Modern Gold Eagles and Buffalos are priced straight off the live gold market. Pre-1933 US gold — Double Eagles and their smaller cousins — is valued on its gold and, where the date and grade earn it, a collector premium on top.
You sell in the UK, in pounds, by insured post — we identify the type, weigh the gold and quote the higher basis. Written valuation. Free insured postage. Paid in 72 hours.
American gold coins fall into two very different groups, and the first thing we establish is which one you have, because it decides how the coin is valued. On one side are the modern US Mint bullion coins — the American Gold Eagle and Gold Buffalo — bought and sold on their gold content at a small margin over the market. On the other is pre-1933 US gold: the classic $20 Double Eagle and its relatives, antique coins with a solid gold floor and, often, a numismatic premium above it.
Both have a healthy market here in the UK, and you do not need to ship coins back to the United States to get a fair price. We identify the type, weigh the gold, grade where grading matters, and quote in pounds. One point to note up front: unlike the gold Britannia or the Sovereign, American coins are not UK legal tender. UK tax treatment can depend on the particular coin and the seller's circumstances, and Fair Vintage does not provide tax advice.
The two modern coins share a market but differ in purity, which is worth understanding even though both are valued on their pure gold:
The US Mint's flagship bullion coin, struck in 22-carat gold (916.7 fine) with copper and silver added for hardness. A one-ounce Eagle holds a full ounce of pure gold and weighs a little over an ounce overall. Issued in 1oz, ½oz, ¼oz and 1/10oz sizes.
The Mint's 24-carat coin, struck in 999.9 fine pure gold and modelled on the 1913 Buffalo nickel design. A one-ounce Buffalo is a straight troy ounce of pure gold, softer than the alloyed Eagle but identical in gold content.
For both, the value is essentially the live gold content, so a one-ounce Eagle and a one-ounce Buffalo are worth the same in gold terms. Proof and burnished collector versions in their original US Mint packaging can carry a small premium above bullion; we identify these and assess them accordingly.
Before 1933, the United States struck circulating gold in 90% gold (alloyed with 10% copper for durability). These are genuine antique coins with a strong gold floor and frequently a collector premium. The main denominations we buy:
| Coin | Denomination | Approx. pure gold |
|---|---|---|
| Double Eagle | $20 | ~0.9675 oz |
| Eagle | $10 | ~0.4838 oz |
| Half Eagle | $5 | ~0.2419 oz |
| Quarter Eagle | $2.50 | ~0.1209 oz |
| Gold dollar & $3 | $1 / $3 | Small fractional gold |
The $20 Double Eagle appears in two great designs: the Liberty Head (Coronet) of 1849–1907 and the celebrated Saint-Gaudens of 1907–1933, widely regarded as the most beautiful US coin. The $10 Eagle and smaller pieces come as Liberty Head and later Indian Head types. Value turns on the denomination's gold plus the date, mint mark, type and grade.
A common-date Double Eagle in circulated grade sells close to its gold; a scarce date or a pristine coin can be worth a large multiple of it. When we grade your coin, the factors that move the figure above metal are:
Pre-1933 US gold, especially the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, is widely copied — gold-plated base-metal replicas and modern "copy" pieces turn up regularly, and a genuine coin that has been polished loses much of its premium. We authenticate by weight, dimensions and design, and assess condition honestly. If you are unsure whether a coin is genuine or has been cleaned, email clear photos of both sides before sending and we will give you an honest read at no cost.
Modern Eagles and Buffalos are priced against the live gold market for the ounces they contain. Pre-1933 coins are weighed for their gold as a floor, then graded so any numismatic premium is captured, and we quote whichever basis is higher in a written valuation. If your American gold is part of a wider holding, our coin valuation guide explains the whole process, and for British gold coins see sell gold Britannia coins and sell gold guineas.
Tell us roughly what you have — "two Gold Eagles" or "a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle" is plenty. We email a free prepaid, tracked and insured label the same working day.
Leave slabbed coins in their holders; wrap loose coins in tissue and keep them from knocking together. Your parcel is insured to £5,000 from the moment the courier scans it.
We email a unique parcel code and your opening time. Your parcel is opened on camera and photographed before a specialist identifies and weighs each coin.
Bullion priced to the live market, pre-1933 gold graded, any premium set out — all in pounds. Accept what you want to sell — return the rest free. Payment within 72 hours, or we add 3%.
If your question isn't here, call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We respond within one working day.
Get your free label →Yes. There is a strong UK market for American gold, and you do not need to send coins back to the United States to sell them. We buy modern American Gold Eagles and Gold Buffalos, and pre-1933 US gold such as $20 Double Eagles and $10 Eagles, from UK sellers by insured post. Modern bullion is priced against the live gold market; older US gold is valued on its gold plus any collector premium. You receive a written valuation in pounds and are paid by bank transfer within 72 hours.
Both are modern US Mint bullion coins, but they differ in purity. The American Gold Eagle, issued since 1986, is 22 carat (916.7 fine) — a one-ounce coin holds a full ounce of pure gold with copper and silver added for durability, so the coin weighs a little over an ounce. The American Gold Buffalo, issued since 2006, is 24 carat (999.9 fine) pure gold. Both a one-ounce Eagle and a one-ounce Buffalo contain the same ounce of pure gold, so both are valued on that ounce; the difference is the alloy and hardness, not the gold you are selling.
Pre-1933 US gold coins are struck in 90% gold, so they have a solid metal floor — a $20 Double Eagle contains about 0.9675 of an ounce of pure gold, a $10 Eagle about half that. Above the metal, many carry a numismatic premium set by the date, mint mark, type (Liberty Head, Indian Head or Saint-Gaudens) and grade. A common-date Double Eagle in worn condition sits near its gold value; a scarce date or a high-grade coin can be worth considerably more. We weigh the gold and grade the coin, then quote whichever basis is higher.
American gold coins are US, not UK, currency and are not UK legal tender. UK tax treatment can depend on the particular coin and the seller's circumstances, so seek professional advice if this matters to your sale. Fair Vintage does not provide tax advice, but we provide the written sale figures you need.
No. Never clean a gold coin — gold does not tarnish, and cleaning leaves hairlines that lower the grade, which matters most on pre-1933 coins where the premium depends on condition. If a coin is sealed in a graded slab from a service such as PCGS or NGC, leave it in the slab, as the certified grade supports the value. Loose coins should be handled by the edge and sent as they are. We assess every coin in its original state and explain how condition bears on the figure.
Request your free label today. Bullion priced to the live gold market, pre-1933 gold graded, any premium set out. Written valuation. Paid within 72 hours — or we add 3%.
Also see: Coin valuation · Sell gold Britannia coins · Sell gold guineas