Quick answer
Royal Mint coin valuation is not a free service for most people. In October 2026 the Royal Mint gives an estimated auction valuation only for coins it might sell in its own auctions (pre-decimal British coins and high-purity gold, silver and platinum), and it buys back bullion only: gold at 96% of the live price, silver and platinum at 90%.
Key facts
| Question | What the Royal Mint says (checked 8 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Free valuation of any coin? | No such service is listed |
| Authentication and valuation service | Terms cover pre-decimal British coins made by the Royal Mint only, with a fee per coin paid in advance |
| Fee for that service | No fee could be found on the live site on the day of checking |
| Auction consignment | Estimated auction valuation given after you submit a form; selling fees described as "often 1%" |
| Coins accepted for auction | Historical British coins, gold of 22 carat or higher, 999 fine silver, 999 fine platinum |
| Coins not accepted for auction | Modern circulating coins (50p, £1, £2, £5), silver proof coins, bars, medals, jewellery, foreign coins |
| Bullion buy-back, gold | 96% of the live gold price (LBMA AM or PM fix) |
| Bullion buy-back, silver and platinum | 90% of the live price |
| Old coins and medals | "Does not currently purchase old coins or medals" |
Does the Royal Mint value coins?
Only in a narrow sense. The Royal Mint's Collector Services page currently lists three things: coin auctions, a "Sell With Us" consignment service, and a Historic Coin Finder Service for people who want to buy a particular coin. It does not list a general valuation desk for coins you already own.
The Royal Mint also still publishes terms and conditions for "authentication and valuation services". Those terms say the service is "only available for pre-decimal British coins, made by The Royal Mint, and not for any other coins or products". A fee is charged for each coin and is payable in advance.
That rules out most of what people actually want valued. Decimal 50p, £1 and £2 coins, modern commemoratives in their packs, foreign coins and medals all fall outside those terms.
How much does Royal Mint authentication cost?
The terms say fees are "set out on The Royal Mint website" and can change at the Mint's discretion. On 8 October 2026 the page that used to carry the service returned a "not found" error, and no current fee could be found anywhere on the site. This post therefore gives no figure. If you want the service, contact Collector Services and ask for the current fee in writing before you post anything.
Is a Royal Mint valuation an offer to buy?
No. The terms state that a valuation "is not, nor is it intended to be, a statement of fact", and that the service does not represent any offer by the Royal Mint to purchase the coin. The same terms say plainly: "The Royal Mint does not buy coins from customers as part of this service."
Does the Royal Mint buy back coins?
It buys bullion, not collectables. The Royal Mint's own help page answers the question directly: it will buy gold, silver or platinum bullion coins and bars at rates based on live metal prices, including pieces made by other mints, but "The Royal Mint does not currently purchase old coins or medals".
For old coins, the same page suggests contacting a reputable coin dealer or a local BNTA member (the trade body for UK coin dealers).
Does the Royal Mint buy gold sovereigns?
Yes. The buy-back page says: "Sovereign coins are 22 carat gold. We will buy your Sovereigns back based on the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) price when we receive your product." The price is tied to gold content, so a common-date bullion sovereign and a scarce one are treated the same way.
That matters if your sovereign has collector value. Check the date and type against the sovereign values guide before accepting a metal-only price, and use the sovereign value calculator with the live spot prices to see what the gold alone is worth today.
What the Royal Mint pays for bullion
| Metal | Minimum purity accepted | Price basis published by the Royal Mint |
|---|---|---|
| Gold coins and bars | 22 carat and above | 96% of the live gold price (LBMA AM or PM fix) |
| Silver coins and bars | 999 fine and above | 90% of the live silver price (LBMA midday fix) |
| Platinum coins and bars | 999 fine and above | 90% of the live platinum price (LBMA AM or PM fix) |
The page names South African Krugerrands, Austrian Philharmonics and Canadian Maple Leafs as examples of other mints' coins it will buy. It does not offer quotes for cutlery, jewellery or medals.
The process is by quotation. You complete a form, the team aims to send a quote within 24 hours, you post the items if you accept, and the purity is checked on arrival. Funds go to a Royal Mint Invest account within two working days of approval, and the Mint says the whole process can take as little as five working days from arrival. At the time of checking, the page carried a notice that replies may be slower than usual because of a high volume of enquiries.
