How to sell gold coins
To sell gold coins, work out their gold value at today's spot price, then get written quotes from two or three buyers that publish buyback prices. Popular 1oz coins typically fetch about 3% to 4% below spot: on 11 October 2026, a London dealer offered 3.3% below spot for a Britannia. Small and damaged coins fetch less.
Selling bullion coins is simpler than selling jewellery, because every serious buyer prices them the same way: weight of pure gold times the spot price, minus a margin. Your job is to know that number and find the smallest margin.
Where can you sell gold coins?
| Where | Typical price | Speed | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online bullion dealer that publishes buyback prices | Closest to spot for common coins | Days (post and checking) | Insured postage rules; price lock terms |
| The dealer you bought from | Similar, often simplest | Days, or same day in person | Compare with at least one other quote |
| Local coin shop or bullion dealer | Varies widely | Same day | Ask how the offer relates to spot |
| Mint buyback (where offered) | Published rates | A few days | Usually in person, ID and account needed |
| Pawn shop or cash-for-gold | Often lowest | Immediate | Offers rarely show weight or spot used |
| Private sale or auction site | Can beat dealers on rare coins | Weeks | Fees, fraud, returns, your safety |
For a coin with real collector value, such as a rare date or a graded coin, a specialist numismatic dealer or auction house may pay more than its gold. Our guide to bullion vs numismatic coins helps you tell which you have.
Buyback prices we found
Hatton Garden Metals publishes a daily price it will pay for each coin it trades. We captured the full list on 11 October 2026 and compared each offer with the value of the gold in the coin.
| Coin | Fine gold (oz) | Buyback price | vs gold value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britannia 1oz | 1.0000 | £3,067.15 | -3.29% |
| Krugerrand 1oz | 1.0000 | £3,065.17 | -3.35% |
| Sovereign (mixed years) | 0.2354 | £720.90 | -3.45% |
| Britannia 1oz, pre-2012 (22ct) | 1.0000 | £3,049.37 | -3.85% |
| Half Sovereign | 0.1177 | £356.73 | -4.44% |
| Krugerrand 1/4oz | 0.2500 | £742.37 | -6.37% |
| Krugerrand 1/10oz | 0.1000 | £296.77 | -6.42% |
GoldVetted automated price check, 11 October 2026, from Hatton Garden Metals' published daily buyback list. Spot from gold-api.com. Captured on a Sunday when the gold market was closed. Prices change with spot; always ask for a live quote.
What this tells you: the bigger and more popular the coin, the closer to spot you are paid. Fractional coins lose ground twice: you pay a higher premium when you buy them and accept a bigger discount when you sell. On the same day, the same dealer was selling a Britannia at 3.5% above spot, so the round trip on a single coin was about 6.8% before any change in the gold price. More on these gaps in gold dealer spreads.
See Hatton Garden Metals' live buyback prices
US, Canadian and Australian dealers rarely publish coin buyback prices as openly. APMEX, for example, asks you to request a quote and lock the price online or by phone, then ship with its prepaid, insured labels. Our country guides cover local options: sell gold in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK.
Which gold coins are easiest to sell?
The coins dealers see every day are the quickest to sell close to spot, because they can resell them easily. In the UK that means Britannias, Sovereigns and Krugerrands; in the US, American Eagles and Buffalos; in Canada, Maple Leafs; and in Australia, Kangaroos. Coins less familiar to local dealers, such as an Austrian Philharmonic in a small US coin shop, may still fetch their gold value but with a wider discount, so a larger online dealer may pay more.
Condition matters less for bullion coins than for collector coins, but a badly damaged or holed coin may be bought as scrap, by weight. Older 22 carat coins, such as pre-2013 Britannias, can be priced slightly lower than the current design: at the dealer we checked, a pre-2012 Britannia was offered 3.85% below spot against 3.29% for a standard Britannia.
How to sell gold coins, step by step
Identify each coin
Note the name, size, year and condition. A Sovereign, a 1oz Krugerrand and a 1/10oz Eagle are priced very differently. Check for anything that might be collectable: very old dates, proof finishes, or coins in graded slabs.
Work out the gold value
Fine gold (troy oz) x spot price = gold value. A Sovereign holds 0.2354 oz, a 1oz coin holds 1 oz whether it is 22ct or 24ct. Our melt value calculator does this for any coin.
Get two or three written quotes
Ask each buyer for a price per coin and how long it is held. Compare every offer as a percentage of the gold value, as in the table above. Our dealer buyback calculator helps.
Lock the price and agree delivery
Online dealers lock the price when you accept. Use their insured shipping method exactly as instructed, or visit in person. Never post coins uninsured.
Bring ID and keep records
Dealers in all four countries must verify identity under anti-money laundering rules. The Perth Mint, for example, asks for 100 points of ID and an account set-up before trading. Keep the sale receipt with your original purchase receipt for tax.
