Gold Coin Melt Value Calculator
Prices on this page use gold spot at $4,291.00/oz · updated
| Coin · gold content | ×1 | ×10 | ×20 | ×50 | ×100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Gold Eagle (1 oz) 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 | $42,910 | $85,820 | $214,550 | $429,100 |
| American Gold Eagle (½ oz) 0.5000 ozt | $2,145.50 | $21,455 | $42,910 | $107,275 | $214,550 |
| American Gold Eagle (¼ oz) 0.2500 ozt | $1,072.75 | $10,728 | $21,455 | $53,638 | $107,275 |
| American Gold Eagle (⅒ oz) 0.1000 ozt | $429.10 | $4,291 | $8,582 | $21,455 | $42,910 |
| Krugerrand (1 oz) 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 | $42,910 | $85,820 | $214,550 | $429,100 |
| American Gold Buffalo (1 oz) 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 | $42,910 | $85,820 | $214,550 | $429,100 |
| Canadian Gold Maple Leaf (1 oz) 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 | $42,910 | $85,820 | $214,550 | $429,100 |
| $20 Double Eagle 0.9675 ozt | $4,151.51 | $41,515 | $83,030 | $207,576 | $415,151 |
Quick answer: A one-ounce Gold Eagle, Krugerrand, Buffalo or Maple Leaf each contains one troy ounce of gold, worth $4,291.00 in melt value at today's spot price (September 23, 2026). A $20 Double Eagle is different. It holds 0.9675 oz, so its melt value is $4,151.51. Pick a coin and quantity above for any other combination.
Gold content of each coin
| Coin | Gross weight | Fineness | Gold content | Melt value today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Gold Eagle, 1 oz | 33.931 g | .9167 (22k) | 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 |
| Gold Eagle, ½ oz | 16.966 g | .9167 | 0.5000 ozt | $2,145.50 |
| Gold Eagle, ¼ oz | 8.483 g | .9167 | 0.2500 ozt | $1,072.75 |
| Gold Eagle, ⅒ oz | 3.393 g | .9167 | 0.1000 ozt | $429.10 |
| Krugerrand, 1 oz | 33.930 g | .9167 (22k) | 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 |
| American Gold Buffalo, 1 oz | 31.108 g | .9999 (24k) | 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 |
| Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, 1 oz | 31.110 g | .9999 (24k) | 1.0000 ozt | $4,291.00 |
| $20 Double Eagle | 33.436 g | .900 | 0.9675 ozt | $4,151.51 |
For modern bullion coins, the gold content is the amount each mint guarantees. For the Double Eagle it's calculated from the official gross weight and fineness, and that's how we know it holds 0.9675 oz, not the round "one ounce" some sites assume.
How the math works: gross weight vs gold content
A coin's gross weight is what it weighs on a scale. Its gold content, sometimes called actual gold weight or AGW, is the pure gold inside:
gold content = gross weight × fineness melt value = gold content (in troy oz) × spot price
The distinction matters most for 22-karat coins. An American Gold Eagle weighs 33.931 grams, more than a troy ounce (31.1035 g), because it's only 91.67% gold. The alloy adds weight and hardness, but it's worth essentially nothing. If you weighed an Eagle and multiplied by the pure-gold price, you'd overstate its value by about 9%.
24-karat coins like the Buffalo and Maple Leaf are almost pure, so gross weight and gold content are nearly identical.
22k vs 24k coins, and why the Double Eagle isn't one ounce
Same gold, different handling. A one-ounce 22k Eagle or Krugerrand and a one-ounce 24k Buffalo or Maple contain the same gold and have the same melt value. The differences are physical. 22k coins are harder and resist the scratches and dings that come from handling, stacking and shipping. 24k coins are softer and mark more easily, which is why they're sold in protective sleeves or capsules and are best handled by the edges. Collectors and dealers sometimes pay slightly different premiums depending on condition, but as metal they're interchangeable.
The Double Eagle is an older standard. US gold coins struck before 1933 used a .900 alloy, 90% gold and 10% copper, and their weights were set by the coinage laws of the 1800s, not by the modern "one troy ounce" convention. The $20 Double Eagle holds 0.9675 troy ounces of gold. Treat it as a one-ounce coin and you overstate its melt value by about 3.4%. Across a roll of 20, that's a meaningful error. Double Eagles also often trade above melt value because of collector demand, so see the Double Eagle page before selling one for its gold.
Worked examples
1. A tube of 20 one-ounce Gold Eagles. 20 × 1.0000 ozt = 20 ozt × $4,291.00 = $85,820.
2. Ten tenth-ounce Eagles vs one one-ounce Eagle. Identical gold: 10 × 0.1 = 1 ozt, worth $4,291.00. The ten small coins usually cost more to buy, because fractional coins carry higher premiums.
3. Five $20 Double Eagles. 5 × 0.9675 = 4.84 ozt, worth $20,757.57 in melt value. That's a floor for common-date coins, not their market price.
4. A mixed holding: 3 Krugerrands and 2 Maple Leafs. 5 × 1.0000 ozt = $21,455.00.
What coin buyers actually pay
Selling gold coins?
Melt value is the ceiling, not an offer, for bullion coins, and a floor for collectible ones. Recognized one-ounce bullion coins usually sell to dealers close to spot; fractional coins and damaged coins sell for less; pre-1933 coins may sell for more. Get more than one bid.
Buying instead?
You'll pay above spot How buying gold bullion works →
Bullion coins are the easiest gold to sell. Dealers know exactly what's in them and can resell them at once, so offers on common one-ounce coins in good condition usually sit close to the spot price. What lowers an offer: cleaning (never polish a gold coin, because it removes collector value and can leave marks), damage, and holes or mount marks from jewelry use. What raises it: original mint tubes or boxes and, for older coins, collector demand.
Related pages
Gold melt value calculator · Scrap gold calculator · Gold bar prices · 22k gold price per gram · 24k gold price per gram
FAQ
How much is a one-ounce gold coin worth today?
$4,291.00 in gold content as of September 23, 2026, for any coin containing one troy ounce of gold.
Why does my Gold Eagle weigh more than an ounce?
It's 22 karat. The coin weighs 33.931 g, but only 31.1 g of that is gold. The rest is copper and silver alloy.
Is a Krugerrand worth the same as a Gold Eagle?
In melt value, yes. Both contain one troy ounce of gold. Market prices can differ slightly depending on demand for each.
How much gold is in a $20 gold piece?
0.9675 troy ounces, worth $4,151.51 at today's spot price.
Should I clean my gold coins before selling?
No. Cleaning can scratch coins and destroys collector value. Sell them as they are.
What does AGW mean?
Actual gold weight: the pure gold in a coin, as opposed to its gross weight on a scale. Melt value is always calculated from AGW.
Does the calculator include dealer premiums?
No. It shows gold content at spot. What you'd pay to buy a coin is higher, and what you'd receive to sell is usually a little lower.
Data sources: Spot price via api.gold-api.com · COMEX futures (GC=F) via Yahoo Finance. Prices are for informational purposes only and may be delayed. Figures on this page were generated . Gold is quoted in US dollars per troy ounce.