🏛️ United States Gold Reserves: Complete Historical Overview
From 1933 to Present | Official Treasury Data & Analysis
Current Total Reserves
261.5M oz
8,133 metric tons
Market Value (Jan 2026)
$1.32 Trillion
@ $5,100/oz current price
Book Value (Official)
$11.0 Billion
@ $42.22/oz (fixed since 1973)
Peak Holdings
649.6M oz
December 1941
💡 Key Facts About US Gold Reserves
- World's Largest: The US holds more gold than any other nation - nearly 2.5x more than Germany (#2)
- Book Value vs Market Value: Official "book value" is $11 billion, but current market value exceeds $1.3 trillion
- No Gold Standard: Gold has been valued at $42.22/oz since 1973, regardless of market price
- Fort Knox Dominance: 56% of all US gold is stored at Fort Knox, Kentucky
- Foreign Gold Storage: Most gold at the NY Fed vault belongs to foreign governments, not the US
Gold Holdings by Repository (November 2024)
Distribution of US Gold Reserves
| Repository Location | Troy Ounces | % of Total | Market Value (@ $5,100/oz) | Book Value (@ $42.22/oz) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Knox, Kentucky | 147,341,858 | 56.3% | $751.4 billion | $6.2 billion |
| West Point, New York | 56,067,331 | 21.4% | $286.0 billion | $2.4 billion |
| Denver, Colorado | 43,853,707 | 16.8% | $223.7 billion | $1.9 billion |
| Federal Reserve Bank of NY | 13,376,988 | 5.1% | $68.2 billion | $565 million |
| Working Stock (All Locations) | 2,783,219 | 1.1% | $14.2 billion | $118 million |
| TOTAL | 261,500,000 | 100% | $1.33 trillion | $11.0 billion |
Historical US Gold Holdings (1933-2025)
US Gold Reserves Over Time (Million Troy Ounces)
| Year | Troy Ounces (millions) | Metric Tons | Gold Price ($/oz) | Market Value (Nominal) | Market Value (2026 $) |
|---|
Historical Gold Prices & Total Value
US Gold Reserve Market Value Over Time
Historical Gold Prices (1933-2026)
US-Owned vs Foreign-Owned Gold
Understanding Gold Ownership
- US Treasury Gold: ~261.5 million troy ounces owned by the United States government
- Foreign Central Bank Gold: The Federal Reserve Bank of New York stores approximately 6,000 metric tons (193 million oz) of gold belonging to foreign governments and international organizations
- Key Point: The NY Fed vault is one of the world's largest gold repositories (~507,000 gold bars), but the Fed does not own this gold - it merely stores it as a custodian
- German Gold: Germany stores about 1,200 tonnes of its 3,352 tonnes of gold reserves in New York
- Bretton Woods Legacy: Many nations stored gold in NY during the gold standard era (1944-1971)
Official Data Sources:
• U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data - Status Report of Government Gold Reserve
• United States Mint - Fort Knox Bullion Depository
• Federal Reserve - U.S. Reserve Assets
• Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) - Gold Reserve Quantity
Additional References:
• World Gold Council - Central Bank Gold Reserves
• U.S. Geological Survey - Gold Statistics and Information
Last Updated: January 2026 | Gold price data as of January 26, 2026 (~$5,100/oz)
Historical Note: The official US government "book value" remains $42.22 per troy ounce as established in 1973, regardless of market prices.
• U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data - Status Report of Government Gold Reserve
• United States Mint - Fort Knox Bullion Depository
• Federal Reserve - U.S. Reserve Assets
• Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED) - Gold Reserve Quantity
Additional References:
• World Gold Council - Central Bank Gold Reserves
• U.S. Geological Survey - Gold Statistics and Information
Last Updated: January 2026 | Gold price data as of January 26, 2026 (~$5,100/oz)
Historical Note: The official US government "book value" remains $42.22 per troy ounce as established in 1973, regardless of market prices.