Created before the first United States federal mint opened, the 1787 Brasher Doubloon is the first gold coin ever struck in the United States, created by one of George Washington’s neighbors, Ephraim Brasher. While mintage numbers tell part of the story about a coin’s rarity, they don’t show you a complete picture. Remember, a substantial fraction of the coins that were once minted no longer survive today, as many have been lost, melted, or damaged beyond recognition. Take, for instance, the popular 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent.
#7 – 1804 Silver Dollar – Class I (The Watters-Childs Specimen)
It’s usually a combination of all three, plus something special sprinkled in. The never-ending desire that some people have to build and grow their collections. The Flowing Hair Silver Dollar was the first US silver dollar coin, minted from 1794 to 1795. But one special specimen that was part of the earliest batches in 1794 achieved glory in top 4 similar websites like finotrade com and alternatives 2010 when it sold for a staggering $10,016,875, equivalent to $13,311,850 in inflation-adjusted 2023 dollars.
While 484,000 were struck, several population estimates suggest only 50,000 to 100,000 may still exist – a fairly large number indeed, but much lower than mintage numbers suggest. All prices listed are in U.S. dollars and include any auction fees and commissions that the auction house charged to the buyer of the coin. You probably have some coins that are worth more than face value in your pocket change or coin jar right now. I primarily collect and study U.S. coins produced during the 20th century. The penny dates listed below are worth more than just a few cents (unlike most of the ones referenced above).
Ones that are severely degraded make it difficult to distinguish their more defined parts and are less valuable in the eyes of many collectors. But some that have been at the mercy of the elements for decades and even centuries can still hold a lot of value. Another crucial element of a valuable coin is the condition.
With National Coin Week approaching, Cointrackers.com created “a cool list” of the top 25 most valuable pennies ever minted in the United States. Coins Guide is a comprehensive resource that has been helping people learn about and collect U.S. coins since 2004. It’s part of The Fun Times Guide network of over 32 niche topic websites. Also, the list above doesn’t include proof Lincoln cents — which you wouldn’t ordinarily find in circulation. The pennies that aren’t on that list are worth only a nominal amount — usually between 3 cents and $1. Understanding which coins are valuable and which aren’t takes skill and dedication.
It also takes a special combination of history, storytelling, and preservation. Made during World War II when the United States needed all copper and nickel metals for other purposes, most of the 1943 pennies were created with steel. Now it’s time to blow away US history with the Umayyad gold dinar from the year 723 AD.
- There are many ways to determine the value of a collectable item.
- Whether it’s checking out the latest and greatest models or turning a wrench on his classic cars, there’s always a bit of oil flowing through his brain.
- It may be worth taking a look, because many of the most valuable pennies on this list were made in the 20th century.
- As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs.
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You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites). The Lincoln cent (technically, only Great Britain officially has a denomination called best online stock trading courses in 2021 the “penny”) is a favorite among collectors young and old, rich and poor. Of all the coins ever made by the United States Mint since 1793, arguably the most popular and widely collected among them are Lincoln pennies.
In 2000, 5,500 boxes of Cheerios contained a Sacagawea dollar eur to dkk exchange rates, euro coin as part of a US Mint promotion. But some of these, around 60 to 70 that we know of, have a set of enhanced tail feathers and are selling for $5,000 to $25,058, depending on grade.
Most Valuable Half Dollars
Only 24 were minted and just 9 are known to be around today. Maybe because of a discrepancy in the books or perhaps as gifts to prominent bankers. The rumors are limitless, but the sales price reached $1,997,500 in 2016 or $2,412,200 in 2023 dollars. That’s the case behind the vast love for the 1894-S Barber Dime, one of the rarest coins in the world. It is one of the most valuable foreign coins and has an inscription that translates to Mine of the Commander of the Faithful in the Hijaz. The most recent sale was in 2019 for £3.72 million, or about $5,418,400 in 2023 dollars.
It also holds the title of the world’s largest gold coin from the Guinness Book of World Records. At Coin Values, we are always staying on top of the latest changes in coin prices, and we have a list of the top 25 most valuable pennies. Small cents, by the way, are 19.1 millimeter diameter pennies that have been produced by the United States Mint since 1856. It may be worth taking a look, because many of the most valuable pennies on this list were made in the 20th century. It’s possible these coins may be hiding in the basement, inside an attic box, or even inside your penny jar. Additionally, only coins that were publicly traded (for example, auctions or public sales) are listed.
It is believed there are about one dozen of these 1,300-year-old relics in existence. I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” ideas that most wouldn’t think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I’m truly passionate about. I’ve worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo — to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV.
Doubled Die Obverse Cent
Also known as the Double Leopard, the 1343 Edward III Florin is part of a small group of coins worth millions. There are many ways to determine the value of a collectable item. The best way to determine the value of coins is to research coins that were actually sold and record the prices that they realized. Some coins are unique, housed in museums, and will never be available for sale to the general public. Since these coins are considered “priceless,” they are not included in this list of the world’s most valuable coins. Weighing in at an astonishing 220 pounds, this novelty item is one of the most valuable coins wanted by collectors.
If you want to know what your U.S. penny is worth, then read on. That’s just one reason why people love the 1943 Lincoln Head Copper Penny. It brings back memories of sacrifices that were made during World War II, and remains an important reminder to this day.
It is impossible to verify coins that were sold via private treaty and are therefore not included in this top 10 list of the world’s most valuable coins. If you want to find coins worth money, look for rare ones, with an interesting history, or that were made erroneously and distinguished from similar coins. It’s not always easy to tell without a depth of knowledge about coins, but a professional can appraise your stash. If not, then take a look at the museum collections held around the world to discover a bit of the joy. Even if you can’t get the most expensive coin ever sold on eBay, you can still enjoy the history and beauty of the world’s most valuable coins. How can you tell the difference between a regular penny and a special 1943 one that could be worth over $2 million?
