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U.S. coins are both fascinating collectibles and distinctive piece of history.
When you combine their valuable materials, beautiful designs and often intriguing backstories you end up with some of the most sought-after pieces in the country.
In my guide below you’ll learn which are some of the most valuable, expensive and rarest U.S. coins in existence.
Enjoy!

Table of Contents
7 Most Valuable, Rarest and Most Expensive US Coins in Existence
Here are the 7 most valuable, expensive and rarest US coins in existence. You won’t ever own any of these coins, but it’s still plenty of fun to read about them.
1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ($18.9 million)
The U.S. minted the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle coin from 1907 to 1933. While all of these coins are valuable, nothing tops the 1933 coin which is the one most sought after.
This 1933 Double Eagle sold for $18.9 million in a 2021 auction and is now estimated to be worth even more. This is the only Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle to legally be in private possession although the owner chose to stay anonymous. Many numismatists consider the design of the coin, created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, as one of the most beautiful of its time and one of the most striking among all coins.
The 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is particularly valuable because the government’s Gold Reserve Act prescribed that all privately held coins of this type be melted down.
The Mint recovered all but one of the remaining coins which is now in private ownership as the most valuable US coin in the world. Even the Smithsonian Institute has only two specimens of this valuable coin.

1849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle ($17,906,612)
849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle is an extremely rare US coin. Only two specimens were ever made and only one of these exists today.
The 1849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle was the first double eagle minted in the U.S. The $20 double eagle came about as the result of the California Gold Rush as before that time gold coins were only minted in $10 denominations.
The Mint supposedly produced only two $20 double eagles and on December 22, 1849.
The first one went to the Smithsonian Institute (housed in the National Numismatic Collection ), where it still resides. If Smithsonian Institute were ever low on funds they could auction their 1849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle and earn an estimated $10,000,000 to $20,000,000.
The second coin went to Treasury Secretary William M Meredith, but that coin is now lost as its whereabouts are unknown.

1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar ($13,280,850)
The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is the third most valuable US dollar in the world. The U.S. Mint produced just 1,758 of these coins from a single pair of dies and only about 120- 130 of this silver dollar coins remain in existence today.
One well-preserved 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar (note: many numismatists believe it’s the first silver dollar ever struck in the U.S) went for over $10 million at a 2013 auction. It again went up for auction, this time in Las Vegas, in October of 2020 but wasn’t sold, as it didn’t reach the minimum bid.
This silver dollar is quite striking and beautiful with a clear and distinctive image of Lady Liberty with her hair flowing freely behind her.

1787 Brasher Doubloon ($9,986,500)
The Brasher Dubloon is the first gold coin ever produced in the U.S. It predates the U.S. Mint (founded on April 2, 1792). One of George Washington’s neighbors, Ephraim Brasher, made seven of them, originally worth about $15 per piece.
The front depicts a rising sun and the state seal, while the American eagle appears with a shield on the reverse. The most valuable versions of this coin have “EB” (Brasher’s signature) engraved on the eagle’s breast. Some coin variations feature the “EB” on the wing.
In 2021, one 1787 Brasher Dubloon went for $9.36 million at auction. Nearly 10 million dollars is insane money for a coin, but some notable numismatists and rare coin collectors believe the 1787 Brasher Doubloon will be worth as much as $100 million in the future due to its rarity and extreme significance for US history.

1822 Gold Capped Bust $5 Half Eagle ($8,360,337)
1822 Gold Capped Bust $5 Half Eagle is among the rarest U.S. gold coins in the world.
Even though over 17,700 coins were originally struck, only three of these coins exist today! It’s because nearly all of theim have been melted in the past for their intrincis gold value. The Smithsonian Institute’s National Numismatic Collection houses two of the surviving 1822 Capped Bust $5 Half Eagles, with the single one remaining in private hands.
This third preserved $5 Half Eagle Gold Capped Bust is the most intriguing one.
It’s the finest specimen of the three remaining coins as it carries an AU-50 grade from the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). Carefully preserved, the coin has passed through only three collections over the past 115 years. Virgil Brand, Louis Eliasberg, and D. Brent Pogue have previously possessed coin. In March 2021, this coin sold for $8.4 million, setting a record for the U.S. minted gold coins sold at public auction.

1870-S Indian Princess Head Gold $3 ($6,804,179)
The 1870-S Indian Princess Head Gold $3 coin is the sixth most valuable US coin on this list. It’s estimated worth is nearly $7 million dollars which I’m sure you’ll agree is a hefty sum to pay for a single old coin.
But the price of the coin comes secondary to the mystery surrounding this special rare coin.
Namely, documents about the origin of this coin indicate that only one of these coins ever existed and that it was to be built into the foundation cornerstone of the San Francisco Mint building. However, for some reason that never happened because this coin mysteriously resurfaced in the 1911 William H. Woodin sale.
Some numismatist claim this is an undocumented duplicate of the coin that was placed in the cornerstone. Others believe the original coin never made it into the foundation of that building.
The 1870-S Indian Princess Head Gold coin was graded EF-40, meaning it’s in extremely fine condition. It has a pebbled appearance, suggesting that it was used in a key chain or as jewelry at some point.
It also sports a hand-cut die mark believed to have been added after the coin arrived in San Francisco. This extremely rare and valuable US coin is now in private collection of Louis Eliasberg. Not even the Smithsonian Institute has one of these.

