Government-minted platinum coins carry legal tender status and are produced to exacting standards by the world's most respected sovereign mints. Their guaranteed weight, purity, and authenticity make them ideal for both investment portfolios and IRA accounts.
United States Mint
The American Platinum Eagle is the only platinum coin backed by the U.S. government. Struck in .9995 fine platinum, it is available in 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz sizes. The obverse features the Statue of Liberty, and the reverse showcases an eagle soaring over America. As official U.S. legal tender, the Platinum Eagle is IRA eligible and widely recognized by dealers worldwide.
Royal Canadian Mint
The Platinum Maple Leaf from the Royal Canadian Mint is struck in .9995 fine platinum with advanced security features including micro-engraved radial lines and a laser-etched privy mark. Available in sizes from 1/20 oz to 1 oz, the Maple Leaf's exceptional purity and the RCM's reputation for innovation make it a premier choice for platinum investors.
The Perth Mint · Australia
Australia's Perth Mint produces platinum coins featuring iconic wildlife designs, including the Kangaroo and Kookaburra series. Perth Mint platinum coins are struck in .9995 fine platinum with annual design changes that add collector appeal on top of their investment value. The 1 oz Australian Kangaroo Platinum Coin is one of our most popular platinum products.
The Royal Mint · United Kingdom
The Platinum Britannia from the Royal Mint features the iconic figure of Britannia on the reverse, a symbol of British strength dating back to Roman times. Struck in .9995 fine platinum, the Britannia is available in 1 oz and 1/10 oz sizes. The Royal Mint also produces the Tudor Beasts platinum series, which showcases heraldic animals from the Tudor dynasty.
Austrian Mint · Est. 1194
The Austrian Platinum Philharmonic celebrates the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra with a design featuring musical instruments on the reverse. Struck in .9995 fine platinum by the Austrian Mint, the Philharmonic is Europe's most recognized platinum bullion coin and is eligible for inclusion in a precious metals IRA.
Platinum bars offer the lowest premiums over platinum spot price, making them the most cost-effective way to add platinum to your portfolio. Every bar we carry is produced by LBMA-accredited refineries and stamped with weight, purity, and the refinery's hallmark for guaranteed authenticity.
Balerna, Switzerland · LBMA Accredited
Valcambi Suisse, based in Balerna, Switzerland, is one of the world's largest and most respected precious metals refineries. Their platinum bars are refined to .9995 fine purity and are available in a range of sizes ideal for investors at every level:
Every Valcambi platinum bar ships in tamper-evident assay packaging with a unique serial number and certificate of authenticity. Valcambi bars are LBMA Good Delivery accredited and accepted by IRA custodians.
Switzerland · 130+ Years of Expertise
Argor-Heraeus is a Swiss refinery with over 130 years of precious metals expertise. Their platinum bars feature a clean, understated design with the refinery's logo, weight, and purity engraved on the front. Each bar is sealed in a tamper-evident assay card bearing the signature of an authorized assayer. Argor-Heraeus platinum bars are available in sizes from 1 gram to 1 kilogram and carry LBMA Good Delivery accreditation.
Platinum occupies a unique position among precious metals. It is significantly rarer than gold, has critical industrial applications, and carries strong investment fundamentals that distinguish it from other metals in your portfolio.
Platinum is 30 times rarer than gold and accounts for just 0.005% of Earth's crust.
80% of platinum is used in industrial applications, creating stable demand.
Platinum's durability and luster make it the premier choice for fine jewelry.
Low correlation with other assets provides excellent diversification benefits.
Intrinsic Value
Platinum's combination of rarity, industrial utility, and aesthetic appeal gives it a strong foundation of intrinsic value. Unlike paper financial instruments, physical platinum bars and coins cannot be devalued by inflation, monetary policy, or corporate mismanagement.
| Feature | Platinum Bars | Platinum Coins |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Over Spot | Lowest (1-3%) | Higher (3-8%) |
| Government Backing | No | Yes (legal tender) |
| IRA Eligibility | Yes (LBMA bars) | Yes (most coins) |
| Collector Appeal | Low | High (designs vary) |
| Liquidity | Excellent | Excellent |
| Storage | Compact | Bulkier |
⚡ Our Recommendation
If you want the lowest cost per ounce, start with Valcambi 1 oz platinum bars. If you prefer government backing and plan to include platinum in an IRA account, sovereign coins like the American Platinum Eagle or Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf are the strongest choices.
The IRS allows certain platinum coins and bars to be held in a self-directed precious metals IRA, provided they meet a minimum fineness of .9995. At BOLD, the following platinum products qualify for IRA inclusion:
✔ IRS-Qualified Platinum Products at BOLD
⚡ Dealer Tip
Visit our dedicated IRA-Eligible Platinum page to browse qualifying products, or learn more about setting up a precious metals IRA on our Precious Metals IRA guide. When you're ready to liquidate, our sell to us program offers competitive market-based pricing on all platinum products.
Platinum can be a strong addition to a diversified investment portfolio. Its extreme rarity (15x rarer than gold), growing industrial demand in hydrogen fuel cells and automotive catalytic converters, and current price discount relative to gold all support a case for platinum investment. Like all precious metals, platinum should be viewed as a long-term wealth preservation tool rather than a short-term trade.
The IRS requires platinum held in a self-directed precious metals IRA to have a minimum fineness of .9995 (99.95% pure). All sovereign-minted platinum coins (American Eagle, Maple Leaf, Kangaroo, Philharmonic, Britannia) and LBMA-accredited bars from refineries like Valcambi and Argor-Heraeus meet this requirement.
Platinum premiums over spot price are generally higher than gold but comparable to silver on a percentage basis. Platinum bars typically carry lower premiums than platinum coins. Buying in larger sizes (1 oz bars vs. fractional coins) reduces the per-ounce premium significantly.
Historically, platinum traded at a premium to gold, but since 2015 it has frequently traded below the gold price. This is primarily due to reduced demand from the diesel automotive sector and increased gold demand as a safe-haven asset. Many analysts view the current platinum-to-gold discount as an undervaluation, particularly as hydrogen fuel cell demand grows.
Platinum bullion should be stored in a cool, dry environment. Options include a home safe, a bank safe deposit box, or a third-party depository. If your platinum is held in an IRA, it must be stored at an IRS-approved depository. Platinum is highly resistant to corrosion and tarnishing, so it requires minimal maintenance compared to silver.
Our precious metals experts are here to help you make informed investment decisions.
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