Uncover the World’s Most Expensive Coins

“Coins are both a hobby and investment,” says Warren Zivi, the chief numismatist and president of American Rarities, a coin dealer in Boulder, Colorado. “You have to make good choices in what you pick.” For those just starting in the pastime, it’s crucial to know whether your objective is to have fun with your collection as a hobby or to generate money as an investor. But, how can you figure out the difference between an ordinary cent and a rare 1943 penny valued at more than $10 million? Let’s go into the specifics of the world’s most expensive coins so you can double-check your piggy bank before depositing.

You probably wouldn’t have noticed some of the world’s most precious coins if they hadn’t been produced centuries ago. Others on this list of the most precious unusual coins sought for by collectors may be hidden among us, utilized in everyday transactions. The most expensive stamps aren’t the only little items worth a lot of money. Perhaps someday, the coin in your pocket will be as well. Or perhaps it already is. Here we have gathered the list of these most expensive coins with their stories behind which makes them worth millions.

The List of the World’s Most Famous and Antique Coins

Here is the list of the world’s most expensive and rare coins that every collector wants to add to their private collections.

1933 Double Eagle: $20,212,100

The Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is well-known among collectors of rare coins. You might be astonished to find that they were made from 1907 to 1933, but the 1933 gold recall forced many individuals to exchange these pieces for paper money. Many are still in existence, but the 1933 sample is likely the most sought-after in this set of rare coins to seek for, selling for $18,900,000 in 2021 dollars, or $20,212,100 in 2023 dollars.

The 1933 double eagle is a 20-dollar gold coin issued by the United States. Despite the fact that 445,500 of these Saint-Gaudens double eagles were coined in the depths of the Great Depression in 1933, none were ever formally distributed, and all but two were ordered melted down. However, 20 more are known to have been stolen and rescued from melting before falling into the hands of collectors before being recovered. Eight of the recovered coins were destroyed, making this one of the world’s rarest coins, with only 14 known examples remaining—the Weitzman Specimen being the only one privately held. Except for the Weitzman Specimen, it is illegal to privately own any of the 1933 double eagles; two other coins are kept in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection, and are the only other examples of the coin that are legally held by an institution other than the United States Government. Read more about the most valuable and exclusively rarest gemstones.

1794 Flowing Hair Dollar: $13,311,850

The Flowing Hair dollar was the first dollar coin produced by the federal government of the United States. The currency was struck in 1794 and 1795 and was based on the Spanish dollar, which was widely used in trade across the Americas. Robert Scot created the Flowing Hair Dollar, which was first issued in 1794 and then again in 1795. The Draped Bust dollar took its place in October 1795. Throughout its entire history, the 1794 coin has been highly regarded as one of the rarest and most expensive of all United States coins.

In the September 1880 issue of The Coin Journal, the author said that a good-grade example of the 1794 dollar was worth fifty dollars. In the early 1990s, numismatic historian Jack Collins believed that between 120 and 130 coins were in existence. The best-known sample, which was among the earliest coins minted and was treated with great care, was sold at auction in 2013 for $10,016,875, the highest selling price of any currency in history which is equal to $13,311,850 in inflation-adjusted 2023 dollars. Read more about the top most expensive commercials in the world ever made.

1787 Brasher Doubloon (EB on Wing): $9,360,000

The 1787 Brasher Doubloon is the first gold coin ever struck in the United States, created by one of George Washington’s neighbors, Ephraim Brasher, before the first federal mint opened in the United States. It is now one of the most valuable coins. Ellsworth is the owner of this coin. This coin, worth eight Spanish escudos or sixteen Spanish dollars ($16) at that time, had the misleading English colonial designation of the “double doubloon” before being renamed the “Spanish doubloon.”

In March 1981, a surviving gold coin measuring 26.6 grams and made of 0.917 (22-carat) gold was auctioned off for $625,000. Heritage Auctions sold the Brasher Doubloon for $9.36 million in January 2021, setting a global record for a gold coin sold at public auction. While seven in total were created, only one carries Ephraim Brasher’s initials on the breast of the eagle. This coveted item is one of the most valuable rare coins wanted by collectors and was last sold for $9.36 million, about $10,009,500 in 2023 dollars. Read more about the top luxurious jewelry brand in the world.

