Gold Dollar Coins Worth Money

A few of the most valuable gold dollar coins are:

• 1849-C Liberty Coronet: $86,250-$690,000
• 1852 Liberty Coronet: $168-$312,000
• 1853 Liberty Coronet: $173-$264,000
• 1861-D Large Liberty Head: $40,011-$175,394
• 1855-D Liberty Indian: $20,444-$144,544
• 1855-C Liberty Indian: $3,400-$137,657
• 1865-D Large Liberty Head: $7,302-$112,184

Even though they are no longer minted in the US, gold dollar coins are worth serious value, either for their gold content or numismatic value. 

If you have inherited an old coin collection, there is a good chance that you may have some coins from the gold dollar series in your collection. 

Whether you are planning on keeping or selling your gold coins, learning more about them can tell you their worth.

If you own any gold coins and are thinking of selling or just trying to learn more about them, reach out to us at Coinfully where an expert can tell you everything you need to know about them, including their worth.

History of Dollar Gold Coins

One dollar gold coins were only minted from 1849 to 1889. 

During the fifty years that gold dollar coins were struck, they featured three different face designs. All three one dollar gold coins were designed by James B. Longacre and his assistant Peter Filatreu Cross.

The three different designs are:

• Type 1: Liberty wearing a coronet (1849-1854) 
• Type 2: Liberty in an Indian headdress (1854-1856)
• Type 3: Large Liberty Head (1856-1889)

The tail side of the coin stayed almost the same throughout their fifty years. All coins feature a wreath with the denomination, mint mark, and year minted struck into the back of the coins. The Type 1 gold dollar coins also had United States of America stuck above the wreaths. Starting with 1854 the wreath makes almost a circle on the tail side for the type 2 and 3 gold dollar coins. 

While gold dollars became popular with people collecting coins at the time, gold dollars seemed to have no practical use beyond making jewelry. In 1889 the United States Mint struck the last gold dollar coin.

Recent Gold Dollar Coins

Dollar coins are no longer made with gold. Though, some coins that look gold but are not have been referred to as “golden dollars.”

There are three dollar coins that are sometimes mistaken for being made of gold. The Sacagawea dollar, the Presidential dollar coin, and the American Innovation dollar are made of a manganese brass outer layer that gives them an almost gold look.

How To Tell The Value of a Gold Dollar Coin

The value of your gold dollar coins depends on whether the coin has any numismatic value or the gold in your dollars.

Numismatic Value in Gold Dollar Coins

Numismatic value in gold dollar coins is determined by rarity and condition.

Gold dollar coins can be rare for a number of reasons, including: mintage, errors, and demand. 

If a coin has a low mintage, there were fewer produced and it will be harder to find and therefore worth more. Error coins can happen several different ways during production, this means that your gold dollar is different from other ones of that year. And, how much people want a gold dollar coin adds to the coin’s value.

To make sure that your rare coin is worth the most amount of money, you want the coin to be in the best condition possible. Coins in uncirculated conditions are worth more than circulated or worn coins. Coins are graded on a scale of 1-70 with 70 being the highest grade a coin can get.

Unlike silver dollar coins gold dollars need to have serious numismatic value to be worth more than their gold content. Though, when you do find one, numismatic gold dollar coins have value well beyond their weight in gold, valuing well over $100,000 in some cases.

If you’re considering selling your collection, explore our guide to the most valuable gold coins.

The Price of Gold in Your Dollar Coins

In terms of melt values, all three of these regular issue gold coins contain $114.89 worth of gold in them.

All gold one dollar coins are made up of 90% gold and 10% copper. The amount of gold all three of the dollar designs are made of is 0.04837 Troy oz.

While this seems valuable, most gold dollar coins have a numismatic value that exceeds their melt value. If you want to find out how much your gold dollar coins are really worth, consider a free coin appraisal online with Coinfully.

Dollar Gold Coins Worth Money

Any gold dollar coin you may own is worth money, though there are some that will be worth significantly more than the others.

As I mentioned, some of the most valuable gold dollar coins are:

• 1849-C Liberty Coronet: $86,250-$690,000
• 1852 Liberty Coronet: $168-$312,000
• 1853 Liberty Coronet: $173-$264,000
• 1861-D Large Liberty Head: $40,011-$175,394
• 1855-D Liberty Indian: $20,444-$144,544
• 1855-C Liberty Indian: $3,400-$137,657
• 1865-D Large Liberty Head: $7,302-$112,184

These examples represent just a handful of the gold dollar coins that are highly sought after. Other rare gold dollar coins also command impressive prices, especially if they have unique minting errors or historical significance.

To find out if your gold dollar coins might fall into this category, you’ll need to have them professionally appraised. Whether you’re looking to hold onto your collection or want to sell your gold coins online, Coinfully can provide an accurate valuation.

Where to Get a Gold Dollar Coin Appraisal

Determining the value of gold dollar coins requires the expertise of a professional coin appraiser. With Coinfully, you have three convenient options: you can request an online appraisal by submitting clear photographs of your coins; you can visit a local appraiser for an in-person evaluation; or you can schedule an at-home appraisal, during which one of our experts will visit you to assess your collection.

All of these appraisal services are free, and we provide a zero-pressure guarantee, meaning you’ll never be pressured into selling.

If you decide to move forward with selling, you can easily sell American Gold Eagles and other coins through our secure, streamlined process. If you’re unsure about where to start, check out our guide to selling old coins for helpful insights on navigating the process.

What To Do With Valuable Dollar Gold Coins

Once you’ve received an appraisal, you will need to decide whether to keep or sell your coins.

If you decide to hold onto your gold dollar coins, you might consider having them professionally graded. Grading not only helps maintain the value of your coins but also provides documented proof of their condition. Proper storage is also essential, as gold coins should be kept in protective, airtight containers to prevent damage.

If you choose to sell your gold dollar coins, you’ll need to evaluate the various selling options. You could sell your coins at a local coin shop, which offers convenience but may provide a lower price than what you might receive elsewhere. Coin shows are another option, where you’ll have the opportunity to interact directly with collectors. However, attending these events requires both time and effort.

For a more straightforward and often more profitable experience, many collectors prefer to sell their coins online. Coinfully offers a secure, user-friendly platform where you can sell your coins with ease. Simply ship your gold dollar coins to us, and we’ll process your payment within one business day. Alternatively, you can choose to sell directly during one of our at-home appraisals.

If you’d like more guidance on maximizing your returns, be sure to review our expert advice on how to sell your rare coins.

Conclusion

Gold dollar coins serve as unique relics of American history. Their value is influenced by factors such as rarity, condition, and collector demand. Whether you want to better understand the worth of your collection or are considering selling your coins, the best starting point is a free coin appraisal online with Coinfully.

If you decide to sell, we make the process easy with a secure, transparent, and zero-pressure approach—allowing you to sell gold coins online with confidence.

Discover the true value of your collection today.