold bar producers worldwide. Their bars are expertly crafted using precision techniques that meet LBMA Good Delivery standards for purity, weight and craftsmanship – making them a fantastic investment as well as eye-catching additions to a precious metal collection.
Since 1951 in Chiasso, Switzerland, Argor Heraeus has earned a global reputation for their expertise in precious metals trading. Their range of bullion products includes gold, silver, and platinum.
Argor Heraeus Gold Bars feature an obverse design which showcases their refinery logo, purity, material and weight; their reverse side remains blank as gold bars are intended primarily for investment. Each bar is sealed in an assay card for verification prior to shipping in protective blisterpack. Minted ingots differ in that they use stamping presses to cut gold into preset sizes rather than long casting processes like cast gold bars.
Royal Canadian Mint
Gold bars have long been a preferred investment product among investors due to their higher purity standards, consistency and lower price – all qualities which make them suitable as an IRA-eligible bullion product.
But while coins must meet specific purity standards to qualify as IRA-eligible investments, bars can be produced by national government mints as well as private refiners, assayers and manufacturers; making the Royal Canadian Mint an excellent option when looking for gold bars approved for an IRA account.
The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM), under the supervision of Canada’s Ministry of Finance, produces both Canada’s circulating coinage and bullion products, while also being adept at managing their entire lifecycle with particular regard to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues such as COVID-19. Furthermore, unlike many of its peers, RCM operates “in anticipation of profit” rather than as a public service agency; hence its range of financial services dedicated to precious metal investments for investors.