1913 Liberty Head V Nickel ($5,250,100)
1913 Liberty Head V Nickel, designed by E. Barber and minted from 1883 to1913 is the seventh most valuable US coin and also one of the rarest US coins ever to be produced.
There are only five remaining examples of this nickel coin and what’s interesting is that the US Mint has no record of Liberty Head nickels being produced in 1913, which is part of what makes these pieces so popular.
There are two popular stories how these coins came to be.
The first story suggest the coins may have been struck as trial pieces. And another story suggests that Samuel Brown, who’s the original owner of the coins and a former U.S. Mint employee, clandestinely struck them and stole them from the Mint.

Which Gold Investment Company Sells These Valuable and Rare US Coins?
No gold investment company sells these rare and valuable US coins. They are extremely rare and extremely expensive coins and you’ll never encounter them in your daily life. Also, there’s usually only a couple of them left so you might not even be legally allowed to own these coins.
Each of these coins is a valuable part of US history so only US institutions like the Smithsonian Institute are allowed to posses them.
That said, there are legitimate and safe gold investment companies that can help you buy gold and silver coins if you have some money for gold investing.
2 good examples are Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group. Both of these are gold dealers that can also help you open a gold IRA if you’re interested.
And both of these companies offer plenty of US-made valuable coins for you to pick and have as part of your collection.


The Most Valuable and Rarest US Coins In Existence. Extremely Rare and Extremely Expensive! (FAQ)

What is the Rarest US Dollar Coin Ever Made?
The 1849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle (recently sold for $17,906,612 at an auction) is the rarest US dollar ever made. Only two of these were ever made and only one of these coins survive until today (the coin is deposited at Smithsonian Institute).
What are the Rarest US Coins Still in Circulation?
Here are the rarest US coins still in circulation. Keep in mind some of these are quite rare and you might never encounter them in your daily life.
Rare Quarters Still in use in the USA:
- 1932-1964 Silver Quarters: These quarters were made of 90% silver and 10% copper, giving them a beautiful appearance and intrinsic value. Their worth depends on condition, with values ranging from $5 to $60.
- 2005 Kansas State Quarter with “In God We Rust” error: This error occurred due to grease getting into the die during minting, causing the “T” in “TRUST” to be missing. The humorous mistake makes these quarters worth around $100.
- 2004 Wisconsin State Quarter with Extra Leaf: This quarter features an extra leaf on the ear of corn, likely due to deliberate tampering at the Denver mint. The story behind this error has driven its value up to about $300.
Rare Dimes Still in use in the USA:
- 1996 Roosevelt Dime: These were made for collectors to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1946 Roosevelt Dime but some entered circulation. They’re worth about $2-3 each.
- 1982 No Mint Mark Roosevelt Dime: These dimes are missing the mint mark that should have been added after minting. They’re valued at $35-50.
- 1965 Roosevelt Silver Dime: These rare error coins were made with the wrong materials during the transition from silver to clad dimes. They’re extremely valuable, worth around $7,000.
Rare Nickels Still in use in the USA:
- 1942-1945 Silver Nickels: These were made with silver instead of nickel during World War II, as nickel was needed for the war effort. They’re worth about $12 each.
Rare Pennies Still in use in the USA:
- 1943 Steel Penny: These were made of steel instead of copper during World War II, as copper was needed for war materials. They’re worth about $10 each.
- 1995 Double Die Penny: These have a double die error making the words look slightly blurry. With about 500,000 minted, they’re one of the more common valuable coins, worth $20-50.
- 1969 Penny with Doubled Die: This rare error coin shows a slight doubling of the letters due to a misaligned die strike. In mint condition, these can be worth $30,000 to $100,000.
Rare Hal Dollars Still in use in the USA:
- 1948-1963 Ben Franklin Half-Dollar: These feature Ben Franklin on the front and a Bald Eagle on the back, before being replaced by the Kennedy half dollar. Their value ranges from $12 to $125 depending on condition.
Rare Dollar Coins Still in use in the USA:
- 2007-present Presidential Dollar Coins with errors: These coins have had various minting errors including upside-down lettering, missing text, or design changes. Values range from $100 to $900 depending on the specific error.
What is the Most Expensive Coin in the World?
The most expensive coin in the world is the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, which sold for $18,872,250 in June 2021. The coin is considered the world’s rarest and most valuable gold coin.
The Most Valuable, Rarest and Expensive US Coins In Existence (Conclusion)
If you’re fascinated by the rich history of U.S. coins, then this guide was exactly to your liking.
What next?
Either leave a comment with a question for me (I’ll respond) or go and read my guide to the best gold IRA companies next.
References:
- The World’s Most Valuable Coin Sells at Auction for $18.9 Million- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1933-double-eagle-sells-189-million-sets-world-record-most-valuable-coin-180977965/
- The twenty million dollar coin- https://www.coincollecting.com/the-twenty-million-dollar-coin
- Rare 1794 silver dollar goes unsold at auction in Las Vegas- https://www.seattletimes.com/business/rare-1794-silver-dollar-goes-unsold-at-auction-in-las-vegas/
- Brasher doubloon sets record at auction: $9.36 million- https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/brasher-doubloon-sets-record-at-auction-9-36-million-dollars
- 1822 gold half eagle sells for $8.4 million in auction- https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/1822-gold-half-eagle-sells-for-8-point-4-million-dollars-in-auction
- 1870 S Indian Princess Head Gold $3 : Unique Three Dollar Piece – Early Gold Coins https://www.usacoinbook.com/coins/3713/gold-3/indian-princess-head/1870-S/unique/
- The Most Valuable Coins In Circulation: Quarters, Dimes & More- https://www.preciousmetals.com/blog/post/the-most-valuable-us-coins-in-circulation.html

Nikola Roza
Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.