Melt first, grading before any melt quote
How to Sell Gold Coins: Krugerrand, Sovereign, Maple Leaf
To sell gold coins for the best price, sort them before anyone quotes: bullion coins on one side, anything old or unusual on the other. Bullion coins are priced on their gold content, and a 1oz Krugerrand, Maple Leaf, American Eagle or Vienna Philharmonic each holds one troy ounce of fine gold, about $4,298 of metal at the 25 September 2026 spot. A Sovereign holds 7.322 grams, about $1,012. Recognized coins in good condition sell close to that figure, and the payout should arrive as a written percentage of spot.
Old dates are different. A pre-1932 or branch-mint Sovereign, or a historic US double eagle, can be worth more than its gold, and selling one at melt is the most expensive mistake in this market. Grade first, then price.
What your gold coins are worth: melt value first
Melt value is the floor for every coin: fine-gold content times spot. For a 1oz bullion coin that is simply the spot price. The 22k coins weigh more because of the copper or silver in the alloy, but they contain the same ounce of gold, so a Krugerrand is not worth less than a Maple Leaf because it is 22 karat.
| Coin | Fineness | Gross weight | Fine gold | Melt value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krugerrand 1oz | 916.7 | 33.93 g | 1 troy oz (31.1035 g) | about $4,298 |
| American Eagle 1oz | 916.7 | 33.93 g | 1 troy oz | about $4,298 |
| Canadian Maple Leaf 1oz | 999.9 | 31.1035 g | 1 troy oz | about $4,298 |
| Vienna Philharmonic 1oz | 999.9 | 31.1035 g | 1 troy oz | about $4,298 |
| Gold Sovereign | 916.7 | 7.988 g | 7.322 g (0.2354 oz) | about $1,012 |
Bullion coin or collector coin? Sort before you sell
A modern Krugerrand or Maple Leaf trades on its metal. An old coin may not. Sovereigns struck before 1932, or at branch mints such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Ottawa and Bombay, carry mint marks and dates that change value on their own. A common circulated US $20 double eagle trades at roughly 1.05 to 1.3 times melt, while certified rare dates reach five and six figures.
The tools are the same everywhere: grading by PCGS or NGC on the Sheldon 1-70 scale, population reports for that grade, and realized auction results rather than dealer asking prices. Our vintage and numismatic coins page explains the process in full.
- Date and mint mark checked against numismatic references
- Condition assessed before any cleaning or handling
- PCGS or NGC grading for anything that may be rare
- Realized auction results compared, never dealer asking prices
- Melt treated as the floor, never the ceiling
How buyers price bullion coins when you sell
A buyer starts from the coin's gold content at live spot, then applies a payout percentage. Recognized bullion coins in good condition are bought close to spot, and part of the premium you paid is sometimes recoverable; damaged, cleaned or doubtful coins are priced further down. Ask for the percentage in writing, coin by coin.
Depth of market matters too. Krugerrands have a deep resale market in Dubai and Singapore after decades of cumulative mintage. Maple Leafs appeal to buyers in Singapore and Hong Kong who ask about verification technology. The American Eagle's secondary market in these hubs is real but thinner. Soft 24k coins show handling, so a Maple Leaf or Philharmonic still in its mint capsule sells better than a loose, scratched one.
What the buyer will check
Coins carry no serial number or assay card, so verification runs on specification and testing:
- Weight and dimensions against official spec: a Krugerrand is 33.93 g, 32.77 mm across and 2.84 mm thick; a Sovereign 7.988 g and 22.05 mm
- XRF or ultrasound where anything looks uncertain
- Bullion DNA scan for Maple Leafs from 2014 onwards, against the Royal Canadian Mint database
- Extra care on fractional sizes, which are counterfeited more often than 1oz coins
Not sure which of your coins are bullion and which deserve a grading look? Send photos and we sort them before anything is priced.
Ask about my coinsSelling gold coins in Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong
The coin is priced the same way in every hub; the paperwork differs. Ten 1oz coins, about $43,000 of gold at late-September spot, is comfortably above each city's reporting line, so expect full ID checks on any serious sale.
Singapore
Payouts for the same item reportedly vary 15 to 30% between buyers, so comparison quotes matter. A cash deal above SGD 20,000 needs a Cash Transaction Report under the PSPM Act, and there is no capital gains tax on a personal holding. Price per gram and channel comparison are on sell gold in Singapore.
Dubai
Krugerrands and Sovereigns are staples of Gulf family holdings, and the resale market for both is deep. Every buyer must be registered on goAML, a trade of AED 55,000 or more is reported under Cabinet Resolution 134 of 2025, and there is no personal capital gains tax. See sell gold in Dubai for per-gram rates by karat.
Hong Kong
Bank counters and heritage jewellers post live buyback prices, some per tael of 37.429 grams. A cash payout of HKD 120,000 or more requires a Category B registered dealer, and the sale carries no tax. See sell gold in Hong Kong.
Mistakes that cost coin sellers money
Most of the money lost on coin sales is lost before the buyer quotes.
- Selling old dates at melt without a numismatic check
- Cleaning or polishing coins before sale: it damages the surface and cuts collector value
- Removing graded coins from their PCGS or NGC holder, which ends the grade guarantee
- Selling a mixed lot by total weight instead of coin by coin
- Accepting a verbal number instead of a written percentage of spot
- Taking the first offer instead of two or three quotes on the same tested coins
How a coin sale runs with us
- Send photos of each coin, front and back, with dates and quantities on WhatsApp. A first-pass indication usually comes back the same working day.
- We sort the lot: bullion coins priced against spot, anything possibly collectible set aside for a grading conversation.
- We name the registered dealer who will execute the sale in your city, before you commit.
- Verification happens in person at that dealer: weight, dimensions, and XRF or ultrasound where needed.
- The offer comes as a written percentage of live spot, coin by coin, and payment timing is confirmed in writing after KYC.
The same process covers bars and jewellery on the sell gold page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to sell Krugerrands?
Ask for the payout as a written percentage of spot. A Krugerrand holds one troy ounce of fine gold, so its metal value is the day's spot price, and a recognized coin in good condition sells close to it. Get two or three quotes, and have older dates checked before any melt offer.
Do gold coins sell for more than gold bars?
Per ounce of gold, recognized bullion coins and bars both sell close to spot. Coins usually cost more to buy because of higher premiums, and that premium is only sometimes recoverable when you sell. Collector coins are the exception: rarity and grade can put them well above melt.
Should I clean old gold coins before selling them?
No. Cleaning or polishing damages a coin's surface and can cut its collector value sharply, and it adds nothing to melt value. Sell coins as they are, and have anything old checked for numismatic value first.
Are old Sovereigns worth more than their gold?
Modern bullion Sovereigns trade close to their 7.322 grams of fine gold plus a small premium. Pre-1932 and branch-mint dates, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Ottawa or Bombay, can carry collector value once graded by PCGS or NGC. Melt is the floor, never the ceiling.
Can I sell gold coins for cash?
Yes, within each city's rules. In Singapore a cash deal above SGD 20,000 needs a Cash Transaction Report, in Hong Kong cash of HKD 120,000 or more requires a Category B registered dealer, and in Dubai any trade of AED 55,000 or more is reported. Payment method and timing are confirmed in writing after assay and KYC.
Have coins to sell
Send photos, front and back, with dates if you can read them. We tell you which are bullion, which deserve grading, and what a fair percentage of spot looks like.
Ask about my coins