taxable or tax-deferred i.e. possession within an IRA. ??

if not into a tax-deferred account , you took a distribution.

Anyway, how do you get gold into a 401k in the first place?

I had a 401K from a different company and when I quit I rolled that money into gold at Rosland Capital. They have the gold in storage. Now that I am 59 1/2 I can take possession of it and not pay a storage fee.  Since I am not selling the gold is there tax consequences at this time or when I sell it?

No, there will not be a tax consequence on this gold until you sell it.