20 Most
Valuable Coins in the World and Why Collectors Love Them
20 Most Valuable Coins Every
Collector Dreams of Owning
Collecting
coins can be an exciting hobby — and every now and then, though very rare, you
might stumble upon a unique coin worth thousand, even tens of thousands of
dollars. The rarest coins can be valued in the millions, but finding one is
more of a dream than a realistic expectation.
There are
incredible stories, like the person who discovered a rare coin with a metal
detector on a beach that later sold for $6 million at auction, or someone who
found a valuable piece tucked away in an old attic box. But not everyone gets
that kind of lucky break.
Still,
don’t let that stop you from checking your jars of coins or spare change — you
never know, a small fortune might be hiding right under your nose.
Some
coins are so rare they can fetch millions at auction. Others became valuable
because of accidental engraving mistakes that slipped through unnoticed —
turning them into prized collectibles. And then there are coins from batches
that were almost entirely destroyed, making the few surviving pieces highly
sought after by collectors.
Let’s
explore the fascinating stories behind the world’s most valuable coins and why
collectors treasure them so highly.
1. 1795 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar – $2,500
Here’s the twist — the 1794 version of this coin is the real superstar, with
only about 150–200 known to exist today, making it one of the most valuable
coins in the world. The 1795 version, however, is more common but still highly
collectible. In fact, one sold on eBay in September 2021 for nearly $2,500 —
not bad for something over two centuries old.
2. 1879 $4 Gold Stella – $2,500
Back in the late 1800s, Europe had the Latin Monetary Union, an effort
to create a single currency across multiple countries (similar to the Euro
today). The United States designed the $4 Gold Stella in 1879 to match the
weight and composition of the union’s coins, like the Austro-Hungarian 8 florin
piece. However, the coin was never officially approved for production, which
makes it rare and valuable today. In September 2021, a two-coin set sold for
around $5,000 at the Smithsonian.
3. 1787 Fugio Cent – $10,000+
Also called the Franklin cent after Benjamin Franklin, this is believed
to be the first coin ever circulated in the newly formed United States. Its
design is packed with meaning — on one side, there’s a sun and sundial with the
Latin word fugio (“time flies”), along with Franklin’s famous phrase
“Mind Your Business.” The reverse shows the motto “We Are One” surrounded by a
chain of 13 links, representing the original 13 states. Depending on condition,
these coins can range from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000, with rare
variants fetching even more.
4. Sacagawea Cheerios Dollar – $25,000
In the early 2000s, the last place you’d expect to find a valuable coin was
inside a cereal box — but that’s exactly where some lucky people found one. As
part of a U.S. Mint promotion, 10 million Cheerios boxes came with a 2000
Lincoln cent, and about 5,500 also included a Sacagawea “Golden Dollar.” A
handful of these dollars — around 60 to 70 known today — feature enhanced tail
feathers, making them worth between $5,000 and $25,000 depending on their grade
and condition.
5. 1893 Morgan Silver Dollar – $550,000
The Morgan Silver Dollar was minted from 1878 to 1904, and again in 1921, and
has long been a favorite among collectors. The 1893 version is by far the
rarest, with only about 100,000 ever produced. Over the years, many were melted
down or lost, making the surviving coins extremely valuable — the finest
examples can sell for as much as $550,000.
6. 1943 S Lincoln Wheat Penny – $1,000,000
During World War II, copper was reserved for making ammunition, so pennies were
produced using steel coated in zinc. However, a small batch of leftover bronze
planchets (the blank discs used to make coins) accidentally made it into the
minting process in 1943. Only about 20 to 40 of these bronze pennies are
believed to exist today. In 2012, one of them — a 1943 S Lincoln Wheat Penny —
sold for an astonishing $1 million.
7. 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny – $1,750,000
From the same accidental batch of copper pennies produced during World War II,
the 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny is one of the most valuable coins ever
minted in the U.S. In 2010, a D-mint graded PCGS MS64 Brown example sold for a
jaw-dropping $1,750,000.
8. 1894 S Barber Dime – $1,997,500
With only 24 ever minted — and just 9 known to still exist — the 1894 S Barber
Dime is one of the rarest coins in the world. No one knows for sure why so few
were made, though plenty of rumors exist. In 2016, one of these elusive dimes
sold for an incredible $1,997,500.
9. 1804 Bust Dollar – Dexter-Pogue Specimen – $3,865,750
Dubbed one of the rarest and most famous coins in the world, this 1804 Bust
Dollar once belonged to renowned numismatist James V. Dexter in the late 1800s.
It’s marked with a tiny “D” punched into a cloud on the reverse, indicating
Dexter’s ownership. In 2017, as part of the D. Brent Pogue Collection, it sold
for $3,865,750.
10. 1804 Bust Dollar – Mickley-Hawn-Queller Specimen – $3,877,500
Another legendary 1804 Bust Dollar, this one was owned by famous collector
Joseph J. Mickley in 1858. It later sold at Heritage Auctions in Dallas in 2013
for $3,877,500, further cementing the coin’s status as the “King of U.S.
Coins.”
