Not every gold coin that walks through our door is an American Gold Eagle. South African Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, British Britannias, Austrian Philharmonics, and Mexican 50 Pesos show up at our counter all the time, often bought years ago as savings or left in an estate. These are the questions people ask us most about selling them at Apex Gold Silver Coin, 605 Walnut St SW in Winston-Salem. We do not offer appraisals. We look at the coins, confirm them, and make a straight buy offer.
Which foreign gold coins do you buy?
We buy the common gold bullion coins from around the world. The ones we see most:
- South African Krugerrand: 22 karat gold with a copper alloy, which gives it an orange-gold color. The 1 oz coin weighs a little more than an ounce so that it holds one full troy ounce of gold. Fractions come in 1/2, 1/4, and 1/10 oz.
- Canadian Gold Maple Leaf: .9999 fine gold, so it is softer and shows marks more easily. Sizes run from 1 oz down to small fractions.
- British Britannia: older coins are 22 karat; newer ones are .9999 fine.
- Austrian Philharmonic: .9999 fine gold, marked with the face value in euros.
- Mexican 50 Pesos (Centenario): a large coin holding about 1.2 troy ounces of gold, plus smaller Mexican gold coins such as the 2 Pesos and 2.5 Pesos.
- Chinese Gold Panda and other national bullion coins, as long as we can confirm them on the counter.
US gold bullion such as the American Buffalo comes here too. For Eagles specifically, see our guide to selling American Gold Eagle coins.
How do you price a Krugerrand or Maple Leaf?
Bullion coins are priced as bullion, not as scrap jewelry. The offer starts from the gold content of the coin and that day’s gold price, then adjusts for how the market is buying that coin that day. A Krugerrand and a Maple Leaf of the same size hold the same amount of gold, so they usually land close to each other. Our scrap gold rate of about 75% of melt is for jewelry and other gold that will be melted. Recognizable bullion coins usually pay well above that. Here is why: gold coins vs scrap gold.
Spot moves every day, so we do not quote a number without seeing the coins. Call ahead if you want a rough idea for that day, then bring the coins in for a firm offer.
Does it matter that a Krugerrand is 22 karat?
No. People sometimes think a 22 karat coin is worth less than a .9999 coin. A 1 oz Krugerrand is made heavier on purpose so it still contains one full troy ounce of gold. The extra metal is copper, which also makes the coin harder and more resistant to scratches.
What lowers the offer on a bullion coin?
Bullion coins are bought mainly for their gold, so normal handling marks do not matter much. Coins that are bent, holed, made into jewelry, or heavily damaged may be priced closer to straight gold value. Coins set into a pendant or bezel can still be sold; we price the coin and test any gold mount separately. Please do not clean the coins before you bring them in. Cleaning does not help and can leave scratches.
How do you know the coins are real?
Fake Krugerrands and other bullion coins do exist, which is why we check every coin. We look at weight, size, and design details, and we use non-destructive testing on the counter. You can watch the whole process. If a coin is not genuine, we will tell you plainly. Read more on how we test gold.
Do I need the original box, tube, or paperwork?
No. Paperwork, tubes, and mint packaging are nice to have but not required. Bring the coins loose, in flips, in a tube, or in an old envelope. If you have sealed mint packaging, bring it sealed and we can open it together.
I inherited a mix of gold coins. Can I bring them all at once?
Yes. Estate boxes often hold a mix of Krugerrands, Eagles, older US gold coins, silver, and jewelry. You do not need to sort anything first. We separate bullion coins from scrap on the counter while you watch. Our guide to selling inherited gold and coins walks through the whole process. If the box includes silver Maple Leafs, silver Krugerrands, or silver rounds, we buy those as silver bullion; see selling silver bars and rounds.
Do you buy rare or collectible foreign gold coins?
Bullion coins we buy for their gold. If you have an older or scarce coin you believe is worth more than its gold content, we only buy rare coins as rarities when they are already graded and sealed by a third-party grading service. Ungraded coins are priced on their gold and bullion value.
Quick answers
Do you buy Krugerrands? Yes. We buy 1 oz Krugerrands and the 1/2, 1/4, and 1/10 oz fractions. They are priced as gold bullion based on their gold content and that day’s gold price.
Do you buy Canadian Gold Maple Leafs? Yes. We buy gold Maple Leafs in all common sizes, along with Britannias, Philharmonics, Mexican 50 Pesos, Pandas, and other common gold bullion coins.
Do bullion coins pay the same as scrap gold? No. Our scrap gold rate of about 75% of melt is for jewelry and gold that will be melted. Recognizable bullion coins are priced as bullion and usually pay well above the scrap rate.
Is a 22 karat Krugerrand worth less than a .9999 Maple Leaf? Not for its gold. A 1 oz Krugerrand is made heavier so it holds one full troy ounce of gold, the same as a 1 oz Maple Leaf.
Do I need the original packaging or paperwork? No. Packaging and paperwork help but are not required. Bring the coins as they are and do not clean them.
Do you offer appraisals? No. We do not offer appraisals. We confirm the coins on the counter and make a straight buy offer that you can take or leave.
Do I need an appointment? No. Walk in Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm or Saturday 12pm to 3pm with the coins and a photo ID. Call (336) 505-9503 with questions.
Visit Apex Gold Silver Coin
Apex Gold Silver Coin
605 Walnut St SW, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: (336) 505-9503
Hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday 12pm to 3pm, closed Sunday
Jeff owns the shop and Tania runs it day to day. People bring gold coins to us from Greensboro, Lexington, Mount Airy, Reidsville, and around the Triad. That is our service area; the shop itself is the one on Walnut Street in Winston-Salem. More questions? See our FAQ on selling gold and silver.
Featured photo: 1975 1 oz South African Krugerrand by Slashme, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 (public domain dedication). Resized and converted to WebP.
