The history of coins is extensive and fascinating. Did you know that the oldest known minted coin dates back to between 700 BC and 550 BC, struck in ancient Anatolia? Since that time, countless significant coins have been created, each with its own unique story.
However, only a select few are considered exceptionally rare and hold immense historical and monetary value. Below is a list of the 12 most valuable coins in existence today.
Table of Contents
12. Gold 10000 and 2000 Yuan
A 10000 Gold Yuan
Price: $1.6 and $1.2 million, respectively
In 1991, to acknowledge the 10th anniversary of the first Panda gold coin, the Chinese government issued ten 10,000 Yuan Panda gold coins. Each of these impressive coins weighs approximately 5 kg. One side of the coin features the Temple of Heaven, while the other side displays a collage of previous Panda coin designs. In 2011, one of these rare coins was sold for $1.6 million.
Similarly, in 1992, ten 2,000 Yuan coins were minted to commemorate various Chinese achievements. One of these garnered almost $1.3 million at an auction in 2011.
11. 1894-S Barber dime
An 1894-S Barber dime | Image Courtesy: PCGS
Price: $1.9 million
The 1894-S Barber dime is one of the world’s most valuable coins, prized for its extreme rarity. Only 24 pieces were ever produced, and none were released into general circulation. Today, only nine of these dimes are known to exist.
Since the late 1990s, surviving 1894-S Barber dimes have appeared at several auctions. In 2005, one was sold for $1 million, followed by another fetching around $1.3 million the same year. The record-breaking price for this dime was set in a 2016 auction, where it sold for nearly $2 million.
10. Polish 1621 100 Ducats
Price: $2.1 million
The Polish 1621 100 Ducats is perhaps the most valuable coin in Poland and quite possibly in Europe. The coin, though not explicitly stated, was minted to commemorate the Polish-Lithuanian victory over the Turks in the Battle of Khotyn in 1621.
The obverse of the coin features a striking bust of King Sigismund III, adorned in ornate armor and wearing a commander’s sash. On the reverse, the coat of arms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth under the House of Vasa is depicted.
In January 2018, a piece of this rare coin was sold by the Classical Numismatic Group for $2,160,000. An earlier copy was auctioned in 2008, fetching over $1 million.
9. 1792 Birch Cent
A 1792 Birch Cent | Image Courtesy: Stacks Bowers Galleries
Price: $2.5 million
In January 2015, Heritage Auctions sold an American cent for an astounding $2.5 million. This wasn’t an ordinary cent, but the Birch Cent, one of the first coins ever minted in the United States. Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson and produced in 1792, only a few of these coins were ever made.
The obverse of the Birch Cent showcases a side portrait of Lady Liberty, accompanied by the motto “Liberty Parent of Science and Industry.” Four varieties of Birch Cent were created. One of the varieties, Judd-3, was sold by Heritage Auctions in January 2015.
8. Single 9 Pond
Price: $4 million
Often called the “King of South African Coins,” the Single 9 Pond is a one-of-a-kind coin minted during the South African War of Independence, which took place between 1899 and 1902.
As the war began, President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic ordered the minting of new gold coins to stabilize the economy. However, due to the lack of new coin dies, the authorities repurposed an existing 1898 die. To signify the 1899 production, a ‘9’ was engraved on the coin’s obverse.
Unfortunately, after minting the first coin, it was discovered that the ‘9’ was disproportionately large, distorting President Kruger’s bust. As a result, no additional coins were produced. In 2010, the Single 9 Pond was sold for 20 million Rand (approximately $4,000,000), cementing its status as one of the rarest and most valuable coins in South African history.
7. Bust Dollar – Class I
Bust Dollar-Class I obverse | Image Courtesy: National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History
Price: $4.1 million
The Bust Dollar, also known as the Bowed Liberty Dollar, is an extremely rare one-dollar coin issued by the United States Mint in the 1830s. About fifteen such coins are known to exist.
Initially, only eight (possibly) Bust Dollar coins were minted for diplomatic purposes. However, they were never used. The coins were soon in high demand as news of their existence reached numismatists and private collectors.
To fulfill the demands, Mint employees secretively produced more Bust Dollar coins. But unlike the original ones, the new (second) set of coins lacked proper lettering. This mistake was, however, rectified in the third and final set. In 1999, a Class I (original) Bust Dollar was sold by Bowers & Merena for $4,140,000. It was the highest money paid for a coin at that time.
6. Liberty Head Nickel
Eliasberg Liberty Head Nickel
Price: $5 million
Exceptionally rare, the Liberty Head Nickel is a five-cent coin forged in 1913. Only five such coins were produced. The interesting thing, however, is that no official record of their production exists.
