Home › Guides › Nugget price

How much is a gold nugget worth?

A natural gold nugget almost always costs more than its weight in gold. Here is what the price depends on and how to work out a reference value.

The starting point: the gold it contains

The minimum value of a nugget is that of the pure gold inside it. To work it out you need three figures:

• The weight, in grams, with decimals.
• The purity. Natural nuggets are not 24-carat gold: they contain some silver and other metals. Those from Alaska and Australia are usually between 20 and 23 carats, that is, between 83% and 96% gold.
• The gold price on the day, published per gram or per ounce.

The collector premium

On top of the metal value, natural nuggets carry a premium, sometimes a very high one. That is because:

• They are scarce. Only a small share of the gold that is mined appears as nuggets, and most of it ends up melted down.
• They are unique. No two are alike, and they cannot be manufactured.
• They have an origin. Nuggets from historic areas such as the Klondike, Alaska, Victoria’s Golden Triangle or Lapland are highly sought after by collectors.

What makes a nugget worth more

• Size: the price per gram rises with weight. A 5 g nugget is usually worth considerably more than five 1 g nuggets.
• Shape: striking shapes, with relief or a figurative look, fetch more.
• Cleanliness and shine: an even colour without stains increases the value.
• Quartz: a nugget with embedded quartz can be very decorative, although the quartz does not count as gold.
• Documentation: exact weight, origin and detailed photos.

And at auction?

On Catawiki the price is set by the bidders. Many of our nuggets start with low bids, and the final price depends on how much interest each piece attracts. It is a good way to buy at market price and to get pieces for less than they would cost in a shop.

On our website you can see all the nuggets at auction this week, with their weight, origin and current bid.