Get paid by bank transfer
Bank transfer is traceable and safe. The Perth Mint pays into your nominated account after two business days. Be wary of buyers who only offer cash for large amounts.
How to avoid low offers
- Know the spot price before you walk in. An offer means nothing until you compare it with the gold value.
- Don't clean coins. It cannot add gold and can destroy collector value.
- Sell popular coins to bullion dealers, rare coins to specialists. A bullion dealer will pay gold value for a rare coin; a coin specialist may pay more.
- Avoid unsolicited buyers and "gold parties". See our guide to gold scams.
- Sell in whole coins, not mixed bags of coins and jewellery. Jewellery is valued as scrap; keep coins separate so each gets its own price.
Do you pay tax when you sell gold coins?
| Country | Main rule | Coin-specific points |
|---|---|---|
| UK | Capital Gains Tax above the £3,000 annual exempt amount, at 18% or 24% | Sovereigns (1837 onwards) and Britannias are sterling currency and exempt (HMRC CG78305). Krugerrands, Eagles and Maple Leafs are chargeable |
| US | Gains on coins held over a year are taxed as collectibles at up to 28% (IRS Topic 409) | Dealers file Form 1099-B for listed items, such as 25 or more 1oz Krugerrands, Maple Leafs or Mexican Onzas sold at once |
| Canada | Generally a capital gain, with one half of the gain included in income | Frequent trading can be treated as business income instead |
| Australia | Capital Gains Tax applies; individuals holding an asset for at least 12 months can usually claim the 50% CGT discount (ATO) | Keep purchase records to prove your cost |
This is general information, not tax advice. For your situation, check the official sources above or speak to a tax adviser. The tax rules when buying are summarised in how to buy gold.
Thinking of buying again later?
If you sell to rebalance and may buy back in future, remember the round-trip cost. Compare current buying premiums on our dealer pages: where to buy gold in the US, where to buy gold in the UK, where to buy gold in Canada and where to buy gold in Australia. For bars rather than coins, read how to sell gold bars, and for everything else see our selling hub.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to sell gold coins?
Usually a large bullion dealer that publishes its buyback price, because you can compare that price with the spot price before you commit. On 11 October 2026, Hatton Garden Metals in London quoted 3.3% below spot for a 1oz Britannia and 3.4% below for a Sovereign. Pawn shops and cash-for-gold buyers rarely show their maths.
How much below spot will a dealer pay for gold coins?
For popular 1oz coins, our check found offers about 3% to 4% below the value of the gold. Small coins fare worse: a 1/10oz Krugerrand was 6.4% below its gold value at the same dealer. Rare or collectable coins can sell for more than their gold, but only to a buyer who values that.
Should I clean my gold coins before selling?
No. Cleaning can leave scratches and hairlines that cut the value of any coin with a collector premium, and it does nothing to raise the gold value of a bullion coin. Leave coins in their capsules or tubes and handle them by the edges.
Do I have to pay tax when I sell gold coins?
It depends on where you live and which coin. UK Sovereigns and Britannias are free of Capital Gains Tax. US gains on gold coins held over a year are taxed as collectibles at up to 28%. Canada and Australia generally tax gains as capital gains, with a 50% inclusion rate or discount in many cases.
Will the dealer report my sale to the tax authority?
In the US, dealers file Form 1099-B for certain sales, such as 25 or more 1oz Krugerrands, Maple Leafs or Mexican Onzas in one transaction. Gold Eagles are not on that list, but the gain is still taxable. Elsewhere, dealers must keep identity records under anti-money laundering rules.
Can I sell gold coins back to the mint?
Sometimes. The Perth Mint buys back its own branded coins, legal tender gold coins and bars in person in East Perth, paying into your bank account after two business days once you have registered an account with 100 points of ID. Many other mints sell through dealers and do not buy from the public.
Is it better to sell gold coins online or locally?
Online and mail-in buyers that publish prices tend to pay closer to spot, but you wait for shipping and checking. A local dealer pays on the spot and you keep the coins in sight. Get a written quote from both and compare each against the coin's gold value.
Sources
We checked these primary and official sources when writing and fact-checking this page.
- Hatton Garden Metals: Daily buyback prices for coins and bars (captured 11 Oct 2026)
- Hatton Garden Metals: Sell gold coins
- The Perth Mint: Sell bullion in person (ID, account, payment in 2 business days)
- APMEX: Sell to us (buyback process)
- APMEX: Tax reporting FAQ (1099-B reportable items)
- HMRC Capital Gains Manual CG78305 (Sovereigns and Britannias are currency)
- IRS Topic 409: Capital gains and losses (28% collectibles rate)
- Canada Revenue Agency: Calculating and reporting your capital gains and losses
- Australian Taxation Office: CGT discount
Not financial advice. GoldVetted provides general information to help you compare options. It is not personal financial, tax or legal advice. Gold prices go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay. Check tax rules with the official source or a qualified adviser before you act.