Just under an ounce of gold in a coin that has not been struck since 1933. Melt value is the least interesting number attached to one of these, and acting on it alone is how people lose money.
Gold spot
$4,133.30 a troy ounce.
Spot price as of 10 November 2026.
Each coin is 33.436 g at 900 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 $20 Double Eagle is worth in gold
One $20 Double Eagle contains 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold, from a coin
weighing 33.436 grams at 900 parts per thousand. At the
current benchmark that metal is worth
$3,998.
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
Face value
Pure gold
Melt value
1
$20.00
0.9675 ozt
$3,998
2
$40.00
1.9350 ozt
$7,997
5
$100.00
4.8375 ozt
$19,994
10
$200.00
9.6749 ozt
$39,989
20
$400.00
19.35 ozt
$79,978
What the coin is
The $20 Double Eagle weighs 33.436 grams at 90% gold, giving 0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold. It was the largest denomination the United States struck for circulation, produced from 1850 until 1933, and it was genuinely used as money rather than made for collectors.
There are two designs. The Liberty Head, struck from 1850 to 1907, and the Saint-Gaudens, struck from 1907 to 1933 and widely considered the finest piece of American coin design ever produced. Augustus Saint-Gaudens produced it at Theodore Roosevelt’s direct request, and the first 1907 coins were struck in extremely high relief that proved impractical for production.
The gold content sits just under a full troy ounce, which makes these awkward to compare against modern bullion at a glance. A Double Eagle holds about 3.25% less gold than a one ounce Gold Eagle, so the two are close but never equal.
Is it worth more than its metal?
Essentially every Double Eagle is worth more than its gold. Even the most common dates in worn condition carry a meaningful premium because they are pre-1933 US gold, a finite and heavily collected category, and there is constant demand from buyers who want historic gold rather than modern bullion.
Beyond that baseline the range is enormous. Carson City coins, early Liberty Head dates, the 1907 High Relief and the ultra high relief patterns are worth many multiples of melt. Condition drives price hard: a certified uncirculated common date can be worth several times a worn one containing identical gold.
The 1933 Double Eagle is the famous one. Almost none were legally released before the gold recall, and ownership is illegal with a single monetised exception, which sold at auction in 2021 for $18.9 million. Any coin offered as a 1933 is either a different date, a counterfeit, or a federal problem.
Selling it
Never sell a pre-1933 US gold coin as scrap. This is the strongest version of the warning that applies to every coin on this site: a refiner buys metal, will pay metal prices, and will destroy something that a collector market values well above its gold content.
Take it to a dealer who handles US gold, or have it graded and certified first if it looks uncirculated. The cost of grading is trivial against the difference it can make on a coin in this category, and a certified coin sells to a much wider pool of buyers.
0.9675 troy ounces of pure gold, from a coin weighing 33.436 grams at 90% fineness. That is slightly under a full troy ounce, about 3.25% less than a one ounce American Gold Eagle.
Is a Double Eagle worth more than its gold?+
Almost always, and often by a wide margin. Pre-1933 US gold is a finite, heavily collected category, so even common worn dates carry a premium, and rare dates or high grades are worth many multiples of melt.
Why is the 1933 Double Eagle illegal to own?+
The issue was struck but never legally released before the 1933 gold recall, so surviving examples are considered government property. One coin was monetised and made legal to own, and it sold for $18.9 million in 2021.
What is a Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle?+
The design struck from 1907 to 1933, produced by Augustus Saint-Gaudens at Theodore Roosevelt’s request and widely regarded as the finest US coin design. The 1907 High Relief version is particularly sought after.
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).
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