Proof American Eagles in an IRA

Your IRA can invest in American Eagle coins

Many investors ask us if they can hold proof American Eagle coins in their IRAs. The short answer is “yes.” However, it is a good idea to be familiar with the relationship between proofs and IRAs. A “proof” American Eagle is unusual because it is considered both a collectible, which is categorically disallowed by the IRS, and a bullion product, which is allowed by the IRS.  Let’s look at these two characterizations.

American Eagle coins are commonly known as a bullion product. This type of coin makes it convenient for a consumer to buy a relatively small amount of gold, silver or platinum.  The U.S. Mint also produces “proof” American Eagle coins and it’s common for an investor or a collector to note that the price of “proof” coins is different from regularly minted coins.  But why is that and what does proof mean? 

The U.S. Mint outlines the difference between proof and regularly minted coins in their description of the proof American Eagles on their website, usmint.gov: “The United States Mint produces proof versions of American Eagle Bullion coins for collectors.  American Eagle Proof Coins undergo a specialized minting process, which begins by manually feeding burnished coin blanks into presses fitted with special dies. The coin is struck multiple times so the softly frosted, yet detailed images seem to float above a mirror-like field. After scrutiny by white gloved inspectors, each American Eagle Gold and Silver Proof Coin is sealed in a protective plastic capsule … with its own official Certificate of Authenticity.  ... Since American Eagle Proof Coins are produced by the United States Mint, each coin's content, weight and purity are guaranteed by the United States Government.”

Below you will find the specifications for gold and silver proof American Eagles according to usmint.gov.

Gold American Eagles Proof Coin Specifications
Condition:     Proof
Composition:     91.67% Gold, 3.0% Silver, Balance Copper
Edge:         Reeded
Facility:      West Point
Mint Mark:      W

Silver American Eagle Proof Coin Specifications
Condition:     Proof
Composition:     99.9% silver
Edge:         Reeded
Facility:      West Point
Mint Mark:      W

The IRS allows physical precious metals (gold, silver, platinum and palladium) to be held as assets in an IRA.  There are fineness requirements associated with these metals, and the basic idea is that the IRA is purchasing a bullion product.  In this way, the value is determined by the market price of that amount of that metal.  In other words, it is the raw, intrinsic value of the material that is being purchased.  This is important because the IRS broadly prohibits the purchase of collectibles to be assets of an IRA.

Although silver and gold American Eagle Proof Coins are collectible and the gold eagle doesn’t meet the fineness requirement set forth by the IRS, these coins are available to your IRA. Eagles are allowable for IRAs by virtue of a specific exception within IRS code.

Furthermore, the idea that proofs are collectibles may be a gray area about which the IRS eventually provides clarification, but for now, American Eagles remain an allowable bullion product with some traits that typically apply to collectibles.

Gold IRA How-to: Who are the parties I need to work with to invest my IRA in gold?

Most people don't know that their Individual Retirement Account can be legally invested in almost any type of asset except collectibles and life insurance.  That means you can invest your retirement funds in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium—and it's a relatively easy process. 

There are four players involved when using your IRA to purchase precious metals:  The IRS, a Self-Directed IRA Provider like New Direction IRA, a Precious Metals Dealer and a Precious Metals Depository.

1. The IRS. In return for the special tax status that retirement accounts receive, the IRS sets some parameters that need to be followed.  First, your IRA is allowed to purchase metals as a commodity but cannot purchase collectible coins.  Therefore, graded coins cannot be purchased.  However, the IRS does specifically allow U.S. minted American Eagles that have not undergone grading. 

Second, there is requirement for the fineness or purity of the metals (note that these requirements do not apply to American Eagle coins):

.995 for Gold

.999 for Silver

.9995 for Platinum and Palladium

Third, your IRA cannot buy or sell your metals from a disqualified person. Disqualified persons include you, your spouse, your ascendants, descendants and their spouses.

2. Self-Directed IRA Provider. A self-directed IRA provider that allows assets like precious metals will help make you aware of IRS requirements as well as perform record keeping for your account.  If your retirement funds are not currently with an IRA provider that allows precious metal investing, you will likely be able to move your funds without a tax penalty to a provider that does allow precious metals.  It is a good idea to set up your self-directed IRA and fund it before negotiating your purchase with a metals dealer. The prices of metals are volatile and brokers are not likely to lock in a price for a long period of time.