11. 2007 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf – $4,020,000
Compared to centuries-old rarities, this coin is practically brand new. Created
in 2007 as a promotional showpiece, the Canadian Gold Maple Leaf is made from
100 kilograms of pure gold. Only six were ever produced, each with a face value
of $1 million. Certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest gold
coin, one sold for $4,020,000.
12. 1804 Silver Dollar – Watters-Childs Specimen – $4,140,000
This 1804 Silver Dollar has a storied past, with owners including the Sultan of
Muscat, C.A. Watters, Henry Chapman, and the Childs family, who kept it for
more than 50 years. It sold in 1999 for $4,140,000, and in 2016, it received an
astonishing bid of $10,575,000 — but the reserve price wasn’t met, so it
remained unsold.
13. 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel – $4,560,000
Only five Liberty Head V Nickels were struck in 1913, making them incredibly
rare. Two are held in museums, leaving just three in private hands. Strangely,
the U.S. Mint has no official record of them being made, adding to the mystery.
In 2018, one sold for a staggering $4,560,000.
14. 1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Wing – $4,582,500
Before the U.S. Mint was established, private individuals often created coins.
Ephraim Brasher, a goldsmith and silversmith in New York City, produced the
famed Brasher Doubloon in 1787. One version, with Brasher’s “EB” hallmark
stamped on the wing of the eagle, sold in 2014 for $4,582,500, making it one of
the most important coins in American history.
15. 723 Umayyad Gold Dinar – $4,800,000
Minted in the year 723, this gold dinar is one of the most historically
important coins in the Islamic world — the first to reference a location in
present-day Saudi Arabia. It bears the inscription “mine of the commander of
the faithful” and was struck from pure gold. With only about a dozen known to
exist, one sold at auction in 2019 for $4.8 million.
16. 1343 Edward III Florin – $6,800,000
Nicknamed the Double Leopard for its design featuring King Edward III on
his throne flanked by two leopards’ heads, this medieval English coin is both
extremely rare and extremely valuable. Only three are known to exist today —
two in the British Museum and one found in 2006 by a man using a metal
detector. That lucky find sold for $850,000 at the time, but its value has
since soared to an estimated $6.8 million.
17. 1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Breast – $7,395,000
Another version of Ephraim Brasher’s iconic gold coin, this specimen has the
“EB” stamp on the eagle’s chest instead of its wing. Originally worth just $15
in gold when minted in 1787, it sold privately in 2011 for an astonishing
$7,395,000.
18. 1787 Brasher Doubloon – $9,360,000
Considered the finest known example of the Brasher Doubloon, this coin was
first acquired by collector Matthew Stickney in 1848. In 2021, Heritage
Auctions sold it for an incredible $9,360,000 — making it one of the most
valuable coins in U.S. history.
19. 1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar – $10,016,875
The first silver dollar ever struck by the U.S. Mint, the 1794 Flowing Hair
Silver Dollar is incredibly rare, with only a few surviving from the original
batch. Featuring Lady Liberty with flowing hair, this particular coin was
graded as one of the finest examples in existence. It sold in 2010 for
$10,016,875 — setting a world record for any silver coin.
20. 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – $18,872,250
The world’s most valuable coin, the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle, is wrapped
in mystery and legal drama. Originally part of the $20 gold coin series minted
from 1907 to 1933, nearly all were recalled and melted during the Great
Depression after President Roosevelt took the U.S. off the gold standard. A few
escaped, but they were never officially issued, making them illegal to own —
except for one coin once owned by King Farouk of Egypt. After a long legal battle,
it became the only example legal for private ownership, selling in 2021 for a
staggering $18,872,250.
Contents
1795 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar – Worth around $2,500
1879 $4 Gold Stella – Worth around $2,500
1787 Fugio Cent – Worth $10,000+
Sacagawea Cheerios Dollar – Worth up to $25,000
1893 Morgan Silver Dollar – Worth up to $550,000
1943 S Lincoln Wheat Penny – Worth $1,000,000
1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny – Worth $1,750,000
1894 S Barber Dime – Worth $1,997,500
1804 Bust Dollar – Dexter-Pogue Specimen – Worth $3,865,750
1804 Bust Dollar – Mickley-Hawn-Queller Specimen – Worth $3,877,500
2007 Canadian Gold Maple Leaf – Worth $4,020,000
1804 Silver Dollar – Watters-Childs Specimen – Worth $4,140,000
1913 Liberty Head V Nickel – Worth $4,560,000
1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Wing – Worth $4,582,500
723 Umayyad Gold Dinar – Worth $4,800,000
1343 Edward III Florin – Worth $6,800,000
1787 Brasher Doubloon – EB on Breast – Worth $7,395,000
1787 Brasher Doubloon – Worth $9,360,000
1794 Flowing Hair Silver Dollar – Worth $10,016,875
1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle – Worth $18,872,250
Conclusion
These coins are some of the most coveted treasures in the world of collecting —
rare pieces of history that every serious numismatist dreams of owning. As
auctions continue to break records and new discoveries surface, this list is
bound to change in the coming years. We’ll be keeping an eye on the auction
houses and will share the latest updates whenever these extraordinary coins
make headlines again.