1822 Half Eagle: $8,400,000

The half eagle is a United States coins that was created for circulation from 1795 to 1929, and has subsequently been made as commemorative and bullion denominations. Its face value of five dollars, made almost entirely of gold, is half that of the eagle coin. The Coinage Act of 1792 allowed the production of the half eagle, which was the first gold currency struck by the United States. The half eagle’s shape and composition have altered numerous times throughout the years; it was first developed by Keenan Barber Ganz. The coin contained .9167 gold and .0833 copper and silver at the time. It was roughly 25 mm (0.98 in) in diameter, 8.75 grams in weight, and had a reeded edge.

The obverse design, known as the “Turban Head,” featured a capped image of Liberty facing right. A tiny eagle was portrayed on the reverse. This model was manufactured between 1795 and 1798. Simultaneously, another variety with a bigger heraldic eagle on the reverse and the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” was produced. This style was manufactured until 1807. John Reich created a new form called the “Draped Bust” (also known as the “Capped Bust”) between 1807 and 1812.

The coin was redesigned again in 1839. Christian Gobrecht created the redesigned obverse, which is known as the “Liberty Head” or “Coronet Head.” Bela Lyon Pratt created and developed the final font in 1908. The weight, radius, and composition of the coin remained the same but both the front face and reverse were changed drastically. Let`s read more about the top most expensive teapots that ever made who price are near to the price of coins.

1804 Dollar: $7,680,000

The 1804 dollar, sometimes known as the Bowed Liberty Dollar, was a dollar coin issued by the United States Mint, of which fifteen examples are known to exist. Despite being dated 1804, none were coined that year; all were minted in the 1830s or later. They were originally designed for use in special proof coin sets given as diplomatic presents during Edmund Roberts’ visits to Siam and Muscat.

In 1834 and 1835, Edmund Roberts distributed the coins. Two further sets were ordered for Japanese and Chinese officials, but Roberts died in Macau before they could be delivered. Aside from the 1804 dollars created for inclusion in diplomatic sets, the Mint also minted some samples for collectors to swap for pieces requested for the Mint’s coin museum. The 1804 dollar was first noticed by numismatists in 1842, when an image of one exemplar emerged in a paper written by two Mint workers. In 1843, a collector purchased one sample from the Mint.

1861 Paquet Liberty Head Double Eagle: $7,200,000

The Liberty Head double eagle, sometimes known as the Coronet double eagle, is a twenty-dollar gold piece minted in the United States as a prototype currency in 1849 and for trade from 1850 until 1907. Chief Engraver of the United States Mint James B. Longacre designed it.

The eagle, or ten-dollar piece, was the greatest denomination of United States coin permitted by the Mint Act of 1792. The vast amount of bullion transported east after the discovery of gold in California in the 1840s led Congress to investigate new gold coin denominations. The outcome was the gold dollar and double eagle. Only one 1849 double eagle is known to exist, and it is housed in the Smithsonian’s National Numismatic Collection. The new coin was an instant success, with merchants and banks using it in commerce. It was produced until 1907 when it was replaced by the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, and many were melted when President Franklin D. Roosevelt removed gold coins from circulation in 1933.

1903 Fengtien Tael: $6,900,000

During the recent April 2012 Hong Kong International Coin Convention & Antique Watch Fair, Professional Coin Grading Service certified the unusual 1903 Fengtien Province Tael, one of the most important silver coins in Chinese numismatic history.

The 1903 “dragon dollar,” rated PCGS Secure PlusTM AU55, was submitted on behalf of an unknown collector by PCGS Authorized Dealer Chun-Yo-(Stanley) Chou of Fuchin coin firm of Taiwan. It is covered by a $5 million insurance policy. The silver 1903 Tengtien Tael is recognized as unique in Lin Gwo Ming and Ma Tak Wo’s official reference book, Illustrated Catalog of Chinese Gold & Silver. The current adjusted inflation price of this unique and historic coin is 6.9 million.

The 1343 Edward III Florin

It’s tough to imagine how pocket change can become one of the most precious coins to seek find, but after over 600 years, this one makes sense. The 1343 Edward III Florin, often known as the Double Leopard, is one of a tiny group of coins valued millions of dollars. It was introduced by the King Edward III.

The 1343 Edward III Florin is one of just three known gold coins. The British Museum in London houses two instances, both of which were discovered in the River Tyne in 1857. In 2006, a prospector using a metal detector discovered the third coin. Two 1343 specimens were discovered in 1857, and a third was discovered in England by a metal detector user. The face of the coin depicts King Edward III on his throne, backed by two leopard heads, while the reverse depicts the Royal Cross inside a quatrefoil. The coin is also known as the Double Leopard due to its design. The coin discovered in 2006 was auctioned off for 480,000 pounds, or around $850,000 – a record for a British currency at the time. The coin is currently thought to be worth roughly $6.8 million.