The 20 Most Expensive Coins in the World
Who would not love to get a hold of the most expensive coin with them? Coins are the most prized possession. After all, they are a literal piece of history.
Different rulers and monarchs have issued several coins throughout world history for different purposes. They can be either for general purposes, or they may be a special edition coin.
Coins carry historical, religious, or even cultural importance. Moreover, some people like to collect them for aesthetic reasons. Are you one of them?
They are so valuable that a coin worth 1 dollar in the 1700s can cost a million dollars now. Who knows that one dollar coin you have with you right now may cost 10 million dollars later?
That is quite interesting when you think of it. Thus, let us have a look at the 20 most expensive coins in the world today.
20 Most Expensive Coins
20. Barber Dime
The 1894 Barber Dime was first introduced in 1894. Likewise, it is one of the most prized possessions for coin collectors across the world.
There are only 24 Barber Dimes. Out of them, only 9 have survived to this day.
Thus, it is one of the rarest coins in the world. It is also a silver coin with 90% silver and 10% copper.
Therefore, it has a very high value now. In January 2016, Heritage Auctions auctioned one of these coins for 1.99 million US Dollars.
19. 100 ducat of Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was the King of Poland from 1597-1632. He was a very devoted Catholic.
Thus, he minted these coins to show his faith in Christianity.
It is a gold coin and has a composition of 90% gold and 10% copper.
Likewise, it is the most expensive Polish coin to be ever minted.
Therefore, it is one of the most valuable and rare coins in the world, even to this day.
In January of 2018, Classical Numismatic Group auctioned this coin for 2.16 million US Dollars.
18. Pattern Quarter dollar
The Pattern Quarter is a US coin that is worth 1/4th of a dollar or 25 cents. It is a silver coin made with 90% silver and 10% copper.
Likewise, it features the head of George Washington on the obverse.
However, on the reverse, it has variable designs. The quarter dollar is available for use today.
However, this pattern quarter dollar was first minted in 1792, during the presidency of Washington. Its value is 2.23 million US Dollars today.
17. 1793 Cent Chain S-4
The Cent Chain is the first circulating chain in the US. The US Mint produced this coin in 1793.
Moreover, it is the first large cent with a face value of 1/100 US Dollar.
It is also made with 100% copper and features bars and vines as decorations.
Likewise, on the obverse, it features liberty. On the reverse, it depicts a chain. Thus its name comes from this depiction.
As it carries an important piece of history, it is quite valuable today.
Although its original value is 0.001 dollars, its value today is 2.35 million US Dollars.
16. $4 Coiled Hair Coin
The 1880 coiled hair coin is one of the rarest Stella coins. One Stella is equivalent to four US Dollars.
Likewise, the US Mint issued two Stella versions as a universal coin. Thus, Stella was exchangeable with any currency in the world.
Moreover, there are two kinds of Stella; flowing hair and coiled hair Stella.
Out of the two, the coiled-hair Stella is more valuable as US Mint issued only a few of them.
Thus, currently, its value is no less than 2.57 million US Dollars.
15. Birch Cent
The Birch Cent is an American Pattern coin. A pattern coin is not actually produced but only proposed.
Thus, one can imagine that they are rare and have a high value.
It is one of the bimetallic coins containing two metals or alloys. Only 12 Birch cent (also called Silver Center Cent) was available to the public.
Due to their importance and rarity, they are a prized possession for coin collectors.
Thus, one Brich Cent is worth 2.58 million US Dollars.
14. Silver Dollar
This coin is a United States coin whose value is 1 dollar. The US mint started minting these coins in the 1700s, and you can still find these today.
They also come in gold, silver, and base metal versions.
However, not all of these coins are equally precious. This specific coin is from 1794. It is a regular coin and is only valuable because of the year it minted.
In August 2017, one silver coin auctioned off for 2.82 million US Dollars. Thus, this coin is one of the most expensive coins.
13. Decadrachm
Decadrachm is an ancient Greek coin. One Decadrachm holds a value of 10 drachmae. So, what is Drachmae? It is actually an ancient Greek currency unit.
The Decadrachm is made with 100% silver. The obverse side illustrates the head of the nymph Arethusa surrounded by dolphins.
Likewise, the reverse side features a quadriga (chariot), with the charioteer being crowned by Nike.
This coin is one of the most significant coins in Greek history and mythology. Thus, it is also one of the most expensive coins.
In 2012, one Decadrachm’s value was 2.91 million US Dollars.
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12. Saint-Gaudens double eagle – Ultra High Relief
Like an eagle is worth 10 dollars, the double eagle is worth 20 dollars. The United States Mint produced the double eagle- Ultra High Relief from 1907 to 1933.
Likewise, it is a gold coin made up of 90% gold and 10% copper.
One of its most interesting features is the relief and sculpture attached to the coin.
It also features Liberty on the head side and a bald eagle on the reverse.
As the design discontinued, it became one of the rarest gold coins, thus valuable.
In 2005, one of these coins auctioned off for 2.99 million dollars through Heritage Auctions.
11. Trade Dollar
The United States minted the Trade Dollars from 1873 to 1885.
The main purpose of minting this coin was to compete with East Asian trade coins. Likewise, the value of a trade dollar was one US Dollar.
It is made up of 90% silver and 10% copper.
Moreover, the obverse features seated Liberty with an olive branch on a sea. Likewise, the reverse side features a bald eagle.