3. Precious Metals Dealer/Broker. Self-direction of your retirement account means that you get to select a precious metals dealer with whom you are comfortable.  Due diligence is your responsibility, but once you’re satisfied with your selection, you agree on the deal and direct the IRA provider to fund your purchase. 

4. Precious Metals Depository. The IRS restricts you from keeping your IRA-owned metals in your physical possession.  They must be held in a depository for safe-keeping but the selection of this storage site is up to you.  Factors that you might consider include fees, segregated vs. non-segregated storage, facility location and insurance levels.

Now that we’ve identified the four players involved and established some expectations about their roles, it is time to start putting together your new Precious Metals IRA.  For more detailed information, please visit www.newdirectionira.com or call us toll free at (877) 742-1270.

Financial Planners: How to help your client's IRAs invest in gold and precious metals

Self-directed IRAs allow control of one’s retirement investments. Clients can benefit from self-directed IRAs by reducing their taxes while enhancing their asset protection and estate planning. With this insight, your clients can unlock their own investment expertise, making tax-free or tax-deferred investments in assets they may know and understand personally.

Many financial professionals have concerns about their clients holding precious metals in an IRA. Part of what we do at New Direction is simplify and clarify the process so investors can make smart decisions about their IRAs.

There are three parties an investor needs to choose in order to hold a gold IRA: a self-directed IRA provider, a precious metals dealer and a depository.

A self-directed IRA provider like New Direction IRA will set up an IRA for your client that allows precious metals, provide education on IRS requirements and perform record keeping for the account. Investors can move their funds without a tax penalty to a provider that does allow precious metals if they currently have an IRA.

With a truly self-directed retirement account, your client can select a precious metals broker with whom they are comfortable. Due diligence is your client’s responsibility. Dealer fees, shipping and handling charges are also likely to be incurred.

Your client must choose a depository in which to store his metals. Clients should consider fees, segregated storage, facility location and/or insurance levels. The depository will charge for their storage services.

There are also strict regulations about which metals an IRA may hold. IRAs may only purchase gold, silver, platinum and palladium products approved by the IRS. You can view the full list of allowed and disallowed metals here and share that list with clients.

Financial professionals also may be concerned about their clients self-dealing assets. Indeed, an investor who’s IRA owns precious metals does not personally own the metals and cannot physically handle those assets. New Direction provides education to investors so that they know what constitutes self-dealing and how to stay within IRS code.

After our client decides to invest his IRA in precious metals, it’s simple to get started. The investor will open and fund the account via contribution, transfer or rollover. Then he’ll select his dealer and depository. Then, he’ll direct the provider to fund the purchase and the metals will be sent to the chosen depository.

How to Invest Your IRA in Gold and Precious Metals

A lot of people are surprised when they learn that IRA rules allow them to hold real gold bullion, gold coins and other similar forms of precious metals within their retirement accounts. But IRA rules give investors a lot of leeway as to what they can hold in their accounts. IRAs are not restricted to stocks, mutual funds, bonds, certificates of deposit, annuities and other conventional financial products.

With a self-directed IRA account, you can hold precious metals including gold, silver, platinum and other precious metals. Here are some basic requirements:

Allowable Investments

There are four precious metals in which your IRA can invest: gold, silver, platinum and palladium. There are, however, some restrictions when investing in these metals. 

Minimum Fineness Required:

Gold .995+

Silver .999+

Platinum .9995+

Palladium .9995+

Allowable coins include U.S.-Minted Eagles and coins meeting minimum fineness (purity) standards, provided that they are not collectible. The primary value of the coin should come from the gold itself, and not thanks to the scarcity of and demand for the minted coin among coin collectors.

Examples of coins you can own:

Gold

American Eagle coins (proof and non-proof)

American Gold Buffalo coins (non-proof)

Austrian Gold Philharmonics coins

Canadian Maple Leaf coins

Australian Kangaroo/Nugget coins

Bars and rounds by a refiner/assayer/manufacturer accredited by NYMEX/COMEX, NYSE/Liffe, LME, LBMA, ISO 9000, or national government mint and meeting minimum fineness requirements.

Silver

American Eagle Coins (proof and non-proof)

Austrian Philharmonic

Mexican Libtertads

Australian Kookaburras

Canadian Silver Maple Leaf Coins

Platinum

American Eagle Coins (proof and non-proof)

Australian Koalas

Isle of Man Noble Coins

Palladium

Bars and rounds by a refiner/assayer/manufacturer accredited by NYMEX/COMEX, NYSE/Liffe, LME, LBMA, ISO 9000, or national government mint and meeting minimum fineness requirements.

