US Gold Coin Melt Values

American Gold Eagle Value

The American Gold Eagle has been the official US gold bullion coin since 1986, authorized by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985. Gold Eagles are struck in 22-karat gold (91.67% pure) with copper and silver alloy added for durability, but each coin contains exactly the stated amount of pure gold (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, or 1/10 oz). The total weight is slightly higher than the gold content because of the alloy.

American Gold Eagle Melt Value Today

A 1 oz American Gold Eagle has a melt value of $4,481.27 at today's gold spot price. The half-ounce contains 0.500 oz of pure gold, worth $2,240.64. The quarter-ounce contains 0.250 oz, worth $1,120.32. The tenth-ounce contains 0.100 oz, worth $448.13. Gold Eagles typically trade at a premium of 3–8% over melt value at major dealers, with the smaller fractional sizes carrying higher per-ounce premiums than the 1 oz coin.

Gold Eagle Series and Varieties

The American Gold Eagle has used two main reverse designs. The original Type 1 (1986–2021) features a family of eagles designed by Miley Busiek. The Type 2 redesign (2021–present) features a close-up portrait of an eagle by Jennie Norris. Both types share the same Saint-Gaudens Liberty obverse design. Proof and burnished versions exist alongside the bullion-grade coins, with proof Eagles carrying significant collector premiums.

American Gold Buffalo Value

The American Gold Buffalo is the US Mint's 99.99% pure (24 karat) gold bullion coin, introduced in 2006. The design recreates James Earle Fraser's iconic 1913 Buffalo nickel obverse and reverse, scaled up for a 1 oz gold coin. Gold Buffalos are the purest gold coins ever produced by the US Mint and remain a popular alternative to the Gold Eagle for buyers who want maximum gold purity.

American Gold Buffalo Melt Value Today

A 1 oz American Gold Buffalo has a melt value of $4,481.27 at today's gold spot price, identical to a 1 oz Gold Eagle because both contain exactly 1 troy ounce of pure gold. Gold Buffalos typically trade at a similar premium to Gold Eagles (3–8% over melt) at major dealers. The Buffalo's 24-karat purity makes it softer and more prone to scratches than the Eagle, so collectors typically store them in protective sleeves or graded slabs.

Gold Buffalo vs Gold Eagle

The Gold Buffalo and Gold Eagle contain the same amount of pure gold (1 troy ounce) and have the same melt value. The differences are aesthetic and structural: the Eagle is 91.67% gold with copper/silver alloy for durability, while the Buffalo is 99.99% pure gold. Eagles are available in four sizes (1, ½, ¼, 1/10 oz); Buffalos are 1 oz only (a fractional Buffalo series existed only in 2008). For pure investment purposes, both serve the same function. For collectors who value pure gold or want the iconic Buffalo nickel design, the Buffalo is the choice.

$20 Double Eagle Value (Saint Gaudens & Liberty Head)

The $20 Double Eagle is the largest regular-issue US gold coin, minted from 1849 to 1933. Each Double Eagle contains 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold in a 90% gold / 10% copper alloy. At today's gold spot price of $4,481.27 per troy ounce, the melt value of any $20 Double Eagle is approximately $4,335.63. Most Double Eagles trade well above melt value due to historical and numismatic premiums.

Liberty Head Double Eagle (1849–1907)

The Liberty Head $20 Double Eagle was designed by James B. Longacre and minted from 1849 to 1907. The obverse features Liberty wearing a coronet inscribed "LIBERTY," with thirteen stars surrounding. The reverse shows a heraldic eagle. Three subtypes exist: Type I (1849–1866, no motto), Type II (1866–1876, with "IN GOD WE TRUST" motto and "TWENTY D." reverse), and Type III (1877–1907, "TWENTY DOLLARS" spelled out). Common dates in average circulated condition typically sell for melt value plus 5–15%. Key dates like the 1854-O, 1856-O, and 1861 Paquet variety can fetch $50,000 or more in higher grades.

Saint Gaudens Double Eagle (1907–1933)

The Saint Gaudens $20 Double Eagle is widely considered the most beautiful US coin ever struck. Designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and minted from 1907 to 1933, it depicts Liberty striding forward with the Capitol building in the background. The original 1907 high-relief design was struck only briefly because the deep details required multiple strikes and slowed production. Common-date Saint Gaudens (1908–1928) in average condition trade at melt value plus 5–15%. The 1907 high-relief, 1907 ultra high-relief, and the legendary 1933 (most of which were destroyed; one famous specimen sold for $18.9 million) command extreme premiums.

