Live melt value for 24K gold — 99.99% pure gold (999, 9999, 24K, 24ct)
24K gold is the highest karat designation — a theoretical maximum representing 24 parts gold per 24, meaning no intentionally added alloy metals. In commercial practice, "24K" indicates ≥99.9% gold; "9999 fine" indicates ≥99.99%. Absolute 100% purity is chemically unachievable at industrial scale; the trace impurities in 9999 gold (0.01%) are the irreducible limit of current refining technology, not added alloys. 24K gold has no "color variation" from alloying — it is the characteristic deep, saturated yellow of pure gold, a color that cannot be replicated in lower-karat alloys. It is soft (~25 HV Vickers), non-reactive, and exceptionally dense: 19.32 g/cm³, nearly twice as heavy as iron.
| Weight | Pure Gold (9999) | At $3,000/oz | At $3,200/oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 gram | 0.9999 g | $96.45 | $102.88 |
| 1 DWT (pennyweight) | 1.5550 g | $149.98 | $159.98 |
| 5 grams | 4.9995 g | $482.23 | $514.38 |
| 10 grams | 9.9990 g | $964.43 | $1,028.73 |
| 1 troy oz (31.1035g) | 1.0000 ozt | $3,000.00 | $3,200.00 |
| 100g bar | 99.99 g | $9,643.71 | $10,286.35 |
| 400 oz LGD bar (~12.4kg) | 400.0 ozt | $1,200,000 | $1,280,000 |
400 oz LGD bar values assume minimum 995 fineness; actual values depend on the bar's specific assay certificate fineness.
The "24" in 24K is a theoretical maximum like a 24-hour day — absolute 100% gold is chemically impossible at commercial scale. Three distinct purity tiers all carry the "24K" designation:
| Stamp | Minimum Purity | Max Impurities | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 999 (three-nine) | 99.9% | 0.1% | Older bars, some jewelry |
| 9999 (four-nine) | 99.99% | 0.01% | Maple Leaf, Buffalo, Philharmonic, Panda — standard modern investment coins and bars |
| 99.999 (five-nine) | 99.999% | 0.001% | Royal Canadian Mint premium Maple Leafs only — the highest purity achieved in commercial gold production |
The melt value difference between 999 and 9999 at $3,200/oz is approximately $0.10 per gram — negligible for most transactions. The distinction matters for IRA eligibility (bars must be ≥.995) and for laboratory or industrial applications requiring ultra-high purity.
| Coin | Country | First Issued | Fineness | Weight (1 oz) | IRA-Eligible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Leaf | Canada (RCM) | 1979 | 9999 / 99.999 | 31.1035g | Yes |
| Gold Buffalo | USA (US Mint) | 2006 | 9999 | 31.1035g | Yes |
| Philharmonic | Austria (OeNB) | 1989 | 9999 | 31.1035g | Yes |
| Gold Panda | China (PBoC) | 1982 | 9999 | 30g (since 2016) | Yes* |
| Kangaroo / Nugget | Australia (Perth) | 1986 | 9999 | 31.1035g | Yes |
*Chinese Gold Panda IRA eligibility requires custodian determination due to annually changing reverse design.
The Royal Canadian Mint released the Gold Maple Leaf in 1979 as the world's first bullion coin struck at 9999 fine — a then-unprecedented purity specifically designed to compete with the Krugerrand and appeal to investors who wanted higher gold content. Three years later, in 1982, the RCM pushed further and introduced a 99.999% (five-nine) fine Maple Leaf — a purity level no other major mint has achieved for a circulating bullion product. In 2013, the RCM added a radial-lines background pattern and a micro-engraved laser maple leaf for anti-counterfeiting. The 1 oz coin carries a nominal face value of CAD $50; it is legal tender in Canada but trades entirely on gold content. Maple Leafs are IRA-eligible under IRC §408(m)(3)(A) as an explicitly named coin.
The American Gold Buffalo is the first 9999 fine gold coin produced by the US Mint, authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 and first minted in 2006 — two decades after the 22K Eagle was introduced in 1986. Congress created it specifically so US investors could buy a domestic 24K coin for IRA accounts (Eagles qualified as a 22K exception, but many investors wanted a 24K option). The design adapts James Earle Fraser's 1913 Buffalo Nickel — the obverse composite Native American portrait and the reverse American bison are reproduced with minimal modification. The Buffalo is produced only in 1 oz size (unlike Eagles, which come in 1 oz, 1/2 oz, 1/4 oz, and 1/10 oz). Each coin contains exactly 1.0000 troy oz of 9999 fine gold, total coin weight 31.1035g. IRA-eligible under IRC §408(m)(3)(A).
The London Good Delivery (LGD) bar is the settlement unit for the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) — the world's largest wholesale gold trading market, clearing approximately 24–30 million troy oz per day. LGD specifications: weight 350–430 troy ounces (typically 400 oz); minimum fineness 995 (99.5%); produced by one of approximately 70 LBMA-accredited refiners globally (PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, Argor-Heraeus, Metalor, Perth Mint, and others). A standard 400 oz bar weighs approximately 12.4 kg / 27.4 lbs and at $3,200/oz spot has a melt value of approximately $1,280,000. All central bank gold reserves worldwide are held in Good Delivery bar form. ETF gold (SPDR GLD, iShares IAU) is backed by LGD bars held in custodian vaults. Retail investment bars (1g, 10g, 1 oz, 100g, 10 oz, 1 kg) are refined and recast from LGD bars by secondary refiners.
