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Gold coins have been the foundation of human currency for centuries, long before modern banking and paper money. When economies faltered, gold remained the true store of value. Today, while gold is no longer used as circulating currency, it continues to hold immense worth, especially for those who own rare and certified examples.
At DEIGOLDANDSILVERCOINS, we specialize in buying certified gold coins from collectors, investors, and estates across the nation. We recognize that beyond the metal’s intrinsic value, certification adds another layer of importance, confirming the authenticity, condition, and rarity of each piece. This is why we pay top prices for coins certified by trusted grading authorities.
We buy a wide range of gold coins, including certified, many of which are examples highlighted below.
Also called grading, certification is the process that determines a gold coin’s true market value by evaluating its authenticity, rarity, and overall condition. When a coin is certified by respected authorities such as the (CAC), Certified Acceptance Corporation, Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) or the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), it gains added credibility and intrinsic value, making it a more informed purchase for collectors and investors alike. If you’re new to buying precious metals, you may encounter unfamiliar terms when exploring Certified Gold Coins. The following information will help you understand the terminology, significance, and value of certified coins so you can make a confident and informed buying decision.
ANACS, (American Numismatic Association Coin Service) was the first service to certify a coin in 1972. It was created by the ANA (American Numismatic Association) to solve counterfeiting and altered surfaces issues facing the coin hobby. Chartered by Congress, this century-old, educational association served numismatic collectors of coins, tokens, medals and paper money. In the early 1970s, ANACS began with a staff of two experts in Washington D.C., chosen for its proximity to Smithsonian’s Numismatic Collection and the Treasury Department, specifically the Secret Service.
Coin buyers and collectors generally agreed that the physical condition, or grade, of a coin was critical to its value. However, there was no universal grading system or standard that buyers could rely on. Before certification, rare coin buyers had only broad categories to place coins into based on their condition. These included:
The problem for buyers was that this basic system left plenty of room for inconsistency. Two coins might be labelled Fine, but one coin was obviously better quality, yet were labeled the same.
In 1949, renowned numismatist Dr. William Sheldon rated a coin’s condition from 1 (Poor) to 70 (Perfect Mint State) by suggesting a grade 70 coin was worth 70 times the value of a grade 1 coin.
The ANA (American Numismatic Association) adopted and codified the Sheldon Scale in its Official ANA Grading Standards. The scale provides a common vocabulary for collectors and professionals to assess a coin’s wear and imperfections, with higher numbers indicating better condition, culminating in a perfect, unworn coin. Coins were given a grade for each side of the coin, obverse or the front, then reverse (e.g., MS-65/63).
The goal was to protect buyers from overpaying for lower-grade coins that looked similar to higher-grade ones. For instance, a Mint State 65 coin often has more market value than a Mint State 64 coin, but the difference can be nearly invisible to the untrained eye.
Today, CAC, NGC and PCGS use these same standards to certify the condition of all coins they grade, including Certified Gold Coins. Each grade starts with a strike type, which includes the following:
Each certification level represents a different degree of wear, or perfection, in a coin’s surface, design features, and markings. The most common Certified Gold Coins buyers encounter include these designations for both bullion and proof options:
For buyers, understanding these grades and designations is essential for making informed decisions, ensuring you purchase coins that deliver both beauty and lasting value.
The Certified Acceptance Corporation, (or CAC) was formed in 2007. Industry icon and co-founder of PCGS and NGC, John Albanese identified a need to assure accuracy and consistency of coin certification with the option for “two-step verification.” In other words, CAC grades the existing coin grading services. Coins that met CAC’s high-quality standards received a green or gold sticker, signifying a premium coin within its assigned grade. The stickers quickly became a universally recognized mark of quality, leading to higher market premiums for “CAC-stickered” coins. This, not surprisingly, led to a full CAC grading service. After all, why merely sticker a previously certified coin when the same accurate standards can be applied within the context of a grading service?
Boasting a team of world-class graders, CAC is committed to applying an unparalleled level of expertise to every submitted coin. Moreover, John Albanese will be presiding over the finalization process to ensure accuracy and consistency throughout the entire grading process. Just like the CAC sticker, CAC Grading will significantly bolster confidence in numismatics.
The significance of CAC Grading resonates throughout the numismatic community. Many of today’s most avid collectors have committed entire sets of their graded coins to be certified by CAC Grading, including a collection of over 10,000 coins that eclipses the quality of the historic Eliasberg Collection.
The Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) was founded in 1987 as an independent, third-party coin grading service, unaffiliated with any private or sovereign mint. For buyers, this independence is important; it ensures that all grading is impartial and trustworthy. The NGC employs 30 full-time professional coin graders, each bound by contract to avoid buying or selling coins commercially. This guarantees their evaluations are unbiased. Today, the NGC is the world’s largest third-party coin grading company, having certified over 33 million coins. It is also the official grading service of the American Numismatic Association and the Professional Numismatists Guild, giving buyers additional confidence in every NGC-certified purchase.
The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) was established in 1985 by some of the nation’s top coin experts to address inconsistencies in coin verification and protect buyers from overpaying for misrepresented coins. Before certified coins, coin buyers relied on inconsistent definitions of what made a coin truly valuable, making purchasing decisions riskier.
PCGS’s use of the Sheldon Scale to grade coins, including PCGS Certified Gold Coins, ensures that buyers can trust the grade assigned. Each certified coin meets strict quality standards for its grade. PCGS also backs every certification with its Guarantee of Grade and Authenticity:
“The PCGS Guarantee of Grade and Authenticity is fundamental to our concept of third-party grading. The cash-back policy ensures the accuracy of the grade assigned to any PCGS coin as long as it remains in its tamper-evident holder. As the owner of a PCGS-graded coin, the customer will have the benefit of PCGS’s Guarantee of Grading Accuracy and Authenticity, and each PCGS Authorized Dealer will accept the grades assigned to the coins by PCGS.”
For buyers, this means peace of mind, your purchase is protected, and your gold coin’s grade is universally recognized in the market.
CAC, NGC and PCGS follow a similar, three-step process before awarding certification to any gold coin:
For anyone buying gold coins, understanding the role of CAC, NGC and PCGS, and the meticulous process they follow, helps you make confident, informed purchases backed by trusted, industry-leading certification.
Our buying expertise covers a wide range of certified gold coins. Below are some of the most sought-after types we regularly purchase.
American Gold Eagle Coins, one of the most sought-after options for gold investors and collectors, were authorized for production by the United States Congress through the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985. Under this legislation, the program included four weights (1 oz, ½ oz, ¼ oz, 1/10 oz) and two initial versions, bullion and proof. Like all U.S. legal tender, the coins carry a face value set by Congress, though their gold content gives them far greater intrinsic value in the marketplace.
The first American Gold Eagles were released in 1986. Buyers could choose from all four weights in the bullion version right away, while the proof coin debuted with the 1 oz size only. Collectors soon gained more options as the proof series expanded to ½ oz in 1987 and ¼ oz and 1/10 oz in 1988.
In 2006, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American Eagle series, the U.S. Mint introduced the Burnished American Gold Eagle, a special edition created specifically for collectors. While the proof coin already catered to numismatic buyers, the burnished version offered a unique minting process and satin-like finish, adding value for those seeking coins with exceptional display appeal.
For design, the U.S. Mint chose a true piece of American history. Augustus Saint-Gaudens, hand-picked by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905 to revitalize U.S. coinage, created what is widely regarded as the most beautiful design in American coin history.
The obverse features Lady Liberty in a full-length figure, her hair and robe flowing in the wind as she strides forward from the nation’s capital. In her right hand, she holds a torch representing light; in her left, an olive branch symbolizing peace. This iconic image first appeared on the $20 Gold Double Eagle (1907–1933), a coin considered the pinnacle of American numismatic art.
In its original form, the design included 46 stars around the rim, representing the states in the Union in 1907. Two more stars were added in 1912 for New Mexico and Arizona, and for the American Gold Eagle, two additional stars were included to represent Hawaii and Alaska, making a total of 50 stars.
The reverse, designed by Miley Busiek in 1986, shows a family of bald eagles, an image exclusive to the American Gold Eagle. A male eagle returns to the nest with branches in his talons, while a female eagle stands guard over their hatchlings. This powerful symbol of family and strength makes the coin not just a sound investment, but also a piece of patriotic artistry.
For buyers, Certified American Gold Eagles from NGC or PCGS offer the assurance of authenticity, precise grading, and lasting market value, making them a prime choice for both investment portfolios and display collections.
The American Gold Buffalo made its debut in 2006 as the first-ever 24-karat (.9999 fine) gold coin produced by the United States Mint. Featuring the historic Buffalo Nickel design by James Earle Fraser, it instantly became a favorite among both investors and collectors seeking pure gold with iconic American imagery. In 2016, the U.S. Mint marked the coin’s 10th anniversary, cementing its status as one of the most coveted bullion coins in the market.
