Gold Foil Playing Cards: What They Are and Are They Worth It?

A deck of gold playing cards is an object people pick up the moment it lands on a table. It is also one of the most misunderstood things in the card world, mostly because of the word "gold".

How foil playing cards are made

A foil deck is a thin layer of metallic foil bonded to a plastic core, with the faces printed over the foil. The result is a card that is waterproof, stiff, and shines under light. Gold, silver and holographic decks are all made the same way; only the foil changes.

Is it real gold?

Mostly, no — and that is fine. Decks sold as "24K" usually carry a gold-coloured foil, or at most an extremely thin gold layer, over plastic. The gold content is decorative, not an investment. A gold foil deck is worth what it is worth as a beautiful deck of cards, not by weight.

How they play

• They shuffle, but stiffly: overhand shuffles work better than riffles, which can crease the foil.
• They are slippery. Cards slide easily on a smooth table; a felt or mat surface helps.
• They are waterproof. Spills wipe off.
• They are not for magic or cardistry. Springs and flourishes need a flexible paper deck.

For a home game of rummy, poker or blackjack, they play perfectly well. They just look far better doing it.

Gold, silver, holographic or black and gold?

• Gold foil — the classic. Warm, showy, the one people expect.
• Silver foil — cooler and, surprisingly, easier to read in low light.
• Holographic — white cards with foil pips that shift colour as they move.
• Black and gold plastic — matte black cards with gold printing. Less flashy, more elegant, and the most comfortable to play with of the four.

Looking after a foil deck

Keep it in its box, flat. Do not bend the cards backwards to riffle them. Wipe with a dry or barely damp cloth. Treated well, a foil deck lasts a long time; folded, the foil keeps the crease.

Why they make such good gifts

A foil deck arrives in a presentation box, looks expensive, and gets used: at the next card night, on holiday, on a shelf where people ask about it. It is the classic gift for the person who already owns everything — and especially for a card player, who owns a dozen ordinary decks and nothing like this.