24K gold has a Vickers hardness of approximately 25 HV. A human fingernail measures approximately 30 HV — meaning pure 24K gold can be scratched with a fingernail under direct pressure. For comparison: 14K gold alloy is ~120–150 HV; mild steel is ~120 HV; glass is ~550 HV. The practical consequence for jewelry: a 24K ring develops visible surface scratches within days, prong settings deform under grip pressure and can release gemstones, and ring shanks bend with normal hand use. 24K gold is used for bars and coins (low-wear), electroplating layers (measured in microns, not structural), printed circuit board contacts, and industrial/medical applications where electrical conductivity (~45.2 × 10⁶ S/m) or total corrosion immunity is required. The entire purpose of lower-karat gold alloys — 10K through 22K — is to increase hardness enough for wearable daily use.
| Karat | Purity | Stamp | Hardness (HV) | IRA-Eligible? | Jewelry Use? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.99% | 9999 | ~25 HV | Yes (bars + named coins) | Rarely — too soft |
| 22K | 91.67% | 916 | ~90 HV | Eagles only | Indian jewelry, coins |
| 18K | 75.00% | 750 | ~120–200 HV | No | Yes — fine jewelry standard |
| 14K | 58.33% | 585 | ~120–150 HV | No | Yes — US standard |
| 10K | 41.67% | 417 | ~120 HV | No | Yes — budget/class rings |
Live melt value is in the calculator above, updated every 60 seconds. Formula: spot price ÷ 31.1035. At $3,200/oz: $102.88/gram. At $3,000/oz: $96.45/gram. At $2,800/oz: $90.02/gram. A 1 troy oz bullion coin (Maple Leaf, Buffalo, Philharmonic) contains 1.0000 ozt of gold — its melt value equals the spot price directly.
No — 100% pure gold is chemically impossible at commercial refining scale. "24K" is a theoretical maximum, like a 24-hour day. Three purity tiers all carry the 24K designation: "999" (three-nine) = 99.9% minimum; "9999" (four-nine) = 99.99% minimum — the standard for modern investment coins (Maple Leaf, Buffalo, Philharmonic, Panda) and bars; "99.999" (five-nine) = 99.999% — achieved only by the Royal Canadian Mint. The trace impurities in 9999 gold are irreducible limits of current refining technology, not added alloys.
The Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, first issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 1979 — the world's first bullion coin struck at 9999 fine (99.99%). Prior to its release, the 22K Krugerrand dominated the global coin market. The RCM went further in 1982, introducing a 99.999% (five-nine) Maple Leaf — still the highest purity of any major mint. In 2013 the RCM added radial-lines and a micro-engraved laser leaf as anti-counterfeiting features. Maple Leafs are IRA-eligible under IRC §408(m)(3)(A).
The American Gold Buffalo is the US Mint's first 9999 fine (24K) coin, authorized by the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005 and first minted in 2006. It was created specifically to offer US investors a domestic 24K IRA-eligible coin. Design adapted from James Earle Fraser's 1913 Buffalo Nickel. Unlike the 22K Eagle (which comes in four sizes), the Buffalo is produced only in 1 oz. It contains exactly 1.0000 troy oz of 9999 fine gold — total coin weight equals exactly one troy oz, no alloy adjustment needed. IRA-eligible under IRC §408(m)(3)(A).
24K gold has a Vickers hardness of approximately 25 HV. A human fingernail is ~30 HV — you can scratch pure 24K gold with your fingernail under direct pressure. 14K and 18K gold alloys reach 120–200 HV, hard enough for decades of daily ring wear. A 24K ring develops visible scratches within days, prong settings bend and release gemstones, and shanks deform under normal grip pressure. The alloy metals in lower-karat gold exist entirely to increase hardness for wearable use.
Under IRC §408(m)(3)(B), gold bullion bars are IRA-eligible at ≥.995 fineness — all 9999 bars from LBMA-accredited refiners qualify (PAMP, Valcambi, Perth Mint, etc.). Under §408(m)(3)(A), explicitly named coins: Gold Buffalo (US), Gold Maple Leaf (Canada), Gold Philharmonic (Austria), Gold Kangaroo (Australia). Chinese Gold Pandas (9999 fine) are generally accepted by IRA custodians but require custodian confirmation due to the annually changing design. 24K jewelry does not qualify regardless of purity. Consult a qualified IRA custodian and tax advisor.
The settlement standard for LBMA wholesale gold trading — the world's primary gold market, clearing ~24–30 million troy oz per day. Specs: 350–430 troy oz weight (typically 400 oz); ≥995 fineness (99.5%); produced by one of ~70 LBMA-accredited refiners. A standard 400 oz bar weighs ~12.4 kg / 27.4 lbs and at $3,200/oz spot is worth ~$1,280,000. All central bank gold reserves and ETF gold backing (GLD, IAU) is held in LGD bar form. Retail investment bars are refined and recast from LGD bars by secondary refiners.
Compare the live price per gram across all common gold purities at today's spot price.
| Karat | Purity | Common Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24K Gold | 99.99% | Bars, bullion coins | 24K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 22K Gold | 91.67% | Krugerrands, Eagles | 22K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 18K Gold | 75.00% | Fine jewelry | 18K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 14K Gold | 58.33% | US jewelry standard | 14K Gold Price Per Gram → |
| 10K Gold | 41.67% | Entry-level jewelry | 10K Gold Price Per Gram → |