Is a Gold Crown Worth Anything? How to Sell Yours
Considering selling a gold crown? Understand its potential value and the straightforward process to monetize your dental gold.
A gold crown holds monetary value due to its precious metal content. Though originally for dental restoration, the gold retains value tied to the fluctuating global market. Its worth depends on purity, weight, and the prevailing market price. Understanding these elements is important for sellers.
Understanding Gold Crown Value
The value of a gold crown is directly linked to its gold purity and weight. Gold crowns are alloys, a mix of gold and other metals, as pure 24-karat gold is too soft for dental use. Common purities for dental gold range from 10-karat (40% gold) to 22-karat (92% gold), with yellow-colored crowns often around 16-karat (67% gold) or 18-karat (75% gold). You might find purity markings, such as “16K” or “750” (for 18K), directly on the crown, indicating its gold percentage.
Weighing your gold crown is the next step in estimating its value. An average full gold crown typically weighs between two to three grams. A precise scale, like a kitchen or jewelry scale, can help determine the gross weight. Only the pure gold content contributes to its monetary worth.
The current market price of gold, known as the spot price, heavily influences a crown’s value. This price fluctuates constantly based on global supply and demand, often quoted per troy ounce or gram. As of August 20, 2025, the live gold spot price is approximately $3,360.16 per troy ounce or $108.03 per gram. You can find real-time gold prices on financial news websites and precious metal dealer sites.
To estimate the raw gold value, you would multiply the crown’s weight by its gold purity percentage, and then by the current per-gram gold spot price. For example, a 3-gram, 16-karat crown (67% gold) would contain approximately 2.01 grams of pure gold. At a spot price of $108.03 per gram, the raw gold value would be around $217.14. This calculation provides an initial benchmark for selling.
Preparing Your Gold Crown
Before seeking an appraisal or sale, preparing your gold crown can streamline the evaluation process. A simple cleaning can remove any debris and allow buyers to inspect the material more clearly. You can gently clean the crown using warm water and a mild soap, carefully scrubbing with a soft brush. This helps present the item in its best condition.
Carefully remove any non-gold materials, such as tooth fragments or porcelain. Buyers are interested only in the precious metal content; non-gold material does not contribute to value. These non-gold components can also complicate the accurate weighing and appraisal of the gold. Exercise caution to avoid damaging the gold itself during this separation.
The Selling Process
After understanding your gold crown’s value and preparing it, explore selling options. Various types of buyers specialize in precious metals, including precious metal refineries, reputable jewelers, and specialized gold buyers. Each buyer type may offer different terms, so researching several options is advisable.
Obtaining quotes from multiple buyers is important. This allows you to compare offers and ensure you receive a competitive price for your gold crown. Buyers verify purity and weight, so having your own estimates beforehand is beneficial. They may also inquire about your identification as part of their compliance procedures.
Buyers will offer less than the raw melt value of the gold. This difference, known as the bid-ask spread, covers their operational costs, refining expenses, and profit margins. When discussing an offer, ask for the per-gram price they are offering for the specific karat of your gold. For instance, a dealer might offer 70-80% of the spot price for scrap gold, depending on their business model and current market conditions.
The transaction process involves verifying identity, often requiring a government-issued ID. Payment methods can vary, but common options include checks or direct bank transfers. For cash transactions exceeding $10,000, dealers are legally required to report the transaction to the IRS by filing Form 8300. While a single gold crown is unlikely to reach this threshold, sellers are responsible for reporting any capital gains from the sale of personal property on their tax returns.