I am frequently asked to value gold coins and this is a list of the more popular gold coins usually found in Ireland. In perfect condition, a gold coin has a fixed weight but, as they get worn and polished over the years, they can lose up to 15% in weight. This affects their bullion value and this is why discerning buyers actually ‘weigh’ the coin(s) before giving a price.

The prices in the tables below are for the gold bullion content only, based on the London Gold Exchange prices.

A coin dealer or a jeweler will offer the gold price minus their individual margin when buying these coins. These margins vary from buyer to buyer, so I am not going to comment on individual pricing strategies here.

Specific dates, design variations or errors may be worth considerably more than the gold price. A piece of precious metal has a ‘bullion value’ and this price tends to be the lowest A coin, on the other hand, is a ‘piece of history’, a much sought after ‘collectible’ and/or an historical ‘artefact’ A ‘coin’ is usually worth more than its ‘intrinsic value’ by weight, i.e. it is usually worth more than its ‘bullion price’

This is why it is often best to consult a reputable coin dealer in the first instance. scrap merchants, bullion dealers, jewelers and goldsmiths usually only know about ‘intrinsic’ value specialist coin dealers should know about ‘collectible’ value

