7108.20.00.00 - Monetary

HTS Code 7108.20.00.00 specifically classifies "Monetary" gold. This category encompasses gold in any unwrought or semi-manufactured form, as well as gold powder, when it is designated and treated as legal tender or currency. This includes gold coins that have been issued by a government and hold a face value, regardless of whether they are currently in circulation or held as bullion. The key defining characteristic for classification under this heading is the monetary purpose or status attributed to the gold article.

This category is distinguished from its sibling, "Nonmonetary" gold (HTS Code 7108.11 and 7108.12), by its intended use and recognition as currency. Nonmonetary gold, in contrast, refers to gold used for industrial purposes, investment (such as bars and ingots not intended as currency), or in the manufacture of jewelry and other articles. The critical differentiator lies in whether the gold has been officially minted and recognized as a medium of exchange by a sovereign entity.

As this is a leaf node within the HTS classification system, there are no further subcategories. Therefore, classification under 7108.20.00.00 hinges entirely on confirming the monetary status of the gold articles in question. This involves verifying official government issuance, a recognized face value as legal tender, and the inherent function as currency.