Navigating the Sale of Mid-Grade Double Eagles: My Personal Journey

Selling a couple of NGC-graded double eagles in upper AU to low MS grades recently became a real education for me. With gold prices climbing but my coins not being top-tier rarities, I wrestled with how to get fair value without them becoming melt fodder. Here’s what my journey taught me about navigating this tricky spot.

The Dealer Dilemma and Melting Concerns

Local coin and gold dealers surprised me by treating my slabbed pieces like generic bullion, offering about 5% under spot. One casually mentioned they’d likely melt them, which felt criminal for certified coins. I realized that while NGC holders guarantee authenticity (a huge plus for collectors), they don’t add much premium for common-date coins in mid-grades. That made me think twice about quick sales that ignore the numismatic angle.

Auction Houses: Hope vs. Reality

I got excited about auction houses like Heritage and Stacks, imagining bidding wars driving up prices. Then I crunched the numbers on fees and woke up fast:

• Seller commissions are all over the map—anywhere from 0% to 20%
• Buyers bake those fees into their bids, so a $3,600 hammer price with 20% buyer fee might leave me just $3,000 after deductions
• Meanwhile, that dealer offering 95% of spot ($3,170 when gold’s at $3,337) suddenly looked better

Now I never consider auctions without dissecting the fee structure first.

Direct Sales and Coin Shows: Personal Connections

Skipping middlemen felt right. Coin shows worked beautifully before—I’ve sold gold there with zero drama. Listing in collector forums can also connect you with folks willing to pay a touch more for certified pieces. But with gold this high, online deals feel risky for mid-grade double eagles. Truth is, common dates in AU or low MS act like bullion now. Pricing just above melt usually finds buyers without headaches.

Market Truths and Slab Value

Here’s the cold reality: common-date Liberty or Saint-Gaudens twenties in MS63 or below carry barely any premium over gold. With gold over $3,400 an ounce, dealers operate on razor-thin margins and will hedge against drops. But slabs aren’t worthless—they guarantee weight and purity, saving coins from melt piles. My lesson? Prioritize authenticity and speed over chasing fantasy premiums.

What Worked for Me

If you’re in this spot, try what I learned:

• Start with coin shows or local shops, but push back hard on lowball offers
• Sell directly online where collectors gather—you might squeeze out a little extra
• Pick auction houses with low seller fees and big audiences, like Heritage for larger lots
• Always run the math on fees—sometimes that “disappointing” dealer offer beats an auction result
• Stop worrying about melting; slabbed coins usually resell intact

For me, quick direct sales freed up cash without regrets. Here’s to your own selling adventures—may they be profitable and painless!