Among the five, two are housed in museums, while the remaining three are privately owned and have commanded significant sums at various auctions over the years.
One notable specimen, known as the Eliasberg Nickel, sold for nearly $1.5 million in 1996. This same coin later fetched an astounding $5 million at a resale auction in 2007, highlighting its immense value and desirability among collectors.
5. $10 Proof Eagle
Price: $5 million
The Gold Eagle was the largest denomination in the US coinage system from 1795 to 1933 (until gold coins were banned from circulation). The denominations in use at that time were the mill, the cent (10 mills), the dime (10 cents), the dollar (10 dimes), and the Eagle (10 dollars).
Originally, the coin’s reverse depicted an eagle holding a wreath in its mouth. However, due to its unpopularity, the design was altered to feature a heraldic eagle instead. In October 2007, Albanese Rare Coins successfully sold a 1804-minted $10 proof Eagle for $5 million in a private transaction, underscoring the coin’s significant value and collector interest.
4. Umayyad Gold Dinar
Umayyad Dinar Minted at Damascus
Price: $6 million
During the reign of Caliph Abd-al-Malik ibn Marwan, the Umayyad Caliphate—one of the four caliphates established after the death of Prophet Muhammad—issued the first-ever gold dinars between 696 and 697 CE. The term ‘dinar’ is derived from the Latin word denarius, a widely used silver currency in the Roman Empire.
In 2011, one of the surviving Umayyad Gold Dinars was auctioned for approximately $6 million. This particular coin, minted in 723 A.D., is believed to contain gold sourced from the Ma’din Bani Sulaim mine, located near the holy city of Mecca.
More recently, a similar coin was sold at auction for $4.7 million on October 24, 2019, further demonstrating the enduring value and historical significance of these ancient coins.
3. 1787 Brasher Doubloon-EB
Brasher Doubloon-EB | Image Courtesy: Heritage Auctions
Price: $9.36 million
The 1787 Brasher Doubloon is one of the rarest and most valuable coins in the history of independent America. It was designed by Ephraim Brasher, a goldsmith who became widely popular for his engraving and assay proofing (purity analysis) skills.
In 2011, one of the surviving 1787 Brasher Doubloons was purchased by an unnamed Wall Street investment firm for an astounding $7.4 million. This iconic coin also gained literary fame, as it played a central role in Raymond Chandler’s mystery novel The High Window. In 2021 Heritage Auctions, this coin was sold for $9.36 million,
2. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar
1794 minted Flowing hair dollar | National Museum of American History
Price: $10 million
In 1794, the Flowing Hair Dollar became the first silver dollar coin issued by the United States Mint on behalf of the federal government. Designed by engraver Robert Scot, its dimensions were modeled after the Spanish dollar, also known as the “piece of eight,” which was widely used in the US then. Production of the Flowing Hair Dollar ended in 1795 when it was replaced by the Draped Bust Dollar.
Estimates from the 1990s suggest that only about 120-130 Flowing Hair Dollar coins still exist. In 2013, Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctioned a 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar for a record-breaking $10,016,875, making it the most expensive coin ever sold.
1. 1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle
Source: National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History
Price: $18.87 million
The story of the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle is one of intrigue and mystery. In 1933, around 445,500 twenty-dollar Double Eagle gold coins were minted. However, following the passage of the Gold Reserve Act of 1934, all but two coins were ordered to be melted down before they could officially enter circulation. These two surviving coins are now housed in the National Numismatic Collection.
Unbeknownst to authorities, twenty additional Double Eagles were secretly saved—stolen, in fact—and for nearly a decade, they were privately traded among collectors. During this time, one of the coins ended up in the collection of King Farouk of Egypt.
Upon discovering the existence of these coins, the U.S. Secret Service launched an investigation and managed to recover and destroy nine of the stolen Double Eagles by 1952. That same year, after King Farouk was deposed, the U.S. government attempted to recover the remaining coin, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Today, only one legally owned 1933 Double Eagle remains in private hands, while others are held in museums or were confiscated by the US government. It has a long and controversial history — it had been illegally obtained, seized by the Secret Service, and then returned to the possession of private owners after a lengthy legal battle.
The coin remained hidden until it unexpectedly resurfaced at a public auction in 1996, and in 2002, it was sold for over $7.6 million. In 2021, this unique 1933 Double Eagle was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for a record-breaking $18,872,250, making it the most expensive coin ever sold at the time.
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These 12 coins are not just valuable; they’re pieces of history. The 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar, being the first U.S. silver dollar, is a true gem. Each coin tells a unique story, making this a must-read for collectors and history buffs alike! As a precious metals investor, I’ve collected many old rare coins from dealers like APMEX, Bold Precious Metals, and JM Bullion.