Access iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) Exchange Rate API Documentation in JSON Format

In today's rapidly evolving financial landscape, the ability to access real-time exchange rates for precious metals is crucial for developers and traders alike. The Metals-API offers a robust solution for retrieving exchange rates in JSON format, specifically for metals like Gold (XAU), Silver (XAG), Platinum (XPT), and Palladium (XPD). This blog post will delve into how to effectively utilize the Metals-API to retrieve exchange rates, including sample API responses and integration tips.

Understanding Gold (XAU)

Gold has long been a symbol of wealth and stability, and its digital transformation is reshaping how investors and traders interact with this precious metal. The integration of data analytics and market insights into trading platforms is revolutionizing price discovery and enhancing decision-making processes. With the rise of digital asset solutions, developers can leverage real-time data to create innovative applications that cater to the needs of modern investors.

The Metals-API provides a comprehensive suite of features that empower developers to build next-generation applications. By tapping into real-time metals data, you can enhance your trading strategies, perform in-depth market analysis, and gain insights into price fluctuations. The API's capabilities extend beyond mere data retrieval; it enables you to integrate advanced analytics and create a seamless user experience.

API Capabilities

The Metals-API is designed to provide developers with a wide range of functionalities, allowing for flexible integration into various applications. Here are some key features:

Latest Rates Endpoint: Depending on your subscription plan, this endpoint returns real-time exchange rate data updated every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. This is essential for traders who need the most current information to make informed decisions.
Historical Rates Endpoint: Access historical rates dating back to 2019. This feature allows you to analyze trends over time by appending a specific date to your query.
Bid and Ask Endpoint: Retrieve real-time Bid and Ask prices, which are crucial for understanding market dynamics and executing trades effectively.
Convert Endpoint: This endpoint enables you to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD, facilitating seamless transactions across different currencies.
Time-Series Endpoint: Query daily historical rates between two dates of your choice, allowing for comprehensive analysis of price movements over time.
Fluctuation Endpoint: Track how currencies fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, providing insights into market volatility.
Carat Endpoint: Retrieve information about Gold rates by Carat, which is particularly useful for jewelers and those in the luxury goods market.
Lowest/Highest Price Endpoint: Query the API to get the lowest and highest price for a specified date, aiding in market analysis.
Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: Get OHLC data for a specific time period, which is essential for technical analysis.
Historical LME Endpoint: Access historical rates for LME symbols dating back to 2008, providing a wealth of data for analysis.
API Key: Your unique API Key is essential for accessing the API, ensuring secure and authorized usage.
API Response: Exchange rates are delivered relative to USD by default, with all data returned in a structured JSON format.
Supported Symbols Endpoint: Access a constantly updated list of all available currencies, ensuring you have the latest information at your fingertips.
News Endpoint: Retrieve the latest news articles related to various metals, keeping you informed about market trends and developments.

Sample API Responses

To illustrate the capabilities of the Metals-API, here are some sample API responses for various endpoints:

Latest Rates Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1768759640,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-01-18",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912,
"XPD": 0.000744
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response indicates the current exchange rates for various metals relative to USD. The "rates" object contains the exchange rates for Gold (XAU), Silver (XAG), Platinum (XPT), and Palladium (XPD).

Historical Rates Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1768673240,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-01-17",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides historical exchange rates for a specific date, allowing for trend analysis and historical comparisons.

Time-Series Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"timeseries": true,
"start_date": "2026-01-11",
"end_date": "2026-01-18",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"2026-01-11": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825
},
"2026-01-13": {
"XAU": 0.000483,
"XAG": 0.0382
},
"2026-01-18": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

The time-series response provides daily rates for the specified period, enabling developers to analyze trends and fluctuations over time.

Convert Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"query": {
"from": "USD",
"to": "XAU",
"amount": 1000
},
"info": {
"timestamp": 1768759640,
"rate": 0.000482
},
"result": 0.482,
"unit": "troy ounces"
}

This response demonstrates the conversion of an amount from USD to Gold (XAU), providing both the conversion rate and the result in troy ounces.

Fluctuation Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"fluctuation": true,
"start_date": "2026-01-11",
"end_date": "2026-01-18",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"start_rate": 0.000485,
"end_rate": 0.000482,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.62
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides insights into the fluctuations of Gold rates over a specified period, highlighting both the absolute change and the percentage change.

OHLC (Open/High/Low/Close) Price Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1768759640,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-01-18",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"open": 0.000485,
"high": 0.000487,
"low": 0.000481,
"close": 0.000482
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

The OHLC response provides critical data for traders, allowing them to assess market performance over a specific period.

Bid/Ask Endpoint

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1768759640,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2026-01-18",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"bid": 0.000481,
"ask": 0.000483,
"spread": 2.0e-6
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides the current bid and ask prices for Gold, which are essential for executing trades and understanding market dynamics.

Integration Tips

Integrating the Metals-API into your applications can significantly enhance your trading capabilities. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth integration:

Authentication: Ensure you securely store your API Key and include it in every request to authenticate your access to the API.
Rate Limiting: Be aware of your subscription plan's rate limits to avoid exceeding your quota. Implement error handling to gracefully manage rate limit errors.
Data Validation: Always validate the data returned by the API to ensure it meets your application's requirements. This includes checking for success flags and handling errors appropriately.
Performance Optimization: Consider caching frequently accessed data to reduce API calls and improve application performance.
Security Best Practices: Use HTTPS for all API requests to ensure data security. Regularly review your API Key and regenerate it if you suspect any unauthorized access.

Common Developer Questions

As you integrate the Metals-API, you may encounter common questions:

How do I handle API errors? Implement robust error handling to manage different error codes returned by the API. This includes retry logic for transient errors and user notifications for critical failures.
What if I need historical data for a date not covered by the API? The Metals-API provides historical data dating back to 2019. For older data, consider alternative data sources or financial databases.
Can I access multiple metal rates in a single request? Yes, the Latest Rates Endpoint allows you to retrieve rates for multiple metals simultaneously, making it efficient for applications requiring comprehensive data.

Conclusion

The Metals-API is an invaluable resource for developers looking to access real-time exchange rates for precious metals like Gold (XAU). By leveraging its extensive features, including the Latest Rates, Historical Rates, and Conversion endpoints, you can create powerful applications that enhance trading strategies and market analysis.

As the digital transformation of precious metals continues, the ability to integrate advanced data analytics and real-time insights will be crucial for staying competitive in the market. For more information on how to get started, refer to the Metals-API Documentation and explore the Metals-API Supported Symbols for a comprehensive list of available metals.

By understanding the capabilities of the Metals-API and implementing best practices for integration, you can unlock the full potential of real-time metals data and drive innovation in your trading applications.

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Access iShares Gold Trust Micro (IAUM) Exchange Rate API Documentation in JSON Format