Why $20 Double Eagles Are Popular With Investors

$20 Double Eagles offer something modern bullion coins can't: nearly a full ounce of investment-grade gold combined with historical significance and limited supply. Pre-1933 gold coins were largely melted during Roosevelt's 1933 confiscation order, leaving a finite pool of surviving examples. Common-date Double Eagles are widely available from dealers as "AU" (About Uncirculated) or "BU" (Brilliant Uncirculated) and trade actively in the bullion market alongside Gold Eagles and Buffalos. Many investors prefer Double Eagles because their numismatic component provides some downside protection if gold prices fall.

$10 Eagle Value (Indian Head & Liberty Head)

The $10 Eagle was the original largest US gold coin, minted from 1795 to 1933. Each Eagle contains 0.4838 troy ounces of pure gold (90% gold / 10% copper). At today's spot price, the melt value is approximately $2,168.04. Two main designs were produced during the long run.

Liberty Head Eagle (1838–1907)

The Liberty Head $10 Eagle, also called the Coronet Eagle, was designed by Christian Gobrecht and minted from 1838 to 1907. The obverse shows Liberty wearing a coronet, similar to the Liberty Head Double Eagle. Common dates in circulated grades trade at melt plus 5–12%. Key dates and high grades reach significantly higher prices. The 1858 Philadelphia, 1864-S, and certain Carson City dates are scarce and valuable.

Indian Head Eagle (1907–1933)

The Indian Head $10 Eagle was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (the same artist as the $20 Saint Gaudens) and minted from 1907 to 1933. The obverse depicts Liberty wearing a Native American war bonnet (despite the "Indian Head" name, the design represents Liberty in headdress). The reverse shows a standing eagle. The 1907 first-year coins include rare varieties without motto and with periods before "E PLURIBUS UNUM." Common dates in average condition trade at melt plus 8–15%. The 1933 Indian Head Eagle is rare due to the same confiscation order that ended Double Eagle production.

$5 Half Eagle Value

The $5 Half Eagle was the first US gold coin authorized for production, beginning in 1795. Each Half Eagle contains 0.2419 troy ounces of pure gold in a 90% alloy. The melt value at today's spot price is approximately $1,084.02. The series ran until 1929 with several major design types.

Half Eagle Design Types

The Half Eagle saw more design changes than any other US gold denomination. Major types include the Capped Bust (1795–1834), Classic Head (1834–1838), Liberty Head/Coronet (1839–1908), and the unique Indian Head (1908–1929) designed by Bela Lyon Pratt with an incuse design pressed into the surface rather than raised. The Indian Head Half Eagle is particularly distinctive: the design lies flush with the field instead of standing in relief, making it one of the most unusual US coins ever produced.

Half Eagle Collector Value

Common-date Liberty Head Half Eagles trade at melt plus 5–15% in circulated grades. Indian Head Half Eagles command higher premiums (typically melt plus 20–50%) due to their unusual incuse design and shorter production run. Key dates include the 1875 (only 200 minted), 1909-O, and various Carson City and New Orleans branch mint coins. The 1929 Indian Head Half Eagle is scarce and reaches $20,000+ in higher grades.

$2.50 Quarter Eagle Value

The $2.50 Quarter Eagle was the smallest US gold denomination authorized for general circulation (the $1 Gold Dollar was smaller but had limited circulation success). Each Quarter Eagle contains 0.1209 troy ounces of pure gold. At today's spot price, the melt value is approximately $541.79. The series ran from 1796 to 1929 across multiple design types.

Quarter Eagle Design Types

Major Quarter Eagle types include the Capped Bust (1796–1834), Classic Head (1834–1839), Liberty Head/Coronet (1840–1907), and the Indian Head (1908–1929). The Indian Head Quarter Eagle, like the Half Eagle, uses Bela Lyon Pratt's incuse design. Quarter Eagles were popular gifts and pocket pieces because of their small, manageable size.

Quarter Eagle Collector Value

Common-date Liberty Head Quarter Eagles trade at melt plus 10–25% in circulated grades. Indian Head Quarter Eagles command similar premiums to their Half Eagle counterparts due to the distinctive design. Key dates include the 1841 (the "Little Princess," only 18 known), 1854-S, and 1911-D (the lowest mintage Indian Head Quarter Eagle). The 1911-D is one of the most popular key dates in US numismatics.

Gold Dollar Value ($1)

The $1 Gold Dollar is the smallest US gold coin, minted from 1849 to 1889. Each Gold Dollar contains 0.04837 troy ounces of pure gold. At today's spot price, the melt value is approximately $216.76. The Gold Dollar saw three major type variations during its 40-year run.

Gold Dollar Type Varieties

Three Gold Dollar types were produced. Type 1 (1849–1854) features a Liberty Head design by James B. Longacre, with a small diameter of 13mm. Type 2 (1854–1856) features an Indian Princess design with a larger 15mm diameter and lower relief that caused striking problems. Type 3 (1856–1889) refined the Indian Princess design with deeper relief that struck up better. The Type 2 Gold Dollar series ran for only three years and is the scarcest of the three types.

