How Much Is a Gold Crown Worth & How to Sell It

A gold crown is a cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. While primarily restorative, these crowns, especially older ones, often contain valuable precious metals. This guide aims to demystify the process, from determining a crown’s worth to navigating its sale.

Factors Determining Value

The monetary value of a gold crown is influenced by three components: its gold purity, its weight, and the prevailing market price of gold. Gold purity, measured in karats, indicates the proportion of pure gold within the alloy. Pure gold is 24 karats (100% gold), while lower karat values signify a blend with other metals. Dental gold crowns are rarely 24 karats, as pure gold is too soft for chewing.

They are more commonly alloys ranging from 10-karat to 22-karat, with 16-karat (67% gold) or 18-karat (75% gold) being frequent compositions. These alloys often contain other precious metals such as palladium, platinum, or silver, which contribute to the crown’s strength and value. Even silver-colored alloys might contain gold and other precious metals, defying a visual assessment of content.

The crown’s actual gold content by weight is another significant factor. Value is based on the pure gold it contains after other materials are accounted for, not the crown’s total weight. An average full gold crown might weigh between two to three grams, but this gross weight includes non-gold materials like porcelain or cement. Buyers will deduct for these non-gold components. Precious metals are typically weighed in grams or troy ounces, with one troy ounce equivalent to approximately 31.1 grams.

The current market price of gold, also known as the spot price, plays a significant role in determining a crown’s worth. Gold prices fluctuate daily based on global economic conditions, supply, and demand. Buyers will base their offers on the prevailing market rate at the time of assessment.

Assessing Your Crown’s Value

Before seeking a professional appraisal, you can take steps to estimate your gold crown’s potential value. Begin by gently cleaning the crown to remove any debris or biological material. Use mild soap and water with a soft brush to clean the surface. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as these could damage the crown or obscure markings that indicate its purity.

Once clean, accurately weighing the crown is the next step. A jeweler’s scale provides the most precise measurement, but a sensitive digital kitchen scale can offer a reasonable estimate. Record the weight in grams, as this is the standard unit used in precious metal transactions. This initial weight is the gross weight, which includes any non-gold materials still attached, such as porcelain or remnants of tooth structure. The true net gold weight, which buyers will pay for, will be lower after these non-gold elements are separated and refining costs are considered.

Inspect the crown for small stamps or hallmarks, often found on the inside or along the edges. These markings typically indicate the gold’s purity, such as “16K,” “20K,” or “670” (for 16-karat) or “833” (for 20-karat). While not all dental crowns have clearly visible hallmarks, their presence can provide a quick indication of the gold content. The absence of a mark does not mean the crown lacks gold, but it will necessitate more rigorous testing by a buyer.

After obtaining the weight and purity indications, use online gold calculators to get a rough estimate of the crown’s melt value. These tools require you to input the crown’s weight, estimated karat purity, and the current spot price of gold. The calculator provides a theoretical value based on these inputs. Understand that this figure is an estimate of the intrinsic metal value and not necessarily the price a buyer will offer, as buyers factor in refining costs and their own profit margins.

Selling Your Gold Crown

Once you have an understanding of your gold crown’s estimated value, the next step involves finding a suitable buyer. Specialized dental refiners and precious metal buyers are often the most knowledgeable and may offer the most competitive prices. These entities are equipped to accurately assess and refine dental scrap, ensuring you receive a price based on the true metal content.

Alternatively, local pawn shops or general jewelers might offer to purchase your gold crown. While convenient, these buyers typically do not specialize in dental gold and may offer lower prices. Online gold buyers represent another option, usually involving mailing in your item for an assessment and subsequent offer. When considering online buyers, thoroughly research their reputation and ensure transparent processes for evaluation and payment.

Obtaining multiple quotes is a prudent step to ensure you receive a fair price for your gold crown. Different buyers may have varying payout percentages and fee structures. Buyers will typically make deductions from the calculated melt value for non-gold materials, such as porcelain or residual cement, that must be removed. Additionally, buyers often charge refining fees or assaying costs, which cover the expense of separating and purifying the gold. Payouts can range from 40% to 70% or more of the actual gold value, depending on the buyer and the crown’s composition.

Reputable buyers will clearly outline their assessment process, including how they determine purity, weight, and any fees applied. They should provide a detailed breakdown of their offer, allowing you to understand the calculation. Payment is typically made via check, bank transfer, or sometimes cash, depending on the buyer and transaction size. Keep detailed records of your sale, including the buyer’s information, the weight and purity declared, the price received, and the date of sale.

Any profit realized from selling a gold crown may be subject to capital gains tax. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) classifies physical gold as a “collectible.” If you held the crown for more than one year, any profit would be considered a long-term capital gain on a collectible, subject to a maximum federal tax rate of 28%. If held for one year or less, the profit would be taxed as ordinary income at your regular tax bracket rate. Your cost basis for a dental crown is generally considered to be zero unless you incurred a specific cost to acquire it beyond the dental procedure itself.