Discovering hidden valuable treasure in an old dresser or attic is a dream come true.
Similarly, stumbling upon a rare coin in your coin jars can be surprisingly valuable.
While striking it rich is rare,
even finding a valuable coin or two among your loose change can be a pleasant surprise
While some valuable coins on this list are incredibly rare, not all are prohibitively expensive.
More recent 20th-century coins can be relatively affordable and might be tucked away in quiet places.
Before buying these coins (if you have a spare million), consult a numismatist for expert guidance.
“Coins are a hobby and investment,” says Warren Zivi, head numismatist and president at American Rarities.
He emphasizes making informed choices.
Whether a hobbyist or investor, define your goal.
Zivi stresses the importance of knowledge in either case.
Misinformation online leads to coin scams. Seek expert guidance; many fakes exist, even among graded coins.
Mint. Featuring Lady Liberty and an American eagle, it’s exceedingly rare, with 120-130 left.
In 2013, it auctioned for $10 million.
World’s most valuable coins .
1.The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, a renowned coin.
The 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar, possibly the priciest coin, may be the first by the U.S.
Mint. Featuring Lady Liberty and an American eagle, it’s exceedingly rare, with 120-130 left.
In 2013, it auctioned for $10 million.
2.The 1787 Brasher Doubloon, a legendary coin.
Ephraim Brasher made the rare Brasher Doubloon in the late 18th Century.
It displays a state seal and eagle
Certain versions fetched high prices: one with EB on the breast sold for $7.4 million in 2011,
another with EB on the bird’s wing went for over $5 million in 2018,
and a third hit $9.36 million in January 2021.
3.The 1787 Fugio Cent, a significant coin in U.S. history, is another valuable collectible.
The Fugio cent, also known as the Franklin cent, boasts historical significance.
With prices ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, it’s an accessible collectible.
Extremely rare variants can sell for tens of thousands.
4. The 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar
The 723 Umayyad gold dinar, a prized Islamic coin, used gold from the caliph’s mine.
It’s unique for mentioning a Saudi Arabian location.
About a dozen exist, with one selling for $6 million in 2011
and another for $4.8 million in 2019.
5 The 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny
The 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny is unique due to production circumstances.
The U.S. Mint mistakenly struck some with copper instead of steel,
creating only about 40 surviving coins (possibly fewer than 20).
Counterfeiting is common, but genuine copper coins stick to a magnet.
Regular steel 1943 pennies are worth around 30-40 cents, but copper versions fetched $204,000 in a 2019 auction.
The highest sale was $1.75 million in 2010.
6. 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel
The Liberty V Nickel, though not ancient, ranks among the rarest and most valuable coins.
Minted from 1883 to 1913, only about five were produced in the final year.
Since 2000, these coins have fetched multiple millions at auctions,
with one selling for $4.15 million in 2005,
another for $5 million in 2007, one for over $3.7 million in 2010,
and another at $4.56 million in 2018.
Great Collections purchased one for $4.2 million in October 2022.
Some are on display in museums, including the Smithsonian Institution.
7. Morgan Silver Dollars
Morgan silver dollars, while not exceptionally rare, can be valuable.
A standard Morgan is worth at least $20 due to its silver content.
Rarer versions like the 1893 S, 1901, 1889 CC, 1884 S, and 1893 O can fetch from $100,000 to $550,000 in mint condition.
Other Morgan dollars also trade for tens of thousands.
Owning a common specimen allows you to own a piece of history without the high cost.
8. The 1343 Edward III Florin
The 1343 Edward III Florin is incredibly rare, with just three known to exist.
Two are in the British Museum, found in 1857, and one was discovered by a prospector with a metal detector in 2006.
The coin depicts King Edward III on his throne with leopards’ heads on each side and features a Royal Cross inside a quatrefoil on the reverse.
Also known as the Double Leopard, the 2006 find sold for $850,000 initially,
but its value has since risen to approximately $6.8 million.
9. The 2007 $1 Million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
The $1 million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is an extraordinary novelty,
weighing 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds).
Only six exist, with a face value of $1 million each,
created for promoting one-ounce Gold Maple Leaf coins.
Certified as the world’s largest gold coin by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007,
it features Queen Elizabeth II on the front and a Canadian maple leaf on the reverse.
The coin measures 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) wide
and slightly over an inch thick.
In 2010, it was auctioned for 3.27 million euros (over $4 million then).
However, in 2017, one was stolen from a Berlin museum
and remains unrecovered despite convictions of three individuals involved.
In summary, valuable coins vary in rarity and worth.
Some, like the 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar and the 1787 Brasher Doubloon, are exceptionally rare and can fetch millions.
Others, like the 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny and Morgan silver dollars, can also be valuable.
Understanding their history and rarity is key to assessing their worth.
