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The most valuable and rarest US coins ever sold span over a century of American minting history. Topping the list is the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, which sold for $18.9 million, followed by the 1849 Coronet Head $20 Double Eagle, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar (among the earliest US silver dollars), and the 1787 Brasher Doubloon, the first gold coin produced in America, predating the US Mint itself.
Other notable coins include the 1822 Capped Bust $5 Half Eagle, with only three surviving examples; the mysterious 1870-S Indian Princess Head Gold $3, shrouded in uncertain origins; and the 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel, of which just five exist, possibly struck illegally by a former Mint employee.
These coins owe their extreme value to scarcity from government recalls, melting for raw metal, or unclear minting records. Beyond these museum-grade rarities, several lower-value error coins, like doubled-die pennies and silver dimes, still occasionally turn up in circulation today.
7 Most Valuable, Rarest and Most Expensive US Coins in Existence
Here are 7 most valuable, expensive and rarest US coins in existence. You won’t ever own any of these coins, but it’s 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. and it’s the most valuable US rare coin on this list. The 1933 Double Eagle sold for $18.9 million in a 2021 auction and is now estimated to be worth even more.
It’s the only Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle to legally be in private possession, although the owner chose to stay anonymous. 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.
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.
My rarest and most valuable U.S. coins guide is a fascinating read. Check this out next once you’re done learning. Especially important if you’re an American citizen who worries about the economy and has a keen interest in precious metals investing.
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’s National Numismatic Collection where it still resides. Smithsonian Institute could auction their 1849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle and earn an estimated $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 if they were ever low on funds.
The second 849 Coronet Head Gold $20 Double Eagle coin went to Treasury Secretary William M Meredith, but that coin is lost and its whereabouts are unknown.
My rarest and most valuable U.S. coins guide is a fascinating read. Check this out next once you’re done learning. Especially important if you’re an American citizen who worries about the economy and has a keen interest in precious metals investing.
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 (many numismatists believe it’s the first silver dollar ever struck in the U.S) sold for over $10 million at a 2013 auction.
It again went up for auction in October of 2020 and in Las Vegas, but wasn’t sold as it didn’t reach the minimum bid.
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar is 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 variations feature the “EB” on the wing.
In 2021, one 1787 Brasher Dubloon went for $9.36 million at auction. ~10 million dollars is insane money for a coin, but some notable numismatists and rare coin collectors believe 1787 Brasher Doubloon will be worth as much as $100 million in the future due to its rarity and extreme significance for US history.
My rarest and most valuable U.S. coins guide is a fascinating read. Check this out next once you’re done learning. Especially important if you’re an American citizen who worries about the economy and has a keen interest in precious metals investing.
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. Because nearly all of them have been melted in the past for their intrinsic gold value.
The Smithsonian Institute’s National Numismatic Collection houses two of the surviving 1822 Capped Bust $5 Half Eagles, with the third 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 this coin. In March 2021, this coin sold for $8.4 million, setting a record for the U.S. minted gold coins sold at public auctions.
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, 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. Documents about the origin of this coin indicate only one of these coins ever existed. And 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 numismatists claim an undocumented coin duplicate was placed in the cornerstone. Others believe the original coin never made it into the building’s foundation.
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.
My rarest and most valuable U.S. coins guide is a fascinating read. Check this out next once you’re done learning. Especially important if you’re an American citizen who worries about the economy and has a keen interest in precious metals investing.
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.
Therere’ only five remaining examples of this nickel coin and it’s interesting the US Mint has no record of Liberty Head nickels being produced in 1913.
There are two popular stories how these coins came to be. The first story suggests the coins may have been struck as trial pieces. Another story suggests Samuel Brown, 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’re rare and extremely expensive coins you’ll never encounter 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 can posses them.
That said, there’re legitimate and safe US gold investment companies that can help you buy authentic gold and real silver coins if you have some money for gold investing.
Two good examples are Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group. Both of these are gold dealers that can help you open a gold IRA if you’re interested. Silver IRA is also an option.
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 survived until today (deposited at Smithsonian Institute).
What are the Rarest US Coins Still in Circulation?
Here are the rarest US coins still in circulation. Some of these are quite rare and you might never encounter them in your daily life.
Rare quarters still in use in USA are listed below.
- 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 valuable and worth around $7,000 a piece.
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 Half 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.
My rarest and most valuable U.S. coins guide is a fascinating read. Check this out next once you’re done learning. Especially important if you’re an American citizen who worries about the economy and has a keen interest in precious metals investing.
The Most Valuable, Rarest and Expensive US Coins In Existence (Conclusion)
The most valuable US coins ever sold include the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle ($18.9 million), the 1849 Coronet Head $20 Double Eagle, the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, and the 1787 Brasher Doubloon, the first gold coin minted in America. Other top entries are the 1822 Capped Bust $5 Half Eagle, the mysterious 1870-S Indian Princess Head Gold $3, and the 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel, of which only five exist.
These coins are extremely scarce, often due to government recalls, melting, or unexplained origins.
Some lower-value error coins, like the 1969 doubled-die penny or 1965 silver dime, still circulate and remain valuable.
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 the owner of Nikola Roza- Everything You Can Learn About Precious Metals. He writes for people who love precious metals and jewelry and who're interested in adding gold, silver platinum and palladium to their retirement portfolios. Nikola is passionate about gold IRAs and investing in multiple asset types for a safer financial future. He also runs a successful online jewelry store where you can buy precious metal jewelry and various replicas of famous coins and bars. Learn about Nikola here.
