A one ounce Gold Eagle weighs more than one ounce, and both facts are true at once. The coin contains a full troy ounce of gold plus the alloy that makes it durable.
Gold spot
$4,133.30 a troy ounce.
Spot price as of 10 November 2026.
Each coin is 33.931 g at 917 fine,
a US Mint specification.
This is metal value only. Most coins are worth more than their metal to a collector,
and some are worth very much more, so check the date and mint mark before selling
anything here for its melt value.
What one American Gold Eagle, 1 oz is worth in gold
One American Gold Eagle, 1 oz contains 1.0000 troy ounces of pure gold, from a coin
weighing 33.931 grams at 917 parts per thousand. At the
current benchmark that metal is worth
$4,133.
The benchmark behind it was set on
, and every figure on this
page moves with it.
Melt value by quantity, at the current benchmark.
How many
Pure gold
Melt value
1
1.0000 ozt
$4,133
2
2.0001 ozt
$8,266
5
5.0002 ozt
$20,667
10
10.00 ozt
$41,334
20
20.00 ozt
$82,668
What the coin is
A one ounce American Gold Eagle contains exactly one troy ounce of pure gold, but the coin itself weighs 33.931 grams. The extra weight is alloy: the coin is struck at 91.67% gold, which is 22 karat, with the balance in silver and copper to make it hard enough to handle without marking. The gold content is the full ounce regardless.
That is the detail people get wrong most often. Weighing a Gold Eagle on a scale and multiplying by the gold price gives a number about 9% too high, because 2.8 grams of what you weighed is not gold. The melt value is one troy ounce at spot, full stop, and the calculator on this page uses the fine gold content rather than the gross weight.
The 22 karat standard comes from the old British gold sovereign, sometimes called crown gold, and was chosen so the coin would resist scratching in a way a pure gold coin cannot. The Canadian Maple Leaf takes the opposite approach at 99.99% pure, which is why Maples mark so easily and Eagles do not.
Is it worth more than its metal?
Gold Eagles trade at a premium over spot, though a proportionally smaller one than Silver Eagles because the metal value is so much higher. A few percent over melt is normal for a common bullion year, and the premium widens when demand spikes.
Proof and burnished versions, sold directly by the mint in packaging, carry much larger premiums and are collected by date. The 1999-W issued with an unfinished proof die, struck for circulation as a bullion coin, is a well known scarce variety.
Fractional Eagles exist in half ounce, quarter ounce and tenth ounce sizes, and their premiums per ounce of gold are considerably higher than the one ounce coin because minting costs are similar regardless of size. This page prices the one ounce coin only.
Selling it
This is the easiest precious metal item to sell that exists. A recognised, sealed one ounce Gold Eagle is bought by any bullion dealer at a small discount to spot, or occasionally above it, because they can resell it immediately without assaying or refining anything.
Ignore the payout bands shown for scrap jewellery. Those describe what happens to material that has to be tested and melted before anyone knows what is in it, and none of that applies to a sovereign bullion coin. Get two dealer quotes and take the better one.
Exactly one troy ounce of pure gold. The coin weighs 33.931 grams in total because it is 22 karat, with silver and copper making up the remaining 8.33% for durability.
Why does a 1 oz Gold Eagle weigh more than 1 oz?+
Because the ounce refers to the gold content, not the coin. The alloy added to harden the coin brings the gross weight to 33.931 grams, about 9% above a troy ounce, while the pure gold inside is still exactly one ounce.
Is a Gold Eagle 24 karat?+
No, it is 22 karat at 91.67% gold, following the old crown gold standard. The Canadian Maple Leaf is the 99.99% pure alternative, which is softer and marks more easily.
What premium do Gold Eagles sell for?+
Commonly a few percent over the spot value of their gold for ordinary bullion years, widening when demand is strong. Proof and burnished collector versions carry substantially more.
Recommended Gold Testing & Smelting Equipment
Laboratory-grade scales, non-destructive electronic testers, and digital melting furnaces for accurate scrap valuation and refining.
Digital Electric Gold & Silver Melting Furnace (1kg to 3kg, 1150°C / 2100°F)
Commercial digital smelting furnace with high-density graphite crucible, insulated heating chamber, and heavy-duty crucible tongs. Heats up to 2100°F (1150°C) with precise digital PID temperature control to cleanly melt scrap gold jewelry, sterling silver, and brass into tradeable bullion bars in under 45 minutes.
Laboratory-grade electronic gold analyzer that instantly determines karat purity from 10K to 24K and verifies platinum without messy acid drops or destructive scratching. Rapid self-calibration ensures quick, reliable scrap valuation without damaging collectible jewelry.
0.001g High-Precision Analytical Milligram Jewelry Scale (50g x 0.001g)
Laboratory-grade analytical milligram balance measuring down to 0.001 grams, 0.005 carats, and 0.0001 troy ounces (ozt). Features a clear protective draft shield, tare function, and stainless steel calibration weights to catch fine weight fractions before smelting.
Multi-Cavity High-Density Graphite Ingot Mold for Bar Casting
Machined high-purity fine-grain graphite mold designed for pouring clean 1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, and 10 oz gold and silver bars. Delivers high thermal stability, rapid heat dissipation, and a smooth cavity finish for effortless ingot release.
Master Gold & Silver Chemical Acid Scratch Assay Kit with Touchstone & Loupe
Complete precious metal appraisal kit featuring 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K gold testing acids, silver testing solution, a genuine dense testing touchstone, and an illuminated triplet jeweler loupe to distinguish solid karat gold from heavy plating.
Kevlar-reinforced split-cowhide foundry gloves rated for temperatures up to 2000°F with extended gauntlet forearm protection, paired with a high-impact anti-glare face shield designed for safe scrap metal handling and pouring.
Compare essential equipment specifications for establishing an efficient scrap gold testing and melting workstation:
Equipment Type
Primary Purpose
Capacity / Accuracy
Key Advantage
Electric Smelting Furnace
Melting scrap jewelry, dental gold, and coins into bullion
1 kg to 3 kg crucible capacity
Clean flameless PID temperature control up to 2100°F
Electronic Karat Tester
Instant purity check on intact jewelry and high-end watches
10K to 24K gold and platinum ranges
Non-destructive testing with no acid stains or scratches
Analytical Milligram Scale
Precise scrap weight measurement before refining
50g capacity at 0.001g (0.0001 ozt)
Catches fine weight margins standard kitchen scales miss
Multi-Cavity Ingot Mold
Casting molten scrap metal into tradeable bullion bars
1 oz, 2 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz bar cavities
High-density graphite prevents sticking and oxidation
Acid Touchstone Assay Kit
Distinguishing solid karat alloy from heavy vermeil or plate
10K, 14K, 18K, 22K acid standards
Time-tested chemical confirmation for scrap buyers
Scrap Valuation Pro Tip: Melt Loss & Non-Destructive Testing
When melting scrap jewelry lots, expect an average 1% to 3% melt loss due to burn-off of non-precious solder joints, skin oils, and enamel. Before melting high-value items, verify karat content using a non-destructive electronic tester. Acid scratch testing can leave noticeable etch marks and may read false positive on heavy gold-filled or rolled gold plate items (such as 1/10 10K RGP or vermeil).
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are editorially independent.
