Probably split $1,100 - $1,300 for the pristine one (provided it is also marked 10k); and $750 - $900 for the damaged one.

Of course, by 'expert' I mean that I'm not one, and the above represents my scientific, wild-a$$ guess .

There was actually someone here on the Chip Board (and later on eBay) within the last month or so that was looking to sell one. I believe she thought it was worth nearer to $7,500 (that number has been thrown around a couple of times, though I don't know what auction/sale result is referenced to produce that figure. She ended putting it up on eBay (it's still in the completed auction listings if you search for 'Caesar's Gold Baccarat') three different times. The first time ended up around $1,200 but not meeting the undisclosed reserve ($7,500 'Buy it Now); the second time it didn't get a single bid at a $1,500 opening but with an undisclosed reserve ($5,000 'Buy it Now'); and the third time got two bids and ended at $255 with an undisclosed reserve (no 'Buy it Now' offered).

I think the undisclosed reserve prices hurt the auction results (I know I am not alone on making it a policy to not bid on auctions with undisclosed reserves), and after a couple of failed sales attempts I think it gets a certain 'stench of death' on it where people start to wonder why they should bid on it at all if 1) the seller doesn't seem serious in their intent to sell it; and/or 2) what does everyone else know that I don't if no one else is bidding? As a result, bids eventually pitter out into nothing, which is what I think happened on the third auction attempt.

I did see one sell on eBay within the past year in the $1,350 - $1,450 range (as I recall), though gold was also higher then. Given the lower value of gold and the most recent recent auction results (which admittedly could have been dampened by the undisclosed reserve), that's why I would say you could expect a range of $1,100 - $1,300 for the prisine specimen if put up for auction with a low opening bid and no reserve. There are probably several on this board who might also be interested at that price.

For the second one, although the damage is not bad it is damaged, which is why I think you'd have to discount it in order to move it. You do have the melt value as a theoretical floor, and the damage certainly isn't extensive or detract significantly from the appearance, but were I to guess I'd probably end up in the range I mentioned. In any case I think there is value there above melt if that is what you are looking to do as an alternative.

As you can see from the archive thread you posted, I was second bidder a few years back for one on eBay (not marked 10k) that ended up going for about $350, which would have been around melt value were it 10k. I think that melt value will always help these pieces from a value retention standpoint. From a collector's standpoint to have 7 of them floating out there (that's how many different ones I've now seen) still makes them quite rare, though certainly not unique. Thus I think you'd always be able to do better than melt.

I hope this helps . If you decide to put them up for sale/auction, do let us know!

Good Luck!

Brent J. Jensen
R-8007
orbis non sufficit