Most coins are worth their face value, but others are different story. Coin collectors seek rare currencies often valued at a small fortune or greater.
Both an investment piece and an incredible find, these coins aren’t to be spent. Here’s a look at eight coins worth thousands that collectors are vying to get their hands on.
“This iconic coin set a world record when it sold for $18.9 million at auction in 2021, and its value has likely appreciated since,” said Ailie F. Byers, MPA, chief financial officer at Centennial Auctions. “Although 445,500 Double Eagles were minted in 1933, none were officially released into circulation, and nearly all were ordered to be melted down.”
She said only 13 specimens of this coin are known to exist.
“Just one is legally held in a private collection, making it one of the rarest and most coveted coins in the world,” she said. “The remaining examples are in the possession of the U.S. government.”
“One of the earliest, if not the earliest, coins issued by the U.S., the 1787 Fugio Cent is steeped in history,” Byers said. “Although records are sparse, this copper coin is widely regarded as the beginning of American coinage.”
She said the front of the coin features the slogan “Mind Your Business,” while “We Are One” is emblazoned on the back, surrounded by 13 linked rings representing the original colonies.
“Some historians believe Benjamin Franklin designed the coin,” she said. “Auction prices vary widely, with lower-quality examples selling for around $200, while rare, high-grade specimens like an MS-64 with raised rims — Cross After Date — have sold for as much as $92,500.”
“Morgan dollars have been in high demand for several years, prized for their large size, high silver content and historical appeal,” Byers said. “Many remain in near-mint condition, having been stored in government and bank vaults for decades.”
Marked “CC,” she said coins minted at the Carson City Mint are particularly sought after, often earning a premium due to their scarcity and condition. Here are two popular examples.
From a mintage of 750,000 thousand, she said this coin is consistently popular among coin collectors.
“In MS-64 condition, it holds strong at around $1,300,” she said. “However, as quality increases, so does the value — an MS-66 can command closer to $9,000.”
“Often referred to as the ‘King of the Morgans,’ the 1895 Morgan Dollar is a proof coin with an incredibly low mintage of just 880,” she said.
It’s one of the most sought-after coins in the Morgan dollar series.
“These coins have not sold publicly for less than $38,000 in recent years, with some specimens fetching over $100,000 at auction,” she said.
“Like the Morgan Dollar, the 1928 Peace Dollar is highly desirable, especially in higher grades,” Byers said. “Low mintage numbers and its key date status make it one of the more valuable Peace Dollars.”
She said the mintage of this valuable coin is 360,649.
“This penny is famous for the initials of its designer, Victor David Brenner, which were controversially placed on the reverse,” Byers said. “Only 484,000 were minted in San Francisco, making it the lowest mintage of any Lincoln cent.”
When it comes to the value of this coin, she said color matters.
“The coin is categorized by color — brown, red-brown and red, with red being the most sought after,” she explained. “A low-grade brown 1909-S VDB might sell for around $800, while a high-grade MS65 in red can reach $8,000.”
“One of the most interesting releases for coin collectors based on both sides of the Atlantic this year has been the unique ‘Liberty and Britannia,’” said Matthew Jones, precious metals analyst at Solomon Global. “This very limited production — only 11,000 minted — one-ounce gold coin is highly sought after by collectors for several reasons.”
He said the low mintage is a factor, along with the origins of the coin.
“This coin represents a rare collaboration between two prestigious mints — the United States Mint and the Royal Mint of the United Kingdom,” he said. “This partnership marks a historic alliance between the two major numismatic institutions, making the coin a symbol of unity between these two nations.”
Additionally, he said the one-ounce weight of the coin offers significant intrinsic value due to its gold content.
“The combination of historical symbolism, limited availability, high craftsmanship and precious metal content make the Liberty and Britannia coin an important and sought-after piece in the numismatic world,” he said. “The graded option — only circa 2,000 produced — of this release was initially available at circa £2,200.00 in February 2024 and today retails close to £3,000.00.”
“At the end of 2022, the Royal Mint began production on the 2023 Britannia and the coin was struck and minted with Queen Elizabeth on the reverse,” Jones said. “Sadly, the Queen passed in late 2022 so there were, therefore, a small number of coins — estimated to be around 20,000 to 30,000 — that were produced for 2023 with ‘the wrong monarch’ on the coin.”
He said this error caused the coin’s value to surge.
“There can always, only ever be one first and one last of something,” he said. “The rarity of the last Britannia coin minted with Queen Elizabeth II is simple — there is only one in the world.”
Consequently, he said this uniqueness allowed the coin to sell for $50,000 at a U.S. auction.
