Or he might have sold it for half of what it was worth.  Check out the "trustee" who issued the 1099-R.  Do they take 15 years of fees when stored bullion is sold?

At one time, you could take physical possession of precious metals even though owned in an IRA.  Then they changed that.  Then I think they said you could only do it with coins.  The receipt from 2010 probably shows something that he still has, or that he sold years ago and forgot to tell you about.