Sovereigns, Krugerrands, Britannias
Selling gold coins in Ireland
Gold coins are priced on their fine gold content, not their gross weight. A full sovereign holds 7.32 grams of pure gold, a Krugerrand, Britannia or Maple Leaf holds one troy ounce (31.10 grams). Today we pay €732.95$832.26£626.40 for a common-date sovereign and €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 for a one-ounce coin, live as of 30 Sept, 23:22 Dublin time. Scarce dates, proofs and branch mint marks can be worth more to a collector, and we tell you when that applies rather than melting them.
What the common coins contain, and what we pay today
| Coin | Gross weight | Fineness | Fine gold | We pay today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full sovereign (1817 on) | 7.99 g | 916.7 (22ct) | 7.32 g | €732.95$832.26£626.40 |
| Half sovereign | 3.99 g | 916.7 (22ct) | 3.66 g | €366.48$416.14£313.20 |
| Krugerrand, 1 oz | 33.93 g | 916.7 (22ct) | 31.10 g | €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 |
| Britannia, 1 oz, 2013 on | 31.10 g | 999.9 (24ct) | 31.10 g | €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 |
| Britannia, 1 oz, 1987 to 2012 | 34.05 g | 916.7 (22ct) | 31.10 g | €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 |
| Maple Leaf, 1 oz | 31.10 g | 999.9 (24ct) | 31.10 g | €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 |
| American Eagle, 1 oz | 33.93 g | 916.7 (22ct) | 31.10 g | €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 |
| Vienna Philharmonic, 1 oz | 31.10 g | 999.9 (24ct) | 31.10 g | €3,114.04$3,535.99£2,661.35 |
Shown in USD for reference at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB reference rate, 30 Sep 2026, 15:00). We pay in euro by bank transfer.
Shown in GBP for reference at €1 = £0.8546 (ECB reference rate, 30 Sep 2026, 15:00). We pay in euro by bank transfer.
The figures are fine gold content times our bullion rate of €100.13$113.70£85.57 per gram, the same rate we pay for 24ct, rounded down to the cent. Fractional coins (half and quarter ounce, tenth ounce) are priced the same way on their stated fine weight. Worn or damaged coins are weighed and paid on actual content.
| Grade | Hallmark | We pay per gram |
|---|---|---|
| Gold bullion / sovereigns | 999 | €100.13$113.70£85.57 |
| 24ct gold | 999 | €100.13$113.70£85.57 |
| 22ct gold | 916 | €91.81$104.25£78.46 |
Shown in USD for reference at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB reference rate, 30 Sep 2026, 15:00). We pay in euro by bank transfer.
Shown in GBP for reference at €1 = £0.8546 (ECB reference rate, 30 Sep 2026, 15:00). We pay in euro by bank transfer.
When a coin is worth more than its gold
Most sovereigns and all modern bullion coins trade for their metal plus a small dealer premium, and selling them for melt value is fair. Some coins should not be melted:
- Sovereigns with branch mint marks (a small letter above the date on the reverse: S for Sydney, M for Melbourne, P for Perth, C for Ottawa, I for Bombay, SA for Pretoria), Victorian shield-back sovereigns, and any pre-1837 sovereign.
- Proofs and sets in original boxes with certificates, including Central Bank of Ireland gold commemoratives.
- Low-mintage dates and coins in exceptional condition. A worn common-date sovereign is gold; an uncirculated scarce one is a collectable.
- Pre-1933 United States gold (Double Eagles, Eagles, Half Eagles) and many European trade coins (French Napoleons, Swiss Vreneli, Dutch guilders) have dealer markets above melt.
We check dates and marks on every coin before pricing. If a coin has collector value beyond its gold, we say so and suggest an auction house or coin dealer, because paying melt for it would be the wrong price.
How to sell coins to us
- Message us on WhatsApp with a photo of each coin (both sides) and the count. We confirm what you have and give you the figure.
- Coins and bars do not go in the postal pack: they are excluded from it, and a single ounce coin is over the 2,000 euro postal insurance limit. We agree the safest route, in person in Dublin or by insured collection.
- Each coin is checked, weighed and XRF tested on camera. The price is fixed when you accept, and paid by bank transfer, with ID recorded as the law requires.
Found a sovereign in a box of jewellery you were going to send by post? Mention it in the pack request and we confirm how to send it before anything travels. Prefer to buy instead? Our bullion page covers that side.
Questions people ask
How much is a gold sovereign worth in Ireland?
A full sovereign contains 7.32 grams of fine gold, so its metal value is 7.32 times the live price of a gram of pure gold. Our figure for a sovereign today is in the table on this page. Common dates trade at or near that value; scarce dates, branch mint marks and proofs can carry a collector premium on top.
Do you pay on the coin's gross weight or its gold content?
On the fine gold content, at our bullion rate, which is the same as our 24ct rate. A Krugerrand weighs 33.93 grams but contains exactly one troy ounce, 31.10 grams, of gold; the balance is copper. Paying on gross weight at a 22ct rate reaches nearly the same figure, but paying on fine content is the clearer way to compare buyers.
Can I post gold coins?
Not in the standard postal pack: bullion coins and bars are excluded from it, and most single ounce coins exceed the 2,000 euro postal insurance limit anyway. Message us on WhatsApp with what you have and we agree the safest way, in person or by insured collection.
Is there VAT on gold coins in Ireland?
Investment gold coins that meet the EU definition (legal tender, at least 900 fine, minted after 1800, normally sold at a modest premium to metal value) are exempt from VAT when bought. When you sell, VAT is not the issue; Capital Gains Tax may be, if your gain exceeds the annual exemption. See our tax page; this is general information, not tax advice.
What about Irish gold coins?
Ireland never circulated gold coinage, so Irish gold coins are modern commemoratives from the Central Bank, usually proofs in boxes with certificates. Their metal value is set by their fine content like any other coin; complete sets in original packaging can be worth more to collectors, and we say so rather than melting them.
Ready to sell?
Check the net price per gram for your grade first, then request a free insured postal pack. Every item is tested on camera, the offer is itemised, and anything you decline comes back free.