You can use your self-directed Roth IRA to invest in U.S. gold coins in increments of one, one-half, one-quarter or one-tenth of an ounce, one-ounce silver coins that are minted by the U.S. Treasury Department, and some gold or silver bullion as long as the gold and silver meet the IRS requirements. Alternatively you can roll over some or all of the funds in your current IRA or 401(k) to purchase a gold IRA, which is an IRA account that specifically invests in gold coins and bars instead of mutual funds and stocks.

In order for gold and silver coins to be held inside a Roth IRA, the coins must be very pure in mineral content, not be seen as collector's coins and have more actual currency value than the collection value permits.

Gold IRAs can be both traditional or Roth IRAs. However, a gold IRA can only be invested in actual gold. Instead of a stock, bond or mutual fund, you’re investing in an actual physical asset. Because you’re using the IRA to purchase actual gold coins and bars, they have to be stored. Your gold is typically held in a qualified storage facility, so you can expect to pay annual storage fees when you invest in gold. In order to cash out your gold investment, you have to follow a specific set of requirements to sell the gold. Because of this, you could be required to pay a seller’s fee—in addition to taxes—when you’re ready to cash out your investment.