A gram of gold is a gram of gold, so why does a one-ounce Maple Leaf earn a higher percentage of the market price than an ounce of 14K chains? Because of what the buyer has to do with it next.
Bullion is resold; jewellery is refined
Recognized coins and bars, such as the Royal Canadian Mint Maple Leaf, American Eagle, Krugerrand, Britannia and bars from refiners like PAMP, Valcambi or the RCM, have a guaranteed weight and purity stamped on them. A buyer can verify them quickly and sell them on to another investor at close to market. Little is lost in the process, so more of the value reaches you.
Jewellery, by contrast, has to be tested, sorted by karat, and sent to a refiner who charges to melt and assay it. The buyer also carries the risk that the gold price falls between buying your chain and being paid by the refiner. Those costs come out of the percentage you are offered.
What affects a coin's offer
- Recognition. Government-mint coins and well-known refiners earn the most. Unbranded or unusual bars are still gold, but need more verification.
- Condition. Bullion coins are priced on gold content, so light wear matters little. Deep scratches, bent edges or missing capsules can reduce resale value slightly.
- Collector value. Some older coins (sovereigns, pre-1933 US gold, certain low-mintage years) can be worth more to a collector than as gold. If we think a coin has numismatic value we will tell you, so you can decide where to sell it.
- Documentation. Assay cards for bars and original tubes or boxes for coins are nice to have but not required.
How we verify bullion
We check weight against the mint specification on a calibrated scale, measure dimensions where useful, and use an electronic tester or specific-gravity check for pieces we do not recognize. Sealed assay cards are left sealed. Everything happens on the counter in front of you.
Selling jewellery? Do this first
- Remove anything that is not gold: watch straps, stones you want to keep, non-gold clasps.
- Group by karat stamp so you can follow the pricing.
- Look up today's gold price per gram so you know the melt value before you walk in, and read how we price your gold.
Whether you have one coin or a bag of broken chains, the process is the same: tested and weighed in front of you, offer explained, cash on the spot if you accept. Call (905) 514-5141 or visit us in Cooksville.