Gold Dollar Collector Value

Common-date Type 1 and Type 3 Gold Dollars in circulated condition trade at melt plus 50–150% (the small gold content means numismatic premium dominates). Type 2 Gold Dollars are scarcer and command higher premiums. Key dates include the 1849-C Open Wreath, 1855-C, 1855-D, and 1861-D. Many Gold Dollars were lost or destroyed because of their small size, so even common dates are scarcer than mintage figures suggest. This is NOT the modern Sacagawea or Presidential dollar coin; those are golden-colored brass coins, not gold.

First Spouse Gold Coins

The First Spouse Gold Coin series was produced by the US Mint from 2007 to 2016. Each coin contains 0.5 troy ounces of 99.99% pure gold (the same purity as the Gold Buffalo) and depicts a spouse of a US president. The series includes 41 coins issued in chronological order from Martha Washington through Nancy Reagan. At today's gold spot price, the melt value of each First Spouse coin is approximately $2,240.64.

First Spouse coins were sold by the US Mint at significant premiums over melt and have generally not appreciated in line with gold spot prices. Many sell on the secondary market near melt value or modest premiums. Collectors who own complete sets often value them for the historical theme rather than their gold investment performance.

A Brief History of US Gold Coinage

The United States began minting gold coins in 1795, starting with the $5 Half Eagle and $10 Eagle. The $2.50 Quarter Eagle followed in 1796, the Gold Dollar in 1849, and the iconic $20 Double Eagle — also in 1849 — became the largest regular-issue US gold coin. For nearly 140 years, gold coins circulated as everyday money, their value backed by the precious metal they contained.

In 1933, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, requiring citizens to surrender most gold coins and bars to the Federal Reserve. Gold coinage effectively ended, and the coins already in circulation were gradually withdrawn. This is why pre-1933 US gold coins are treasured by both investors and collectors — they represent a closed chapter of American monetary history.

Pre-1933 vs. Modern Gold Coins

Pre-1933 gold coins were struck in a 90% gold alloy (21.6 karat) for durability in circulation. The gold content varies by denomination: a $20 Double Eagle contains 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold, while a $1 Gold Dollar contains just 0.04837 troy ounces. These coins often carry numismatic premiums above their melt value based on rarity, condition, and collector demand.

Modern US gold bullion coins, authorized by the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985, were designed specifically for investors. The American Gold Eagle (1986–present) uses the traditional 91.67% gold alloy but contains exactly the stated weight in pure gold. The American Gold Buffalo (2006–present) is struck in 99.99% pure gold, making it the purest gold coin ever produced by the US Mint. The First Spouse series (2007–2016) honored the spouses of US presidents in half-ounce 99.99% pure gold coins.

Why Numismatic Value Often Exceeds Melt Value

Many US gold coins are worth significantly more than their melt value. Factors that create numismatic premiums include: rarity (low mintage dates like the 1907 High Relief $20 or the 1911-D Quarter Eagle), condition (uncirculated coins command much higher prices than worn ones), historical significance (coins from the early US Mint or the final year of gold coinage), and variety (die varieties, mint errors, and design subtypes).

Even common-date pre-1933 gold coins typically trade at a 5–15% premium over melt value simply because of their historical appeal and finite supply. During periods of high gold demand, these premiums can spike much higher. Before selling any pre-1933 gold coin at melt value, it's worth checking a numismatic price guide or consulting a reputable coin dealer to ensure you're not leaving money on the table.

How to Identify US Gold Coin Types

US gold coins are identified by their denomination (stamped on the coin), design type, date, and mint mark. The denomination tells you the gold content: $20 = 0.9675 oz t, $10 = 0.4838 oz t, $5 = 0.2419 oz t, $2.50 = 0.1209 oz t, $1 = 0.04837 oz t. Design types include Liberty Head, Indian Head, and Saint-Gaudens for pre-1933 coins. Mint marks (no mark = Philadelphia, D = Denver, S = San Francisco, CC = Carson City, O = New Orleans) appear on the reverse, typically near the eagle or below the wreath.

Modern bullion coins are clearly labeled with their weight and purity. American Gold Eagles show "1 OZ. FINE GOLD" (or the fractional equivalent), and Gold Buffalos show ".9999 FINE GOLD." If you have a coin you can't identify, any coin dealer can identify it quickly — most will do so for free as a courtesy.

For gold coins from other countries, see our world gold coin melt values page. For non-coin gold items like jewelry and scrap, use our scrap gold calculator. Check today's gold price per gram for a karat-by-karat price breakdown. Or return to the melt value calculator homepage.