Calculate the melt value of gold coins including Sovereigns, American Eagles, Krugerrands, and Maple Leafs using live spot prices.
Real-world buyback spreads for bullion and scrap gold coins
Gold coins in good condition trade near or slightly above spot price. Scratched, mounted, or damaged gold coins are priced based on melt value minus buyer fees.
Live gold rates for 24K, 22K, and 90% gold coins
Gold coin rates follow live spot market bid prices. Select a purity tier to update unit prices.
Three steps — check coin specifications, verify purity, calculate melt value
American Gold Eagles, South African Krugerrands, and British Gold Sovereigns are minted in 22K gold alloy for wear resistance. Each 1 oz coin contains 1 full troy oz of 24K gold plus 2.83g of alloy metal.
Canadian Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, Australian Kangaroos, and Chinese Pandas are 24K fine gold (99.9% to 99.99%). They contain no alloy metals.
Pre-1933 US $20 Liberty/St. Gaudens double eagles weigh 33.436 grams in 90% gold (21.6K), containing 0.9675 troy oz of pure gold. They frequently trade above melt value due to collector demand.
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Important differences between scrap melt value and bullion premiums
Gold coins contain guaranteed weights of fine gold. Intact bullion coins command premiums over melt value, while damaged or ex-jewelry coins sell at pure scrap melt rates.
Intact government bullion coins trade at 95% to 102% of spot price through bullion dealers. Scrapping undamaged gold coins is rarely recommended. Scrapping is best reserved for worn, altered, or jewelry-mounted coins.
Gold coins mounted in pendant bezels often have solder or rim damage. When calculating scrap value, weigh the coin and bezel separately if they are different karats (e.g. 22K coin in 14K bezel).
Refineries test gold coins using XRF spectrometers, specific gravity testing, or acoustic resonance to confirm purity before smelting.
Compare live spot prices across gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
Precious metal coins exist in gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Compare live bid prices below.
Specialized tools for every scrap gold scenario — pick the one that matches your gold item.
41.7% Pure · America's standard gold alloy
58.3% Pure · Most popular US jewelry gold
75.0% Pure · Premium luxury jewelry standard
91.7% – 99.9% Pure · High-purity coins & bullion
Grams, DWT, Troy Oz, Grains & Milligrams
Rings, chains, bracelets & damaged jewelry
Sovereigns, Eagles, Krugerrands & Maples
1/20 GF & 1/10 GF layer weight ratios
Real-time market spot rates & refiner margins
By multiplying gross weight in grams by gold purity percentage (e.g. 91.67% for 22K), converting to troy ounces (÷ 31.1035), and multiplying by live spot price.
A 1 oz Eagle contains 1 troy oz of fine 24K gold within a 33.93g 22K alloy coin (alloyed with silver and copper).
Contains 1 troy oz of pure gold in a 22K alloy (33.93g gross); melt value equals 1 × current spot price per troy oz.
Weighs 7.988g (22K) and contains 0.2354 troy oz of pure gold. At $3,235/oz spot, a Sovereign's melt value is ~$761.53.
Sell to coin dealers first; intact bullion coins often command premiums over spot, whereas scrap refiners deduct fees.
Canadian Maple Leaf (99.99%), Austrian Philharmonic (99.99%), Australian Kangaroo (99.99%), and Chinese Panda (99.9%).
Damage removes collector premium, but the metal melt value remains intact based on fine gold content weight.
