Gold and silver coins deserve a different approach from ordinary scrap jewelry. A coin can have value because of its metal content, its date, its mintmark, its rarity, or all of the above. At Gold Buyers Florida, we inspect and verify coins in front of you so you understand both what you have and how we arrive at an offer.
First, We Identify What the Coin Is
Before any instrument comes out, we inspect the coin's denomination, date, mintmark, diameter, design, and visible condition. An American Gold Eagle, a Gold Buffalo, a Krugerrand, a Morgan dollar, and an American Silver Eagle all have different metal specifications. Key-date or proof coins may deserve a numismatic evaluation rather than a simple melt calculation.
Then We Weigh It Correctly
Precise weight is one important authenticity check. Gold and silver bullion coins are commonly specified in troy ounces, while a precision scale may show the reading in grams. One troy ounce is 31.1035 grams. We compare the actual weight against the mint standard, but weight alone is never enough to prove a coin is genuine.
- American Gold Buffalo: 1 troy ounce of .9999 fine gold
- American Gold Eagle: 1 troy ounce of gold content in a 22K alloy
- American Silver Eagle: 1 troy ounce of .999 fine silver
- Morgan and Peace dollars: 90% silver coins with specific historic weight standards
- Pre-1965 U.S. dimes, quarters, and halves: 90% silver, typically valued by face value and silver content
When Acid Testing Helps—and When It Does Not
A scratch-and-acid test can be useful for unmarked gold jewelry and some non-numismatic pieces. It creates a tiny streak on a separate touchstone, not a large mark on the item itself, and compares how the streak reacts to calibrated acid. For collectible coins, proofs, or coins with delicate surfaces, we avoid unnecessary testing that could affect condition or resale value.
We do not treat every item the same. A potentially collectible coin is inspected and scanned first; we do not use an acid test simply because it is fast.
How Sigma Metalytics Adds a Non-Destructive Check
Our Sigma Metalytics Precious Metal Verifier measures an item's electrical conductivity against known precious-metal ranges. It helps distinguish .999 gold or silver, 90% coin silver, and common gold alloys from plated or base-metal items. It is especially valuable because a coin can match the expected weight while still be counterfeit or plated.
Why Counterfeit Detection Matters
Tungsten-core and plated counterfeit bullion can be made to resemble genuine pieces in size and weight. The Sigma scanner provides a different kind of verification by reading metal properties beyond appearance. We pair that reading with the coin's weight, dimensions, and visual details for a more reliable evaluation.
How the August Price Fits In
Once we know a coin's authenticity and metal content, we can apply the current market price. For context, our live feed showed gold at $4,586.10 and silver at $68.58 per troy ounce at 10:09 PM ET on August 20, 2026. The offer on any future visit uses the live value at that time, plus any collector premium when it applies.
Bring in your gold or silver coins for a free, careful appraisal. We will identify, weigh, and verify them in front of you before you decide whether to sell.