Fraser was commissioned in 1911, under President William Howard Taft’s administration, to replace the Liberty Head nickel design by Charles E. Barber. A Minnesota native who grew up in the American Midwest, Fraser drew inspiration from his memories of life on the Great Plains. For the reverse of the coin, he based his design on Black Diamond, a famous bison that lived at New York City’s Central Park Zoo. This majestic image appears on both the original Buffalo Nickel and the modern American Gold Buffalo.
The obverse features the right-profile portrait of a Native American, a composite created from the features of three real-life leaders: Iron Tail (Sioux), Big Tree (Kiowa), and Two Moons (Cheyenne). Fraser revealed their identities in 1938, decades after the design’s release, adding to the historical intrigue and appeal for collectors.
On December 4, 2015, the Bullion and Collectible Coin Production Efficiency and Cost Saving Act was signed into law. Among other provisions affecting U.S. bullion coins, it established the American Gold Buffalo as the permanent .9999 fine gold bullion coin of the United States. For buyers, this means consistent annual production and reliable availability, making it a strong long-term addition to any investment or collection.
Certified American Gold Buffalos from NGC or PCGS give buyers the advantage of verified authenticity, accurate grading, and market-recognized value, ensuring every purchase is both a secure investment and a timeless piece of American coinage history.
During the early 1930s, as the United States struggled through the Great Depression, gold coinage in America underwent a dramatic and historic change. Shortly after taking office, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102, requiring “all persons” to deliver their gold coins, bullion, and certificates to the Federal Reserve by May 1, 1933. A year later, the Gold Reserve Act of 1934 was passed, ending the circulation and private ownership of U.S. gold coins.
For modern buyers, this legislation created an unintended treasure: any surviving U.S. gold coins struck before 1933 are now highly sought after. Many were melted down, making certified Pre-1933 gold coins increasingly rare and valuable. Owning one not only offers the security of certified authenticity and grading from NGC or PCGS, but also a tangible link to America’s monetary history. Among the most desirable options you’ll encounter are:
Liberty Gold Double Eagle: First issued in 1850, the Liberty Gold Double Eagle was the nation’s first $20 gold coin, designed by James B. Longacre. Minted until 1907, it features Liberty in a Greco-Roman profile on the obverse, surrounded by 13 stars, with the date below. The reverse carries the Great Seal of the United States, along with the coin’s face value, written as “twenty D” (1849–1866) or “twenty dollars” (1867–1907). Because most were collected and melted in 1933, certified examples in good condition command strong premiums, making them an appealing acquisition for collectors and investors alike.
Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle: Considered one of the most beautiful U.S. coins ever struck, the $20 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle debuted in 1907 after President Theodore Roosevelt enlisted sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens to revitalize America’s coinage. Lady Liberty strides forward confidently with a torch and olive branch in hand, the U.S. Capitol at her feet, and rays of sunlight behind her. The obverse originally featured 46 stars, with two more added in 1912 for Arizona and New Mexico. On the reverse, a majestic bald eagle soars above the rising sun. Struck until 1933, certified Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles offer buyers a blend of exquisite artistry, historical significance, and enduring market demand.
When you purchase a certified Pre-1933 gold coin, you’re not just buying precious metal, you’re acquiring a rare piece of American history with proven authenticity, guaranteed grade, and lasting collectible value.
When you choose a certified gold coin from DEIGOLDANDSILVERCOINS, you’ll enjoy a smooth and secure purchasing process with multiple convenient payment options. We proudly accept personal checks, with average processing completed within four to six business days. For the fastest order release to our shipping queue, you can opt for bank wire, which is processed immediately. We also accept e-checks and ACH transfers, which typically take four to six business days to process.
All orders over $499 qualify for free shipping and full insurance with adult signature required.. Every product is carefully packaged in discreet boxes to protect your privacy, and shipments are handled via Fed Ex or the US Postal Service. Expedited shipping is available for an additional fee through both carriers. In the rare event that a package is lost or stolen, we will work promptly to provide a replacement product (when possible) or issue a refund for the purchase price.
If you have any questions regarding our certified gold coins, our knowledgeable team is ready to help. You can reach us by phone or via email. Our website also provides real-time updates on gold and silver prices throughout the day so you can make informed buying decisions.
At DEIGOLDANDSILVERCOINS, customer satisfaction is our top priority. We invite you to read our customer testimonials to see how we consistently deliver quality, reliability, and exceptional service.
We value all feedback and use it to continually enhance your buying experience, ensuring that every transaction meets the highest standards of trust and professionalism.
DEIGoldAndSilverCoins offers over 50 years of trusted expertise in buying, selling, and appraising gold and silver coins in Las Vegas. Backed by certifications from CAC, NGC, PCGS, GIA, and AGL, we ensure every transaction is secure, professional, and rewarding.