Falmouth's bullion history
In 1688 Falmouth became the Royal Mail's packet station. For more than 150 years, fast sailing ships called packets left the harbour carrying mail, passengers and bullion to Spain, Portugal, the Caribbean and the Americas.
The packet captains could carry valuable cargo on their own account, and some did very well from it. You can still see their fine houses around the town. A granite memorial to the packet service stands on The Moor.
Today the bullion moves the other way. Coins from all over the world turn up in Falmouth drawers and safes, and we're happy to value every one of them.
Why foreign coins are paid differently
We pay UK gold coins and foreign gold coins at two different rates. That's because sovereigns and Britannias are easy for us to sell on to UK buyers, while most foreign coins are bought for their gold.
Both rates are shown live on this page, so there's no guesswork. If you have a mix of coins, we'll price each one separately and show you the sums. Read more about the Krugerrands and other gold coins we buy.
Is my gold coin genuine?
Fake gold coins do exist, especially Krugerrands and sovereigns. A real coin should match its official weight and size exactly.
At our Bodmin branch we check every coin's weight and size, then test its metal with an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine. The test doesn't mark the coin, so a genuine coin keeps its full value.
Getting your gold to us from Falmouth
Drive to Bodmin
About 37 miles via Truro and the A30. Walk in any weekday between 9:30am and 4:30pm.
Sell by post
The easiest option for most Falmouth and Penryn sellers. Same price, fast payment.
"A percentage of the spot price", but which percentage?
Some gold buyers say they pay "a percentage of the live spot price", or that the percentage depends on how much gold you send. It sounds open and fair. But without the actual number, it tells you nothing.
The spot price is the market value of pure gold. No buyer pays all of it, because they have costs to cover. The fair question is how much they keep, and only a published percentage answers it.
What we pay, as a percentage, right now
- Scrap gold and jewellery: 91.6% of the live market price
- UK gold coins, like sovereigns and Britannias: 95.5%
- Foreign gold coins, like Krugerrands: 94.5%
Watch out for price match promises too. Some only work if you first get a written quote from another buyer. That's hard to do if nobody will give you a straight number.
Selling gold elsewhere in Cornwall
We buy gold right across the county. If you're not in Falmouth, one of these local guides may be closer to home.
Get a free valuation today
Find out what your coins and jewellery are worth, with no pressure to sell. Contact us for a free valuation, or call our Bodmin branch on 01208 420331.