Does the Royal Mint buy back commemorative coins?
Not at issue price, and for most commemoratives not at all. Nothing on the Royal Mint pages read for this post offers to repurchase a commemorative coin for what you paid.
The auction consignment page lists "modern circulating coins (e.g. current 50p, £1, £2, £5 coins)" and "silver proof coins" among the items it does not accept. The bullion buy-back prices coins on "the precious metal content of the product", and says it will only quote for bullion coins and bars.
So a base-metal Brilliant Uncirculated pack or a silver proof has no route back to the Mint. A 22 carat gold coin may be worth a quote, but expect a metal-based price. The wider question of whether these coins hold their value is covered in are UK commemorative coins a good investment.
Is there a Royal Mint coin valuation calculator?
No coin valuation calculator appears on the Royal Mint pages read for this post. The Collector Services page, the help page on selling coins and the buy-back page offer forms and quotations rather than an instant price for a named coin.
What the Royal Mint does publish is the live metal price and its buy-back percentages, which let you work out a bullion figure yourself. For collector coins you need sold prices from the secondary market, which is a different kind of data.
Where to get coins valued for free in the UK
Start with sold prices, because they show what buyers paid rather than what sellers hope for. The MyCoinage coin value checker guide explains the method, and every coin page in the catalogue shows sold prices by grade where sales have been tracked.
If you do not know what the coin is, the UK coin identifier walks through portrait, denomination, year, metal and diameter to find the right catalogue entry. For pre-decimal coins, are old coins worth anything sets realistic expectations before you spend money on postage.
For coins that look valuable, two free or low-cost routes remain:
- Auction houses. An auction house will normally give a sale estimate when you offer coins for consignment, as the Royal Mint's own auction team does. Compare terms in the auction house comparison.
- BNTA dealers. The Royal Mint itself points sellers of old coins to BNTA members. A dealer's offer is a buying price, so it will sit below retail.
The guide to where to sell rare coins in the UK compares these routes in more detail.
What to do next
Sort your coins into three piles: bullion (sovereigns, Britannias and other high-purity gold, silver or platinum), pre-decimal British coins, and modern decimal or commemorative coins. Only the first pile is something the Royal Mint will buy outright, and only the first two fit its auctions.
For everything else, look up sold prices first. If you want to keep a running total as prices move, add the coins to your collection with the physical coin tracker on MyCoinage, which is free to start.
FAQ
Does the Royal Mint value coins for free?
No free general valuation service is listed on the Royal Mint website. Its consignment team gives an estimated auction valuation for coins it may sell at auction, and its published terms describe a paid authentication and valuation service limited to pre-decimal British coins made by the Royal Mint.
Does the Royal Mint buy back commemorative coins?
Not at issue price. The Royal Mint says it does not currently purchase old coins or medals, and its auction service does not accept modern circulating coins or silver proof coins. Its buy-back covers bullion, priced on precious metal content at a percentage of the live metal price.
How much does Royal Mint authentication cost?
The Royal Mint's terms say a fee applies to each coin and is payable in advance, with the amount set out on its website. No current fee could be found on the site on 8 October 2026, so ask Collector Services for the price before sending a coin.
Does the Royal Mint buy gold sovereigns?
Yes. The Royal Mint says sovereigns are 22 carat gold and that it will buy them back based on the LBMA price when it receives them. Its published rate for gold is 96% of the live gold price, so the offer reflects gold content, not collector value.
Where can I get coins valued for free in the UK?
Check sold prices yourself first, using a sold-price catalogue such as MyCoinage or completed listings on marketplaces. For coins that appear valuable, ask an auction house for a sale estimate or approach a BNTA member dealer, which is the route the Royal Mint itself suggests for old coins.
Will the Royal Mint buy coins made by other mints?
Yes, for bullion. The Royal Mint says it buys gold, silver and platinum coins from other mints, and names Krugerrands, Austrian Philharmonics and Canadian Maple Leafs. Gold must be 22 carat or above, and silver and platinum must be 999 fine or above.