Guide
What are old U.S. gold coins worth?
U.S. gold coins struck through 1933, like the $20 Double Eagle, are 90% gold. Their gold alone is worth far more than their face value, and we pay on that gold.
Updated October 28, 2026 · Prices as of November 2, 2026, 6:20 p.m. Pacific
What the gold in them is worth today
Gold is trading at $3,942 per troy ounce (the Kitco bid). Here's 96% of the gold each coin holds, our rate for gold coins priced on their gold:
| Coin | Gold content | Gold value at our rate |
|---|---|---|
| $20 Double Eagle | 0.9675 ozt | $3,661.70 |
| $10 Eagle | 0.4838 ozt | $1,830.85 |
| $5 Half Eagle | 0.2419 ozt | $915.41 |
| $2.50 Quarter Eagle | 0.1209 ozt | $457.72 |
| $1 gold dollar | 0.0484 ozt | $183.07 |
Which coins these are
- $20 Double Eagles: the Liberty Head (1850–1907) and the Saint-Gaudens (1907–1933), often called the most beautiful U.S. coin.
- $10, $5, and $2.50: Liberty Head and Indian Head designs. The $10 was struck until 1933; the $5 and $2.50 until 1929.
- Why they stopped: in 1933 the government called in gold coins, and Americans couldn't legally own gold bullion again until the end of 1974. Many surviving coins came back from overseas banks.
Coin guides: Krugerrands · American Gold Eagles · American Gold Buffalos · Maple Leafs · Philharmonics · Britannias · American Silver Eagles · Sovereigns · Morgan and Peace dollars · Silver half dollars · Libertads · Pandas · Kangaroos · All 1 ozt gold coins · Mexican 50 pesos · Old U.S. gold coins · All gold coins · All 90% silver
We pay more than pawn shops, jewelers, and mail-in gold kits: in Consumer Reports' tests, jewelers and pawn shops paid 36% to 71% of melt value, and mail-in kits 11% to about 29%. We pay 94% for scrap gold. Who pays the most?
Your coins
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