Disallowed Coins:

There are, however, some coins you cannot own within your IRA, because they are not minted with sufficient purity. Some common examples:

Austrian Corona and Ducat
Belgian Franc
British Sovereign & Britannia
German Mark

Columbian Peso
Dutch Guilder
French Franc
Swiss Franc

Italian Lira
Mexican Peso and Ounza
South African Krugerrand

Holding precious metals other than gold in an IRA

It’s not been widely known that the IRS allows retirement accounts such as IRAs to hold gold and other precious metals. That’s because most retirement accounts are administered by bank and brokerage companies, who have no incentive to allow client to diversify into asset classes that are not within their expertise.

Gold and silver prices will often reflect investor concerns over the financial system or the economy as a whole, and will thus move in a contrary direction from stocks or cash. Less than 50 years ago, the US and other countries backed their currencies with gold (and/or silver) and issued coin in precious metal (‘real money’), but this may be gone for good, with no countries offering such money any longer.

So what exactly are the other options for holding precious metals in an IRA? Here, we’ll look at the types of metals and IRA can purchase and in what form those metals can be.

Is silver as attractive as Gold?

Savvy precious metals watchers have noted that silver doesn’t entirely perform the same as gold. However, like gold, it will tend to move contrary to stocks and publicly traded securities. There are a few points to look at with silver:

• Silver, traditionally, is money: It has often been silver, not gold, which is constitutionally backing the currencies such as the U.S. Dollar, the British pound and Chinese yuan.
• Silver, unlike gold, is not limited primarily to luxury goods), but rather is so versatile that is has proven essential for the manufacture of a vast range of products (due to its unique electrical conductivity and reflectivity, as well as remarkable anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and other attributes.) Hence, silver once used in these manufacturing applications can’t readily be recycled so more must be mined.
• According to the U.S. Mint, investors are not only continuing to purchase record amounts of Gold Eagle coins, but are spending as much in dollar terms on Silver Eagles — meaning they’re buying more than 50 times as many silver coins as gold ones.
• Precious metals prices, in particular silver, are determined by the price of futures contracts used in industry to hedge against the fluctuation of the price of the physical metal itself. However, evidence increasingly suggests that these futures contracts aren’t used to honor actual delivery of physical metal, but apparently only to suppress the price. In other words, the price of the metals are not strongly correlated with actual supply and demand fundamentals for the physical stuff — experts and researchers increasingly have formed a consensus that the price of metals is much too low to accurately reflect the scarcity and high demand for them.

If you’re considering a Gold IRA, keep in mind a few considerations about Gold IRAs:

1) Your Gold IRA doesn’t have to be limited to gold, or to any gold at all, but can acquire silver (not to mention platinum and palladium as well). Silver will often perform out of sync with gold since its price seems more subject to investor sentiment on the prospects of inflation or deflation. And platinum and palladium have their niches too (platinum with a combination of luxury and industrial demand uses, and palladium being vital to certain industrial applications)

2) Your metals don’t have to be limited to government-issue bullion coins. It’s true that government-minted Silver and Gold coins such as the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, Austrian Philharmonic, Australian Kookaburra and Mexican Libertad are all acceptable for IRAs and other retirement plans). But did you know that many private mints also offer bullion products of sufficient fineness to meet IRS stipulations? Most bullion dealers can assist with identifying these products, which will always be minted to show their bullion content (typically Gold and Silver bullion state .999 fineness, and Platinum and Palladium .9995, all of which meet or exceed IRS requirements). By choosing these private-minted bullion products (sometimes called ‘generic rounds’ since they are typically offered in tubes of 20 one-ounce coins), an investor may benefit from purchasing at a lower premium than the more popular government-minted coins.

3) You don’t have to worry about the safekeeping of your metals. If you are holding a significant amount of gold or silver coins personally, you will probably keep them in a safe, or somewhere else that is secure, but easily accessible to you, should you need them. However, in the case of a retirement account such as an IRA, you cannot hold the metals yourself in any case, so the proximity of your metals to your residence is not so pertinent. Just as you have chosen an IRA administrator to house your IRA assets, you choose a depository to keep your IRA’s holdings secure. Here is something that is often overlooked: at retirement, you will have the option to distribute the coins from your IRA to yourself. You get to decide whether it is better to sell the metals while they are still in the IRA (and take a cash distribution) or after you distribute them to yourself.