Donaldson R F Precious Metal Melt Value Calculator
What the raw metal in an item is worth, from its weight, purity and a price you supply.
How this is worked out
Melt value is simply the fine (pure) metal weight — the item's total weight multiplied by its purity — times a price per unit weight. This tool deliberately asks you to type in a price rather than fetching one automatically: spot prices move constantly and a live feed would need you to trust a specific data source and timestamp, so entering today's price yourself (from wherever you'd trust, such as a bullion dealer's own site) keeps the number fully under your control.
Melt value is not the same as resale value. A dealer's buy-back price is usually below melt value (their margin), while a coin or piece of jewellery with numismatic, antique or brand value can be worth considerably more than its melt value.
Frequently asked questions
What purity should I use for a coin?
It depends on the coin — many bullion coins (like the American Gold Eagle) aren't pure 24k but have a stated fineness (91.67% / 22k for that one); check the coin's own specification rather than assuming 24k/100%.
Why troy ounce for the price?
It's the near-universal unit precious metal spot prices are quoted in; if your price is per gram or per kilogram instead, use this site's own Troy Ounce, Pennyweight & Grain Converter first to convert it.
Related tools: Gold Purity & Alloy Calculator, Troy Ounce, Pennyweight & Grain Converter, Metal Price Ratios.
Source / Last verified: melt value is standard arithmetic (fine weight × price); this tool never fetches, stores or assumes a live metal price — read/checked 1 October 2026. Weight units as sourced on this site's Troy Ounce, Pennyweight & Grain Converter (NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C).