Monetary gold is gold held or transferred between central banks and international monetary institutions as a reserve asset; it is excluded from merchandise trade statistics. Nonmonetary gold covers all other gold — bullion, doré, grain, and fabricated forms — and is reported as a standard import commodity subject to normal CBP entry procedures.

CBP generally applies transaction value based on the invoice price at the time of sale, but for gold doré the assay result (which determines the actual gold and silver content) may not be finalized until after arrival. Importers often use provisional entry with a subsequent adjustment once the refinery assay is complete, and should work with a licensed customs broker to ensure the entry is properly reconciled.