A Beginner's Guide to Selling Gold Coins: Sovereigns, Krugerrands & More

Gold coins occupy an interesting middle ground between jewellery and pure bullion - some are valued almost entirely for their gold content, while others carry extra value as collectible or numismatic pieces. Knowing the difference can make a real difference to what you're offered.

Bullion coins vs numismatic coins

Bullion coins - such as modern Krugerrands, Britannias and Sovereigns minted for investment purposes - are valued primarily on their fine gold weight, tracking closely with the live gold spot price plus a modest premium.

Numismatic (collector) coins can carry additional value beyond their gold content based on rarity, historical significance, condition and demand among collectors. Certain dates, mint marks or limited runs of Sovereigns, for example, can be worth considerably more than their gold weight alone.

Common gold coins we're asked about

• Full and Half Sovereigns - a longstanding British gold coin, still minted today and widely held from inheritance or historic collections.
• Krugerrands - South African bullion coins, among the most widely traded gold coins globally.
• Britannias - The Royal Mint's modern gold bullion coin, available in various weights.
• Half Eagles and other historic foreign coins - occasionally found in inherited collections.

What to bring when selling coins

Bring the coins themselves (there's no need to clean or polish them - this can sometimes reduce value on collectible pieces) along with any paperwork, certificates of authenticity, or provenance information you have, as this can help establish numismatic value where relevant.

How we price coins

Every coin is weighed and its purity confirmed. For coins that appear to carry genuine collector interest beyond bullion value, our team will factor that in transparently and explain our reasoning - we'd rather you understand exactly how a price was reached than simply be told a number.

A word of caution on cleaning

If you're storing gold coins at home, avoid cleaning or polishing them with abrasive materials. This is unlikely to meaningfully change bullion value but can reduce numismatic value on collectible coins, sometimes significantly.