Gold Coin Melt Value Calculator: US & World Coins, Live Prices
Find out exactly what the gold in your US coins is worth right now. Enter quantities for any combination of coins and instantly see melt value, pure gold weight in five units, per-gram price, and a full breakdown. Covers all major pre-1933 US gold coins and modern American Gold Eagles and Buffalos in this gold coin calculator.
Enter Coin Quantities
Enter quantities for coins you have. Leave blank or zero for others. All values update instantly.
| Coin | AGW oz | Per Coin | Qty | Subtotal |
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| Coin | Purity | Per Coin | Qty | Subtotal |
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| Coin | Purity | Per Coin | Qty | Subtotal |
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For circulated coins. Use 0–5% for lightly worn, 10–15% for heavily worn.
Melt value only · Updates every 60s · No copper included
US Gold Coin Identification Guide
Not sure which coin you have? Click any coin below for a detailed description, design notes, key dates to watch for, and exact gold specifications.
What Is Gold Coin Melt Value?
Melt value is the intrinsic worth of a gold coin based purely on its gold content at the current live spot price. It answers the question how much is a gold coin worth today at its absolute minimum: what you would receive if the coin were melted down and the gold refined. The formula is straightforward:
Every coin in the calculator above uses verified AGW figures from official US Mint specifications, cross-referenced against multiple industry sources. The melt value updates every 60 seconds against the live gold spot price.
Pre-1933 Coins vs. Modern Bullion: Key Differences
- Struck before FDR’s 1933 gold recall
- 90% gold, 10% copper alloy
- Denominations: $1 through $20
- Common dates: near melt value
- Key dates: can be worth far more
- Always get dealer appraisal before scrapping
- American Gold Eagles: 22K (91.67% gold)
- Gold Buffalos: 24K (99.99% pure)
- Available in 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 1 oz
- Trade very close to spot price
- Highly liquid worldwide
- Minimal numismatic premium for common dates
How to Get the Best Price When Selling Gold Coins
Knowing your melt value from the calculator gives you a baseline to compare offers against. Here is what to realistically expect from each type of buyer. For a full breakdown of every selling option, see our gold selling guide.
Live Melt Value Reference: All Coins
Current melt values for every coin in the calculator, updated live against today’s gold spot price. All values in USD.
| Coin | Era | Purity | Weight (g) | AGW (troy oz) | Live Melt Value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Values in USD · Updates every 60 seconds · Melt value only · Does not include numismatic premium
Frequently Asked Questions
AGW stands for Actual Gold Weight, the troy ounce weight of the pure gold content in the coin. For a pre-1933 US gold coin, AGW = total weight x purity. For example, a $20 Double Eagle has an AGW of 0.9675 troy oz, meaning it contains 0.9675 oz of pure gold regardless of the 10% copper alloy that makes up the remaining weight.
Pre-1933 US gold coins are 90% gold and 10% copper. The copper value in even a large coin like the $20 Double Eagle is less than a few cents, negligible. All standard gold coin calculators calculate gold content only. This is also how all buyers and refiners price these coins.
Yes. Gold Eagles are 22-karat coins alloyed with copper and silver for durability. Despite the 91.67% purity, the US Mint guarantees each coin contains its stated weight of pure gold. A 1 oz Gold Eagle contains exactly 1 troy oz of pure gold, even though the total coin weight is 33.931 grams. The Gold Buffalo is 99.99% pure with no alloy.
The effect is real but modest. A coin graded Very Fine (VF-20) showing moderate circulation has typically lost 2–5% of its surface gold. A heavily worn coin (Good grade) may have lost 10–15%. Most lightly circulated coins can use a 0–3% adjustment. Uncirculated coins need no adjustment at all.
Never sell without professional appraisal: any coin with a Carson City (CC), Charlotte (C), or Dahlonega (D, pre-1838) mint mark, the 1907 Ultra High Relief Double Eagle, any coin that looks unusually sharp or has unusual design details, and any coin where the date is difficult to read (could be a key date). The difference between a common date and a key date can be thousands of dollars.
By melt value, the $20 Double Eagle (both Liberty Head and Saint-Gaudens types) is the highest at 0.9675 troy oz AGW, almost exactly one full troy ounce of gold. At current spot prices above $4,900/oz, a common date Double Eagle has a melt value of around $4,700–$4,800. This is why they are the most widely traded pre-1933 US gold coin.
Know What Your Coins Are Worth Before You Sell
Use the calculator above to get an accurate live melt value for any combination of US gold coins. No sign-up, no fees. Enter quantities and see results instantly.
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