It is rare today as only a few of the coins were available to the public. Thus, this coin is one of the most expensive ones.
In 2019, Heritage Auctions auctioned a trade dollar for 3.96 million US Dollars.
10. Single 9 Pond
The 1898 Single 9 Pond is South Africa’s rarest coin. This coin was minted around the start of the second Anglo-Boer War in 1899.
South African President Paul Kruger ordered the minting of these coins as the British were eyeing South Africa’s gold reserves.
However, no new coins were issued, and the minters only changed the date from 1898 to 1899.
Likewise, the “Pond” actually means “Pound.” Thus, it is one of the most valuable coins.
The South Cape Coins private transacted this coin in May 2010 for 4 million US Dollars.
9. $1 Million Canadian Gold Maple Leaf
This is the most recently minted coin on this list and also expensive.
The Royal Canadian Mint issued a set of six of these coins in 2007. It is one of the largest gold coins.
The obverse showcases a picture of Queen Elizabeth II, and the reverse showcases a maple leaf.
Likewise, it is made with pure gold and has a value of 1 million Canadian dollars.
However, its value has been increasing with time. Thus, in June 2010, an auction house sold one of these for 4.17 million US Dollars.
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8. Bust Dollar – Class I
The Draped Bust dollar is a United States coin. The head side of this coin showcases a bust of Liberty.
Likewise, the reverse or tail side showcases a bald eagle.
It is a silver coin made with 89.2% silver and 10.8% copper.
This design succeeded the Flowing Hair Dollar, as many people disapproved of the design. Therefore, this coin also has historical significance.
Thus, this is one of the most valuable coins in the world.
In October 2020, Roma Numismatics Limited auctioned this coin off for 4.17 million US Dollars.
7. Q. Servilius Caepio (M. Junius) Brutus AV Aureus
One of the senators who participated in Julius Cesar’s assassination, the Roman dictator, issued this coin.
Brutus, a Republican senator, minted this gold and silver coin to commemorate his participation.
Currently, 80 silver coins and 3 gold coins are in existence. The head of the coin also contains Brutus’ image. Likewise, this coin symbolizes freedom.
This coin is safe in many bank reserves around the world.
However, one of these was auctioned off in October 2020 for 4.17 million US Dollars. Thus, Q. Servilius is one of the most expensive coins.
6. 1913 Liberty Head nickel
The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is precious because the US government stopped its production after 1913.
As a result, Indian Head (Buffalo) nickel replaced the production of Liberty Head.
Likewise, it is a five-cent coin. In 1972, it was first sold for 100,000 dollars. Its value went up to 1 million dollars in the 90s. Therefore, this coin is one of the most valuable coins.
The value of this liberty head nickel is more than 5 million US Dollars now.
5. $10 Proof Eagle
The US federal government Mint issued a 10-dollar Eagle coin from 1792 to 1933.
After 1933, the eagle was considered to be precious to a semi-precious coin.
They are composed of 91% gold, and the rest is copper. Likewise, one eagle coin weighed 17.5 grams.
Although several commemorative eagle coins are available, they are still precious.
In January 2021, a Proof eagle was auctioned off for 5.28 million US Dollars.
4. Umayyad Gold Dinar
Umayyad Gold Dinar is an Arabic/Islamic gold coin. Issued in the 7th century, it is one of the rarest coins in the world.
Likewise, they contain one or more Arabic Standing figures on one side and an Arabic legend on the other side. They weighed 20 carats.
Moreover, these coins were only available for a very short time. They would also wear out very quickly.
Thus, these coins were hard to preserve. Therefore, this coin is one of the most expensive coins.
In an April 2011 auction, one of these coins was sold for 6.01 million US Dollars.
3. Brasher Doubloon
The Brasher Doubloon is a privately minted coin, first introduced in 1787. As Brasher is one of the oldest coins, it is quite valuable.
In 1787, a goldsmith and silversmith, Ephraim Brasher, minted his own coin.
However, it was after the State of New York declined his petition to mint copper coins. The value of one of these copper + gold coins was 16 Spanish dollars.
However, its price now has reached millions. In January 2021, Heritage Auctions auctioned this gold coin for 9.36 million US Dollars.
Thus, this coin is one of the most expensive coins.
2. Flowing Hair Dollars
The US federal government first issued The Flowing Hair Dollars in 1794. It has a composition of 90% silver and 10%, copper.
Likewise, its design showcases an Eagle surrounded by a wreath.
This coin is also one of the rarest and most valuable coins in the US and across the world. Only 120 to 130 of these coins are available worldwide.
Moreover, many historians consider the coin as a “Nationa Treasure.” Thus, it would be a subject of pride for anyone who owns one.
Therefore, one buyer bought this coin for 10.016 million US Dollars in January 2013.
1. 1933 Double Eagle
The 1933 Double Eagle was designed in 1907. Its composition is 10% copper and 90% gold.
Then US President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the general public to return gold coins to the government in 1933.
It was to end the bank crisis. Thus, all the double eagle gold coins were melted except two.
Although the U.S. Mint cashier stole more than 20 gold coins, they are still the rarest. Currently, there are only 13 specimens available.
Thus, on June 8, 2021, one of these was sold in auction for 18.9 million US Dollars.
Therefore, this is the most expensive coin in the world.
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